Genetic
researchers from around the country have discovered a new virus known
as a bacteriophage, that may be present in at least half of the
population. This type of virus (named crAssphage) infects bacteria,
and is suspected to live in the human gut. According to the LiveScience article, it was discovered when
many researchers identified it in fecal samples from multiple
different subjects.
Although not much is known about the virus to
date, Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the
University of Pittsburg and a representative of the Infectious
Disease Society of America, believes this may play a role in common
conditions that affect humans around the world. She cited obesity and
cancer as such
possibilities. Understanding
this new finding may be the key to unlocking a cure to the conditions
that have plagued humanity since it's beginnings.
Robert
Edwards, a bioinformatics professor at San Diego State University and
one of the researchers who worked on the study, feels
that not enough information about the virus has been discovered to
make such concrete conclusions. Edwards and his fellow researchers
have not yet been able to replicate or photograph the virus, although
they have identified crAssphage via it's DNA sequence. However
researchers look at this new discovery, it adds helpful insight to
the world of microbes and human health.
I love the picture, but seriously the title of the article drew me in instantly. After reading it and realizing that there could be something that is infecting the bacteria in my stomach, it made me wonder how long it would take for scientist to find out whether or not these bacteriophages were good or bad. The article also mentioned that the virus has remained hidden for so long which also made me wonder what other things could be hiding in our bodies. Maybe we are all infected with something similar to the Walking Dead........
ReplyDeleteThis was a good article nonetheless
ReplyDeletePerhaps this may eventually be linked to the ongoing immunity to common antibiotics? Or even the prevalence of different MR's?
ReplyDeleteMy hope, after reading the initial article, is that further studying of the virus may lead to a breakthrough in the field of medicine. Possibly the virus existing in our intestines may have a role in the spreading of diseases? Either way, I definitely hope the virus doesn't resemble that in the Walking Dead!
ReplyDelete