Leading Experts cannot identify the genes of the new virus
Corona Virus has created havoc in China. The virus has claimed 150 lives and is spreading fast. Nations all over the world have advised their citizens to refrain from traveling to China.
Scientists and Doctors are working on a cure, but so far, they have not been able to find one. Apart from this, a new challenge has presented itself to renowned virologist, scientists, and doctors all around the world.
What is YaraVirus?
A new virus is detected in Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is named Yaravirus after a mythical mermaid called Yara. Scientists found this novel virus while studying another giant virus that infected the Lake.
A giant amoebal virus is a species of a virus that is greater than 200 nanometers. A common feature of all Giant-sized viruses is that they contain complex genome capable of DNA repair, DNA Replication, transcription.
Why is it unique and is it Deadlier than CoronaVirus
What makes this one different is its size. The viruses which infected amoebae are usually bigger and close to 200 nanometers. Yaravirus infected amoeba despite its small size of 80 nanometers and the absence of a complicated genome.
Another mystery that surrounds this virus is its components or genes. Ninety percent of its genes are unseen and unheard of by scientists. The new virus contains a total of 74 genes. So far, only six have been identified.
What is puzzling the experts?
Scientists studying the virus have described it as “a new lineage of the amoebal virus with a puzzling origin and phylogeny.” Moreover, Scientists are trying to figure out if this novel virus is a distant kind of giant virus that evolved in a reduced form similar to Acanthamoeba or its family. Genomes of Yaravirus are unknown, but it may contain important unknown and undescribed genes.
We know very little
Scientists do not know if this virus is as dangerous as CoronaVirus or not. The only thing which can be with certainty is that we know very little about viruses.