Despite the recent developments in technology, scientists are looking far into the past to find the cure for HIV. Recently, they have uncovered the history of ancient viruses that stretch as far back as 30 million years ago. The results of these findings will help researchers get a better grasp of virus evolution.
SCIENTIST STUDY ANCIENT HIV VIRUS
HIV 1 and 2 are what scientists call retroviruses. These retroviruses can be found all over the place in nature. A specific part of these viruses, ERV-Fc is what researchers have their eyes on lately. Since these viruses have been around us for so long, it’s only logical that they have an effect on the evolution of every organism. Unlike dinosaurs, these viruses do not have fossils, making them hard to study. By studying the DNA however, scientists can use this as a kind of “fossil” in order to study the history of viruses.
NATURAL HISTORY OF DISEASE DISCOVERED
By using these so-called “fossils”, researchers were able to uncover the natural history of HIV. Performing a series of tests uncovered certain sequences. Using these sequences and “fossils”, researchers were able to build a series of proteins that represented a group of ancestors containing the virus. From then, patterns of change were able to be examined in the course of evolution. They found that viruses usually traded genes with each other and another virus. This reforming of the genes is what played a big part in the evolution of deadly viruses.
STUDYING THE PAST TO HELP THE FUTURE
Even if mammals in the past didn’t have HIV, there are still a lot of similarities to look at. Looking at this similarities can give some insight on the evolution of a virus even if it isn’t HIV. The hard part will predict the future. They’ve successful traced the virus back in time but using it to predict new infections will be a challenge. Even so, any knowledge of how a virus evolves will surely be helpful in the long-term. Ideally, scientists will be able to catch new viruses before they even emerge someday.
