Scientists have discovered more than 1000 new viruses
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Despite the enormous advances in science, many microorganisms remain unknown, as in one of the latest studies, more than 1,000 new viruses were discovered. The new scientific work involved specialists from different countries, they were able to identify a new way of transmitting viruses and their vectors. As it turned out, viruses that can be dangerous to humans are often spread by invertebrates. According to experts, none of the viruses identified was known to science before, and an international group of experts published its conclusions in one of the scientific publications.
Specialists noted that the new large-scale work completely changes the notion of virology, until today science has not known more than 1000 viruses, but it is possible that there are many more and scientists will still have a long time to study all viruses, ways of transmission to humans and the degree of danger, which they represent. According to experts, not only invertebrates can carry viruses, carriers can be animals, insects, and worms, but this assumption is just a theory and it is necessary to conduct a number of studies to confirm or disprove the experts' assumption.
The head of the new research project, Edward Holmes, noted that previously no research group had engaged in such studies on the study and classification of viruses in such a large number, most likely this was due to limited knowledge in this area. About such a huge number of viruses in nature, scientists could not even guess, since neither science nor medicine had anything to do with the diseases they caused. Now the work is going on, scientists are sure that it is necessary to learn how to protect against viruses and diseases they cause due to invertebrate microorganisms, because contact with them is practically impossible.
Another research team examined when viruses are most active and represent the greatest danger to human health. As it turned out, a person is helpless against viruses in the morning, especially after night shifts or long flights, when there is a change of time zones. At the University of Cambridge, a team of scientists said that the loosened human biorhythms contribute to the fact that viruses begin to multiply actively in the body. Such conclusions scientists made after a series of experiments on laboratory rodents, who were infected with influenza and herpes viruses. In the body of rodents that were infected in the morning hours, there were much more viruses, compared to those who were infected in the evening. Scientists believe that viruses are not able to attack cells of the body after a certain time of day. In addition, during the experiments it was found that the most vulnerable to the viruses were rodents with downed biological rhythms. According to Rachel Edgar, who participated in the study, people working in night shifts are more prone to viral diseases.
Despite the fact that Cambridge scientists used two types of viruses, scientists suggest that similar principles apply to other viruses.
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