THE VIRUS:
Our Unforeseen Philosopher's Stone
Editors Note: This article by Jonathan D. (’15) is an exploration of viruses and their immense potential should we be able to understand and control them better. In this article, he talks about how they work, the different methods of study of these viruses, and examples of the different kinds of viruses that are “plaguing” us.
In many books and folk tales, the sought after philosopher’s stone was the panacea to all illnesses. But finding it always came at a cost. Unlike the philosopher’s stone our society has written viruses off as a plague on humanity, when in reality we should take a lesson from the fairy tales and see viruses for their potential. Due to their versatility, their methods of infection and resilience to our tactics, viruses have the potential to be used to our own advantage. From the first discovery and classification of a virus in 1892, scientists have categorized them as parasitic agents of society (Zimmer, 2012). Their versatility in viral infection has made them a pest to all microbiologists. Whether it’s HIV or Nasioharyngitis (the common cold) scientists have been fighting them rather than seeing viruses from a different light. Viruses are composed of a protein casing containing genetic material, which when it forces itself inside of an organism’s cells, incorporates its genetic material into the host’s so the cell can create more viruses. This method has stumped scientist for centuries, with over one hundred million strands of viruses in the world, it seems unlikely that they would be leaving anytime soon, but we may not want them to (2). Many see viruses as killers and prophesiers of plague and death, but this vision only applies to a small group of viruses. The others may be key components of our very existence. We may not want to eradicate viruses because their tactics in infection and mysterious origins may one day lead to discoveries unimaginable. As part of our own DNA, viruses can help fight diseases. They may even hide secrets to our very existence. The truth is, viruses may be our missing link, or the unforeseen philosopher stone that could become the end to all illnesses.
Scientists have discovered that the human genome is composed of viral information, some very important to how we maintain our lives. These viral genetic sequences take up approximately eight percent of our very cells, some coding for the most essential human processes. In 2012 a team of Boston scientists discovered that one of these dormant viruses in our DNA codes for syncytin, a protein that comprises the outermost layer of the vascular villi of the human female uterus. This viral protein allows the fetus to gain nutrients from the mother. The viral sequence, being multifunctional allows it to activate and deactivate the production of syncyin. In late stages of pregnancy some women may experience a rise in blood pressure and an increase in immune system activity that may harm the fetus. The virus that codes for syncyin recognizes this and halts the production of the protein stopping the possibility of rejection of what the body will assume is foreign tissue such as the fetus (Racaniello, 2005). This sequence is found in most mammals which may lead to a greater importance in the viral sequence across the mammalian population. It is because of viruses such as this that humans have the essential processes for survival.
In the lab in which I intern we have recognized the potential of viruses and have used them as a tool in understanding DNA pathways. Retroviruses are a special group of viruses that contain RNA, a type of nucleotide chain incapable of infecting a host cell. To counteract this situation the virus has a unique enzyme called reverse transcriptase capable of converting RNA to DNA so it can infect the cell. Scientists have isolated these enzymes and now use the enzymes in everyday lab procedures from Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) to increased insulin production in bacteria as a faster method of drug production. The contracting of specific viral infections has also been known to give the body immunity to more dangerous strains of that virus. For example, in the early 1700’s smallpox was a very deadly viruses, but it was discovered by Edward Jenner in his 1765 paper titled “Cowpox and its ability to prevent smallpox” that those who contracted the less harmful virus, cowpox, were more immune to smallpox (Reidel 2005). Where one virus has an ill effect on humans another is often there to help us. Viruses have the potential to improve the drug production as well as enhance the efficiency of lab work worldwide.
In recent years, just as we have coded for the human genome, scientists have begun to gain further interest in the human viral genome. Coding this region of the genome could lead to a discovery of more viral information beneficial to our bodies and even dormant viruses that could code for lifesaving proteins and processes. If you have a family member who requires gene therapy he or she is most likely being injected with viruses. Because of their versatility we have used viruses as vectors to incorporate essential genetic material into the patient’s cells in order to make the cells code for proteins that will help the patient. As scientists have begun to take more notice of the potential of viruses we have been able to discover their potential for medical research, gene therapy and so much more. Viruses may hold the answer to a more efficient knife, one that knows where to cut, and one less invasive and less risky for the host.
