The genome sequence of Tadarida brasiliensis I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1824 [Molossidae; Tadarida].

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Tadarida brasiliensis (The Brazilian free-tailed bat; Chordata; Mammalia; Chiroptera; Molossidae). The genome sequence is 2.28 Gb in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 25 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the X and Y sex chromosomes assembled.

The prefrontal cortex of the Mexican free-tailed bat is more selective to communication calls than primary auditory cortex.

In this study, we examined the auditory responses of a prefrontal area, the frontal auditory field (FAF), of an echolocating bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and presented a comparative analysis of the neuronal response properties between the FAF and the primary auditory cortex (A1). We compared single-unit responses from the A1 and the FAF elicited by pure tones, downward frequency-modulated sweeps (dFMs), and species-specific vocalizations. Unlike the A1, FAFs were not frequency tuned. However, progressive increases in dFM sweep rate elicited a systematic increase of response precision, a phenomenon that does not take place in the A1. Call selectivity was higher in the FAF versus A1. We calculated the neuronal spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRFs) and spike-triggered averages (STAs) to predict responses to the communication calls and provide an explanation for the differences in call selectivity between the FAF and A1. In the A1, we found a high correlation between predicted and evoked responses. However, we did not generate reasonable STRFs in the FAF, and the prediction based on the STAs showed lower correlation coefficient than that of the A1. This suggests nonlinear response properties in the FAF that are stronger than the linear response properties in the A1. Stimulating with a call sequence increased call selectivity in the A1, but it remained unchanged in the FAF. These data are consistent with a role for the FAF in assessing distinctive acoustic features downstream of A1, similar to the role proposed for primate ventrolateral prefrontal cortex.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we examined the neuronal responses of a frontal cortical area in an echolocating bat to behaviorally relevant acoustic stimuli and compared them with those in the primary auditory cortex (A1). In contrast to the A1, neurons in the bat frontal auditory field are not frequency tuned but showed a higher selectivity for social signals such as communication calls. The results presented here indicate that the frontal auditory field may represent an additional processing center for behaviorally relevant sounds.

Functional organization of the primary auditory cortex of the free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis.

The Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, is a fast-flying bat that hunts by biosonar at high altitudes in open space. The auditory periphery and ascending auditory pathways have been described in great detail for this species, but nothing is yet known about its auditory cortex. Here we describe the topographical organization of response properties in the primary auditory cortex (AC) of the Mexican free-tailed bat with emphasis on the sensitivity for FM sweeps and echo-delay tuning. Responses of 716 units to pure tones and of 373 units to FM sweeps and FM-FM pairs were recorded extracellularly using multielectrode arrays in anesthetized bats. A general tonotopy was confirmed with low frequencies represented caudally and high frequencies represented rostrally. Characteristic frequencies (CF) ranged from 15 to 70 kHz, and fifty percent of CFs fell between 20 and 30 kHz, reflecting a hyper-representation of a bandwidth corresponding to search-phase echolocation pulses. Most units showed a stronger response to downward rather than upward FM sweeps and forty percent of the neurons interspersed throughout AC (150/371) showed echo-delay sensitivity to FM-FM pairs. Overall, the results illustrate that the free-tailed bat auditory cortex is organized similarly to that of other FM-type insectivorous bats.

Forward masking enhances the auditory brainstem response in the free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, during a critical time window for sonar reception.

Forward masking is a widespread auditory phenomenon in which the response to one sound transiently reduces the response to a succeeding sound. This study used auditory brainstem responses to measure temporal masking effects in the free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. A digital subtraction protocol was used to isolate responses to the second of a pair of pulses varying in interval, revealing a suppression phase lasting <4 ms followed by an enhancement phase lasting 4-15 ms during which the ABR waveform was amplified up to 100%. The results suggest echolocating bats possess adaptations for enhancing sonar receiver gain shortly after pulse emission.

Infectivity of attenuated poxvirus vaccine vectors and immunogenicity of a raccoonpox vectored rabies vaccine in the Brazilian Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis).

