Humans are 8% virus – how the ancient viral DNA in your genome plays a role in human disease and development
Old viral epidemics in the form of the viral DNA sequence in our genomics are still active in healthy people, according to New search for me peers Me Recently published.
HERVS, or human internal viruses, form around them 8 % of human genomeShe was left behind as a result of the infections suffered by the main ancestors of humanity millions of years ago. They became part of the human genome because of how they were repeated.
Like modern HIV, this is ancient Corporation viruses They had to include their genetic materials in their host genome to repeat. This type of viral genetic material is usually not transmitted from generation to generation. But some ancient viruses gained the ability to It affects bacterial cellsLike eggs or sperm, which transmit the DNA to future generations. By targeting bacterial cells, these viruses have been combined with human grandmother’s generics over millions of years and may have effects on how researchers examined and tested for diseases today.
Viral genes active in human genome
Viruses insert their jeans into their hosts in the form of A. Professor. There is about 30 different types One of the human inner viruses in people today, which reaches more than 60,000 viruses in the human genome. They explain the long history of many human epidemics that have been exposed to the course of development. Scientists believe that these viruses have been widespread in the population, because they have become fixed not only in the human genome but also in Chimpanzeeand gorilla And other major genomics.
Search from Our laboratory Others have proven that HERV genes are active in sick tissues, such as TumorAnd also through The development of the human fetus. But how HERV genes are active in healthy tissue are still largely unknown.
To answer this question, our laboratory decided to focus on one group of HERVS known as HML-2. This group is Recently active from HERVSAfter it became extinct less than 5 million years. So far, some of its viruses inside the human genome still maintain the ability to make viral proteins.
We examined the genetic material in a Database It contains more than 14,000 samples of donated tissues from all over the body. We searched for the serials that match each HML-2 virus in the genome and we found 37 different HML-2 viruses that were still active. All the 54 tissue samples that we analyzed have some evidence of one or more activity of these viruses. Moreover, each tissue sample also contains genetic substances of at least one virus that can produce viral proteins.
The role of HERVS in human health and disease
The fact that thousands of parts of ancient viruses are still present in the human genome and can create protein has caught a great deal of attention from researchers, especially since relevant viruses are still active today can cause them breast cancer and AIDS -like disease In animals.
Whether the genetic residues of the human viruses of origin can cause the disease in people still under study. The researchers monitored HML-2 virus particles In cancerous cellsThe presence of HERV genetic materials in the sick tissue was associated with cases such as Le Gyrge disease, or atrophic side sclerosisBesides Multiple stiffness Even schizophrenia.
Our study adds a new angle to this data by showing that HERV genes are present even in healthy tissues. This means that the presence of HERV RNA may not be enough to connect the virus to the disease.
More importantly, this also means that HERV genes or proteins may not be good goals for medications. HERVS has been explored as a goal for a number of potential drugs, including Anti -viral drugsand Antibodies for breast cancer and Tweet TDs for skin cancer. Treatments that use HERV genes as a vital cancer will need to take into account their activity in healthy tissues.
On the other hand, our research also indicates that HERVS can be beneficial to people. The most famous Herve included in human and animal generations, SyncytinIs the gene derived from the old ancient virus that plays an important role in the formation of the placenta. Pregnancy in all mammals depends on the protein derived in the encrypted virus in this gene.
Similarly, Miceand Cats and sheep I also found a way to use internal viruses to protect themselves from the original ancient virus that created it. While these embedded viral genes are unable to use their host machines to create a full virus, enough damaged pieces are spinning in the body to interfere with a cycle of repetition of their ancestral virus if the host faces them. Scientists look at that Herve one Perhaps this preventive role in people has played millions of years ago. Our study highlights a few HERVS that could have been claimed or chosen by the human body recently for this purpose.
The unknown is still
Our research reveals a level of HERV activity in the human body, which was not previously known, raising many of the questions he answered.
There is still a lot to learn about ancient viruses that still exist in the human genome, including whether its existence is useful and what is the mechanism that pays its activity. Knowing if any of these genes are already converted into proteins will also be important.
The answer to these questions can reveal unknown functions of these ancient viral genes and better help researchers understand how the human body interacts with development alongside these old epidemics.
This article has been republished from ConversationAn independent, non -profit news organization brings you facts and trusted analysis to help you understand our complex world. Written by: Aidan Burnand Tatst University
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Aidan Burn receives funding from the National Cancer Institute.