Viruses may very well be the answer to many biological problems we find; it would be illogical not to study them to the best of our abilities. Not giving viruses sufficient research focus by writing them off as useless parasites has blinded us from the potential they have. Viruses may be our diamond in the rough, our unforeseen twist in the story, our philosopher’s stone.
Scientists have discovered that the human genome is composed of viral information, some very important to how we maintain our lives. These viral genetic sequences take up approximately eight percent of our very cells, some coding for the most essential human processes. In 2012 a team of Boston scientists discovered that one of these dormant viruses in our DNA codes for syncytin, a protein that comprises the outermost layer of the vascular villi of the human female uterus. This viral protein allows the fetus to gain nutrients from the mother. The viral sequence, being multifunctional allows it to activate and deactivate the production of syncyin. In late stages of pregnancy some women may experience a rise in blood pressure and an increase in immune system activity that may harm the fetus. The virus that codes for syncyin recognizes this and halts the production of the protein stopping the possibility of rejection of what the body will assume is foreign tissue such as the fetus (Racaniello, 2005). This sequence is found in most mammals which may lead to a greater importance in the viral sequence across the mammalian population. It is because of viruses such as this that humans have the essential processes for survival.
In the lab in which I intern we have recognized the potential of viruses and have used them as a tool in understanding DNA pathways. Retroviruses are a special group of viruses that contain RNA, a type of nucleotide chain incapable of infecting a host cell. To counteract this situation the virus has a unique enzyme called reverse transcriptase capable of converting RNA to DNA so it can infect the cell. Scientists have isolated these enzymes and now use the enzymes in everyday lab procedures from Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) to increased insulin production in bacteria as a faster method of drug production. The contracting of specific viral infections has also been known to give the body immunity to more dangerous strains of that virus. For example, in the early 1700’s smallpox was a very deadly viruses, but it was discovered by Edward Jenner in his 1765 paper titled “Cowpox and its ability to prevent smallpox” that those who contracted the less harmful virus, cowpox, were more immune to smallpox (Reidel 2005). Where one virus has an ill effect on humans another is often there to help us. Viruses have the potential to improve the drug production as well as enhance the efficiency of lab work worldwide.
In recent years, just as we have coded for the human genome, scientists have begun to gain further interest in the human viral genome. Coding this region of the genome could lead to a discovery of more viral information beneficial to our bodies and even dormant viruses that could code for lifesaving proteins and processes. If you have a family member who requires gene therapy he or she is most likely being injected with viruses. Because of their versatility we have used viruses as vectors to incorporate essential genetic material into the patient’s cells in order to make the cells code for proteins that will help the patient. As scientists have begun to take more notice of the potential of viruses we have been able to discover their potential for medical research, gene therapy and so much more. Viruses may hold the answer to a more efficient knife, one that knows where to cut, and one less invasive and less risky for the host.
Viruses may very well be the answer to many biological problems we find; it would be illogical not to study them to the best of our abilities. Not giving viruses sufficient research focus by writing them off as useless parasites has blinded us from the potential they have. Viruses may be our diamond in the rough, our unforeseen twist in the story, our philosopher’s stone.
1. Zimmer, Carl. "Mammals Made By Viruses: The Loom." The Loom. N.p., 14 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2012/02/14/mammals-made-by-viruses/.
2. Racaniello, Vincent. "How Many Viruses on Earth?" Virology Blog RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. http://www.virology.ws/2013/09/06/how-many-viruses-on-earth/.
3. Reidel, Stefan. "Edward Jenner and the History of Smallpox and Vaccination." US National Library of Medicine. N.p., 18 Jan. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/.
2. Racaniello, Vincent. "How Many Viruses on Earth?" Virology Blog RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. http://www.virology.ws/2013/09/06/how-many-viruses-on-earth/.
3. Reidel, Stefan. "Edward Jenner and the History of Smallpox and Vaccination." US National Library of Medicine. N.p., 18 Jan. 2005. Web. 12 Jan. 2014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/.
