Worm-like creatures from a remote Bornean rainforest could be opening doors to a ‘rogues’ gallery’ of viral discoveries.
Leeches hunt down trove of pathogens in preliminary study, adding to knowledge of virus “zoo” in “understudied wildlife”;Discoveries may include new coronavirus genus; more work is needed;Sambar deer, popular as bushmeat and trophies, may be coronavirus host;Study trekked as far afield as Bornean, Serengeti and Mongolian wildernesses;
A small army of blood-sucking leeches from Malaysian Borneo have hunted down a trove of novel pathogens, a preliminary scientific paper has revealed.iscoveries might include a completely new coronavirus genus — one that is unknown in the arcane world of emerging infectious diseases. Martin pointed out that it was particularly difficult to establish how closely this segment “matched other coronaviruses because the figure given is [only] for the best-matching segment of the virus”.
Professor Wolfgang Preiser, head of Stellenbosch University’s medical virology division, agreed that this virus needed to be “characterised more fully”. Then the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses would have to decide “whether it is indeed a new genus”. Novel viral genera and species appeared to drop like, well, leeches from the forest canopy. Viral empires emerged from some 60% of bulk samples.
The piece de resistance of the blood-loving leech’s predatory polka is isolating a mammal host and engorging itself on a meal of its blood, which scientists can then pick apart for viruses.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Zimbabwe printing new notes as inflation nears 1,000%Zimbabwe has begun printing new notes in $10 and $20 denominations at a time when annual inflation stands at 926%, according to a state media report.
Read more »
New York mayor sounds alarm over potentially COVID-linked rare syndrome
Read more »
Seven new Covid-19 deaths in Western Cape, total now 102 – WindePresident Ramaphosa is set to visit the province on Friday to assess preparedness.
Read more »
DESNÉ MASIE: Stock market winners point to the direction of the new economyThere is now an even stronger argument that a universal basic income is affordable and essential
Read more »
Zimbabwe printing new notes as inflation nears 1,000%Three men were arrested and charged for illegal possession of firearms after the discovery of three rifles and two pistols at their premises in Doringkop, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.
Read more »
AYABONGA CAWE: A new budget is required to help SA navigate uncharted territoryWith the economy in dire straits, all solutions need to be put on the table
Read more »