Our own genome is 80% viral in origin. A groundbreaking study published this month in Nature challenges a century old assumption about the innate pathogenicity of these extremely small, self-replicating particles known as viruses. Titled, An enteric virus can replace the beneficial function of commensal bacteria, researchers found that an enteric RNA virus can replace the beneficial function of commensal bacteria in the intestine. Known as murine (mouse) noravirus (MNV), researchers found that infecting germ-free or antibiotic-treated mice infection with MNV restored intestinal morphology and lymphocyte function without inducing overt inflammation and disease. The researchers found: Importantly, MNV infection offset the deleterious effect of treatment with antibiotics in models of intestinal injury and pathogenic bacterial infection. These data indicate that eukaryotic viruses have the capacity to support intestinal homeostasis and shape mucosal immunity, similarly to commensal bacteria.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 03:43:29 +0000
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