New genetic analysis methods have revealed 40 previously unknown viruses, showing how genetic exchanges among these can lead to significant changes in their behavior and increase their threat to human health. This breakthrough offers potential for both predicting and preventing future viral outbreaks.coronavirus — can trigger major epidemics: Viruses that nobody had on their radar. They are not really new, but they have changed genetically.
One discovery is particularly interesting with regard to the emergence of new viruses: In host animals that are simultaneously infected with different viruses, a recombination of viral genes can occur during virus replication. “Apparently, the nidoviruses we discovered in fish frequently exchange genetic material between different virus species, even across family boundaries,” says Stefan Seitz.
After gene exchange between nidoviruses, the spike protein with which the viruses dock onto their host cells often changes. Chris Lauber, first author of the study, was able to show this by means of family tree analyses. Modifying this anchor molecule can significantly change the properties of the viruses to their advantage — by increasing their infectiousness or enabling them to switch hosts.
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