THE ESSENTIAL
- The smallest viruses are around 20 nanometers in diameter.
- An RNA virus, also called a ribovirus, is a virus that uses ribonucleic acid (RNA) as its genetic material or needs it in its replication process.
- The most common are SARS, influenza or the hepatitis C virus.
Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered about 100,000 new types of viruses. This represents a ninefold increase on the number known so far. The work, carried out in collaboration with the American research organizations NIH and JGI and with the Institut Pasteur, was published in the scientific journal Cell.
New viruses discovered in soil and wastewater
While some viruses are pathogens that can harm humans (such as the coronavirus), the vast majority are harmless. Some even live inside our bodies without us realizing it. To better understand these germs, lead author Uri Neri and his team analyzed samples of soil, oceans, lakes, wastewater and other ecosystems with a new computer tool. The latter is able to distinguish between the genetic material of RNA viruses and that of their hosts.
It allowed researchers to reconstruct how viruses underwent various acclimation processes during their evolutionary development to adapt to different hosts. Scientists have thus identified 100,000 new types of viruses, mainly within the kingdom of Orthornavirae.
A discovery that could lead to new treatments
By analyzing the data, the team, among other things, unearthed viruses that infect various pathogenic microorganisms. For scientists, it would be possible to use them to develop antimicrobial treatments or protect crops against certain fungi and pests.
‘In our study, we found that RNA viruses are not unusual in the evolutionary landscape and, in fact, in some respects are not that different from DNA viruses. This opens the door for future research and a better understanding of how viruses can be harnessed for use in medicine and agriculture.”explained Professor Uri Gophna who participated in the Research.
