"Jump species" means a virus that usually affects one species, begins to affect another one. The Marburg agent was a virus that jumped species and suddenly "emerged in human population of the city" (Preston 22). It started in Germany, where as few as two or three monkeys contained the virus. Unfortunately a man named Klaus F. broke with the virus. A common example of this is HIV. HIV jumped from non-human primates into humans. SARS, Ebola, Bird flu, Swine flu, and Rabies are infectious diseases in which the viruses jumped from one animal into another as well. In 2008. there was a case in which farm pigs from Philadelphia died from an unknown disease. When the autopsy was done to these pigs, scientists fond out that the disease they die from was Ebola Reston. This virus is known to affect only wildlife species, like bats. This event is another example of "jump species". This is a frightening event for scientists because since this virus was transmitted to a domestic animal (i.e. pig), then it could be easier for the virus to be transmitted to humans. Scientists struggled to figure out how exactly viruses are transmitted from animals to people. Fortunately, Ebola Reston has not infected humans, but if it did, then it would be considered a Level 4 Biohazard.
Scientists are unsure about how viruse can be able to "jump from species" but there are some ideas. Viruses penetrate other cells by binding to receptors on the host cell's surface. The binding is described to be like a key that fits into a lock. Sometimes proteins on the outer coat of a virus match the receptors on the cells of other species. This is an example of what has happened with the avian flu. Once the virus is in a new host, the virus either dies out or is preserved. The virus can also add mutations and this makes it move from host to host as well.
As Lesley mentioned, jumping species is when a virus “affects one species [and then] begins to affect another one.” This process of jumping species is also known as zoonosis (StarTalk Radio, 2013). Initially, when a virus jumps species, it is the most virulent. The goal of viruses is to continue reproducing. Once it has entered a new host species and has infected several of that species, it begins to decrease in virulence. The only way they can continue to reproduce is if the host is alive, so the virus must slightly “weaken” to promote more production time. The more years a host lives with the virus in his body, the more copies the virus will be able to make. Emerging viruses due to a jump in species are initially a major outbreak, but then die down over time. The virility of viruses is a major element of the viruses’ behavior after having jumped species (StarTalk Radio, 2013).
StarTalk Radio. (2013, August 2). How Lethal Viruses Jump Species: Neil deGrasse Tyson and Laurie Garrett [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aif3zyYhhRU
"Jump species" means a virus that usually affects one species, begins to affect another one. The Marburg agent was a virus that jumped species and suddenly "emerged in human population of the city" (Preston 22). It started in Germany, where as few as two or three monkeys contained the virus. Unfortunately a man named Klaus F. broke with the virus. A common example of this is HIV. HIV jumped from non-human primates into humans. SARS, Ebola, Bird flu, Swine flu, and Rabies are infectious diseases in which the viruses jumped from one animal into another as well. In 2008. there was a case in which farm pigs from Philadelphia died from an unknown disease. When the autopsy was done to these pigs, scientists fond out that the disease they die from was Ebola Reston. This virus is known to affect only wildlife species, like bats. This event is another example of "jump species". This is a frightening event for scientists because since this virus was transmitted to a domestic animal (i.e. pig), then it could be easier for the virus to be transmitted to humans. Scientists struggled to figure out how exactly viruses are transmitted from animals to people. Fortunately, Ebola Reston has not infected humans, but if it did, then it would be considered a Level 4 Biohazard.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, can you research some hypotheses of how viruses may be able to "jump species"?
DeleteScientists are unsure about how viruse can be able to "jump from species" but there are some ideas. Viruses penetrate other cells by binding to receptors on the host cell's surface. The binding is described to be like a key that fits into a lock. Sometimes proteins on the outer coat of a virus match the receptors on the cells of other species. This is an example of what has happened with the avian flu. Once the virus is in a new host, the virus either dies out or is preserved. The virus can also add mutations and this makes it move from host to host as well.
DeleteAs Lesley mentioned, jumping species is when a virus “affects one species [and then] begins to affect another one.” This process of jumping species is also known as zoonosis (StarTalk Radio, 2013). Initially, when a virus jumps species, it is the most virulent. The goal of viruses is to continue reproducing. Once it has entered a new host species and has infected several of that species, it begins to decrease in virulence. The only way they can continue to reproduce is if the host is alive, so the virus must slightly “weaken” to promote more production time. The more years a host lives with the virus in his body, the more copies the virus will be able to make. Emerging viruses due to a jump in species are initially a major outbreak, but then die down over time. The virility of viruses is a major element of the viruses’ behavior after having jumped species (StarTalk Radio, 2013).
ReplyDeleteStarTalk Radio. (2013, August 2). How Lethal Viruses Jump Species: Neil deGrasse Tyson and Laurie Garrett [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aif3zyYhhRU