Researchers found out how viruses steal our genetic code and make information more efficient.
The reason why viruses continue to develop and mutate, as is currently the case with the corona virus, is that they adapt to us and analyze our genetic blueprint to become more efficient.
In a new study, virologists found that viruses steal our genetic code, make proteins, and become more effective. The first mutation of the coronavirus, which is even more infectious than the original variant, is an example of such a successful theft. Here it was just a protein that was changed in the virus structure – and with success.
Viruses produce unknown proteins
The influenza viruses do the same. Certain viruses (belonging to the group of RNA viruses) therefore have a more advanced understanding of the structure of humans than we do. “To understand how a pathogen works in its host and triggers an infection, we also have to understand which proteins encodes a pathogen and how they work, ”explains Dr. Ivan Marazzi, co-author of the study.
Viruses need a host and its cells to multiply. A virus then reproduces itself using various building blocks such as proteins. If a new adaptation occurs with unknown proteins, one speaks of a resulting hybrid gene.
The results of the study were published in the journal „Cell“ released.
