At the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies of Mendel University in Brno (FRRMS MENDELU), the kick-off meeting of a new research project funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) took place. The project is titled “Bats and Mycobacteria: A New and Surprising Vector?” The principal investigator of the project is Prof. MVDr. Ivo Pavlík, CSc., who presented the research objectives and the overall project plan during the opening session. The meeting participants were welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty, Mgr. Ondřej Konečný, Ph.D., who highlighted the importance of the project and acknowledged Prof. Pavlík’s long-standing scientific contributions in the field.
The new project will run for three years (2025–2027) and is funded by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). The research focuses on the potential link between bats and mycobacteria, specifically on the role of the Greater Mouse-Eared Bat (Myotis myotis) as a possible vector of bacteria from the genus Mycobacterium. The project builds on two previous successful projects led by the research team and expands their findings with new multidisciplinary insights.
The main objectives of the project include:
The project brings together a broad team of experts from various institutions. In addition to Prof. Pavlík’s team from FRRMS MENDELU, the research also involves Mgr. Ulmann’s team from the National Institute of Public Health in Ostrava and Assoc. Prof. Zukal’s team from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Other contributors include specialists from the Blansko Museum and the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, as well as geographers, cave divers (for research in the Hranice Abyss), archaeologists from Prague, Olomouc and Brno, microbiologists from Masaryk University (MUNI), and experts in radiocarbon dating, GIS, entomology, and veterinary diagnostics. The project team includes, among others, Assoc. Prof. Geršl, Assoc. Prof. Hübelová, Mgr. Kašná, Dr. Vallo, Dr. Kuda, RNDr. Zajíček, Mgr. Komínková, Assoc. Prof. Vítězová, and many other specialists — more than 35 experts in total across various fields.
The significance of this new research lies primarily in its multidisciplinary approach and societal relevance. By involving more than 35 experts from diverse fields, the project enables a comprehensive investigation of the largely unexplored topic of potential mycobacterial transmission from bats to humans. Field research will take place in unique locations, such as the Hranice Abyss—the deepest underwater cave in the world—providing valuable data from an extreme environment. The project’s outcomes are expected to enhance our understanding of related epidemiological factors and support efforts to protect both public health and the natural environment.
The planned outputs of the project include scientific publications in international journals and a final comprehensive report for the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). A significant component of the outcomes will also involve popularizing the results for both professional and general audiences. For example, an exhibition tentatively titled “What Mr. Absolon Couldn’t See” is planned, which will compare the historical speleological and zoological research of Professor Karel Absolon with the current findings of this project. The outreach efforts will also include an educational campaign aimed at breaking down the stigma surrounding bats, seeking to present them as an essential part of ecosystems and to dispel myths about their perceived danger.
This new project thus represents an important step toward understanding the role of bats in the transmission of mycobacteria. The project team believes that the knowledge gained will contribute not only to scientific advancement but also to practical measures aimed at protecting human health and preserving biodiversity.