Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing

Echolocation represents one of the most rapid adaptive sensorimotor modulation behaviors observed in mammals, establishing bats as one of the most evolutionarily successful mammals. Bats rely on high-frequency hearing for survival, but our understanding of its cellular molecular basis is scattered a...

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Main Authors: Mingyue Bao, Xue Wang, Xintong Li, Ruyi Sun, Zhiqiang Wang, Tinglei Jiang, Hui Wang, Jiang Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/211
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author Mingyue Bao
Xue Wang
Xintong Li
Ruyi Sun
Zhiqiang Wang
Tinglei Jiang
Hui Wang
Jiang Feng
author_facet Mingyue Bao
Xue Wang
Xintong Li
Ruyi Sun
Zhiqiang Wang
Tinglei Jiang
Hui Wang
Jiang Feng
author_sort Mingyue Bao
collection DOAJ
description Echolocation represents one of the most rapid adaptive sensorimotor modulation behaviors observed in mammals, establishing bats as one of the most evolutionarily successful mammals. Bats rely on high-frequency hearing for survival, but our understanding of its cellular molecular basis is scattered and segmented. Herein, we constructed the first single-cell transcriptomic landscape of the cochlea in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i>, a CF-FM bat, using a PacBio-optimized genome and compared it with the results obtained from unoptimized original genomes. Sixteen distinct cell types were distributed across five spatial regions of the cochlea. Notably, through hematoxylin and eosin staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we identified new types of spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) cells in the cochlea of <i>H. armiger</i>. These SGN cells are likely critical for auditory perception and may have driven the adaptive evolution of high-frequency hearing in this species. Furthermore, we uncovered the differentiation relationships of among specific cell types, such as the transition from supporting cells to hair cells. Using the cochlear cell atlas as a reference, cell types susceptible to deafness-associated genes (in the human) were also identified. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptive high-frequency hearing in bats and highlights potential candidate cell types and genes for therapeutic interventions in hearing loss.
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spelling doaj-art-481f3f5bc7c044cc9315e323e72406302025-08-20T03:12:08ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-02-0115221110.3390/biom15020211Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read SequencingMingyue Bao0Xue Wang1Xintong Li2Ruyi Sun3Zhiqiang Wang4Tinglei Jiang5Hui Wang6Jiang Feng7College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaJilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, ChinaJilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130117, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaEcholocation represents one of the most rapid adaptive sensorimotor modulation behaviors observed in mammals, establishing bats as one of the most evolutionarily successful mammals. Bats rely on high-frequency hearing for survival, but our understanding of its cellular molecular basis is scattered and segmented. Herein, we constructed the first single-cell transcriptomic landscape of the cochlea in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i>, a CF-FM bat, using a PacBio-optimized genome and compared it with the results obtained from unoptimized original genomes. Sixteen distinct cell types were distributed across five spatial regions of the cochlea. Notably, through hematoxylin and eosin staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we identified new types of spiral ganglion neuron (SGN) cells in the cochlea of <i>H. armiger</i>. These SGN cells are likely critical for auditory perception and may have driven the adaptive evolution of high-frequency hearing in this species. Furthermore, we uncovered the differentiation relationships of among specific cell types, such as the transition from supporting cells to hair cells. Using the cochlear cell atlas as a reference, cell types susceptible to deafness-associated genes (in the human) were also identified. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptive high-frequency hearing in bats and highlights potential candidate cell types and genes for therapeutic interventions in hearing loss.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/211batcochleasnRNA-seqhigh-frequency hearingSGN
spellingShingle Mingyue Bao
Xue Wang
Xintong Li
Ruyi Sun
Zhiqiang Wang
Tinglei Jiang
Hui Wang
Jiang Feng
Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
Biomolecules
bat
cochlea
snRNA-seq
high-frequency hearing
SGN
title Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
title_full Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
title_fullStr Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
title_full_unstemmed Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
title_short Single-Cell Landscape of the Cochlea Revealed Cell-Type-Specific Diversification in <i>Hipposideros armiger</i> Based on PacBio Long-Read Sequencing
title_sort single cell landscape of the cochlea revealed cell type specific diversification in i hipposideros armiger i based on pacbio long read sequencing
topic bat
cochlea
snRNA-seq
high-frequency hearing
SGN
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/2/211
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