Emergence of new viruses through crossbreeding can cause pandemic: Scientists

Scientists have issued a warning about the dangers of viruses 'crossbreeding,' which could result in the emergence of entirely new and more threatening viruses. Virologists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) even said that these new viruses might result in another pandemic like COVID-19. This process of natural evolution occurs when different virus species create new pathogens inside vertebrate animals.

Stefan Seitz, a group leader at DKFZ, stated "Using a new computer-assisted analysis method, we discovered 40 previously unknown nidoviruses in various vertebrates from fish to rodents, including 13 coronaviruses”. Researchers explain that many viruses are still unknown to humans because scientific studies have mostly focused primarily on viruses that cause diseases in humans, domestic animals, and crops.

But with the help of a new AI-assisted method, scientists were able to analyse 300,000 data sets simultaneously, which helped them to gather significant data efficiently.

What are Nidoviruses?'

Nidoviruses are a group of viruses that consist of ribonucleic acid (RNA). They have unique characteristics that set them apart from other RNA viruses and show their relationship.

The researchers have found that when host animals are infected with different viruses at the same time, a new virus might emerge due to the recombination of viral genes. "Apparently, the nidoviruses we discovered in fish frequently exchange genetic material between different virus species, even across family boundaries," said Stefan Seitz.

This type of virus evolution is particularly more radical when two viruses from completely different families interact. Such interactions could lead the virus to cause fatal and dangerous diseases in the host animal.

"A genetic exchange, as we have found in fish viruses, will probably also occur in mammalian viruses," explains Stefan Seitz.

Such natural cross breeding processes among viruses can easily take place in bats, which are known to carry a large number of viruses within their bodies.

Researchers suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which caused the COVID-19 pandemic, may have also developed in bats through a similar process.

Virus Recombination

It occurs when two different viruses infect the same host cell and exchange genetic material. This results in the creation of a new virus with mixed characteristics from both parent viruses. It is a natural part of virus evolution and can lead to the emergence of viruses with new traits.

Role of AI

The AI method used by the researchers indicates a significant development in virus discovery and analysis. By automating the process of data analysis, scientists can quickly examine vast amounts of genetic information to identify previously unknown viruses. This method increases the ability to detect and understand viral recombination and the emergence of new viruses.

The discovery of 40 new nidoviruses, including 13 coronaviruses, in a variety of vertebrates highlights the vast diversity of viruses that exist in nature. It also emphasises the need for continuous effort and research to uncover and characterise these viruses.

You might also be interested in - Next pandemic is “absolutely inevitable”: Top UK scientist’s warning