Bats (Order Chiroptera) are an abundant group of mammals with tremendous ecological value as insectivores and plant dispersers, but their role as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases has received more attention in the last decade. With the goal of managing disease in free-ranging bats, we tested modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) and raccoon poxvirus (RCN) as potential vaccine vectors in the Brazilian Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), using biophotonic in vivo imaging and immunogenicity studies. Animals were administered recombinant poxviral vectors expressing the luciferase gene (MVA-luc, RCN-luc) through oronasal (ON) or intramuscular (IM) routes and subsequently monitored for bioluminescent signal indicative of viral infection. No clinical illness was noted after exposure to any of the vectors, and limited luciferase expression was observed. Higher and longer levels of expression were observed with the RCN-luc construct. When given IM, luciferase expression was limited to the site of injection, while ON exposure led to initial expression in the oral cavity, often followed by secondary replication at another location, likely the gastric mucosa or gastric associated lymphatic tissue. Viral DNA was detected in oral swabs up to 7 and 9 days post infection (dpi) for MVA and RCN, respectively. While no live virus was detected in oral swabs from MVA-infected bats, titers up to 3.88 x 104 PFU/ml were recovered from oral swabs of RCN-infected bats. Viral DNA was also detected in fecal samples from two bats inoculated IM with RCN, but no live virus was recovered. Finally, we examined the immunogenicity of a RCN based rabies vaccine (RCN-G) following ON administration. Significant rabies neutralizing antibody titers were detected in the serum of immunized bats using the rapid fluorescence focus inhibition test (RFFIT). These studies highlight the safety and immunogenicity of attenuated poxviruses and their potential use as vaccine vectors in bats.

Distribution of 2-[I]iodomelatonin binding in the brain of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis).

The neurohormone melatonin is an important signal for both time of day and time of year in many seasonally breeding animals. High densities of melatonin receptors have been found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, median eminence, and the pituitary gland in almost all mammals investigated so far, and lower densities of melatonin receptors have also been localized to other brain regions varying in a species-specific fashion. Because species-specific differences in receptor distributions have been correlated with differences in behavior and ecology, a comparative study of how melatonin receptors are distributed in vertebrate brains can be useful to the understanding of the functional organization of neural circuits controlling daily and seasonal behaviors. In this study, we localized and characterized melatonin binding sites in the brain of the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) using in vitro autoradiography with 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin. Tadarida brasiliensis is a nocturnal insectivorous mammal that seasonally migrates, reproduces once a year, and exhibits documented sexual dimorphisms in seasonal reproductive behaviors, most notably in courtship vocalizations. Prominent 2-[(125)I]iodomelatonin binding was found in the median eminence, suprachiasmatic nuclei, and hippocampus, similar to that observed in other mammals. High densities of binding were also localized to structures of the basal ganglia, including the caudate nucleus, putamen, and nucleus accumbens, a feature commonly observed in songbirds but not in mammals. Saturation analysis indicated that the observed binding sites had an affinity for melatonin typical of the binding properties for the Mel(1a) receptor subtype. We conclude that melatonin receptor distributions in the Mexican free-tailed bat brain appear to show similarities with the reproductive and circadian systems of other mammals and the basal ganglia of songbirds.

Doppler-shift compensation behavior by Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus personatus.

Doppler-shift compensation behavior (DSC) is a highly specialized vocal response displayed by bats that emit pulses with a prominent constant frequency (CF) component and adjust the frequency of their CF component to compensate for flight-speed induced Doppler shifts in the frequency of the returning echoes. DSC has only been observed in one member of the Neotropical Mormoopidae, a family of bats that use pulses with prominent CF components, leading researchers to suspect that DSC is a uniquely derived trait in the single species Pteronotus parnellii. Yet recent phylogenetic data indicate that the lineage of P. parnellii originates from the most basal node in the evolutionary history of the genus Pteronotus. DSC behavior was investigated in another member of this family, Pteronotus personatus, because molecular data indicated that this species stems from the second most basal node in Pteronotus. DSC was tested for by swinging the bats on a pendulum. P. personatus performed DSC as well as P. parnellii under identical conditions. Two other closely related mormoopids, Pteronotus davyi and Mormoops megalophylla, were also tested and neither shifted the peak frequency of their pulses. These results shed light on the evolutionary history of DSC among the mormoopids.

The tiny difference between foraging and communication buzzes uttered by the Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis.

Echolocating insectivorous bats consummate prey captures using a distinct vocal motor pattern commonly known as the terminal or feeding buzz, which is widely considered a fixed motor pattern executed independently of auditory feedback influences. The Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, offers an opportunity to explore the role of sensory feedback in buzzing because they emit similar buzzes both in flight during foraging and while stationary as communication sounds. Here we compared the spectral and temporal patterns of foraging and communication buzzes to address whether or not auditory feedback may influence buzz patterns. We found that while foraging buzzes uttered in open space were composed of generic FM calls, communication buzzes were composed of an adapted CF-FM call similar to the call type used by T. brasiliensis when navigating in confined spaces. This provides the first evidence that some bats can make significant context-dependent changes in the spectral parameters of calls within their buzz. We also found that inter-pulse intervals, but not call durations, were different within the two buzz types. These observations indicate that though a common pattern generator hierarchically organizes all buzzes, T. brasiliensis retains a significant capacity to adapt the spectral and temporal patterns of elements within its buzzes.