Extremely sturdy virus may be used in treating human diseases

According to recent report which was published in the medical journal Sciences, by looking closely at a nearly indestructible virus, scientists at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have devised a new plan in fighting human diseases by using DNA sheathed in extremely hard to destroy armor. This virus has been a cause trouble among the scientist for a long time because of its small and strong nature. The virus is immensely strong as it can survive under extreme conditions. It was found to be resistant to heat, desiccation, and even ultraviolet radiation. A measure of its strength can be estimated from the fact that it survived in an acidic hot spring with temperatures ranging up to 175 Fahrenheit.

While researching the Scientists found that there were similarities between the SIVR2 virus and the spore bacteria forms that cause deadly diseases like anthrax. Edward H. Egleman of the UVA Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics said that “Some of these spores are responsible for very, very horrific diseases that are hard to treat, like anthrax. So we show in this paper that this virus actually functions in a similar way to some of the proteins present in bacterial spores. Understanding how these bacterial spores work gives us potentially new abilities to destroy them.”

Not all viruses can sustain such high temperatures and extreme condition but there are other viruses that do. But what’s unique to this virus is that it has the ability to force its DNA into what is being referred to as an A-form. This A-form provides a kind of a protection to the structure of the virus. The lead researchers also believe that the recent findings on the virus will prove useful in devising ways to treat humans, especially through gene therapy. Human body has mechanisms in place to destroy and purge any foreign organism that invades the body. But this mechanism while protecting the body also proves to be a major obstacle in gene therapy. But if the DNA could be packaged in such a way that the outer shielding is resistant to any action taken by the human system to purge it then the problem can be overcome. And this resilient virus seems to be a good template for such armor.

The Titan krios electron microscope at University o Virginia was instrumental in solving the mystery of the virus. This massive microscope is located below the grounds of Fontaine Research Park. It is encapsulated within layers of concrete to provide a stable environment where samples can be examined in much greater details then was previously thought possible.