Unveiling RNA Viruses: A Whimsical Look at Serious Science
Gather ’round, folks! A team of researchers from the University of Sydney and companions have just delivered a real humdinger of a discovery—unlocking more than 160,000 new RNA viruses! Now, before you ask if you’ll catch one at your next dinner party, let’s dive into the whirlwind of viral joy this study brings.
According to Professor Edwards Holmes, the lead author of the study, we’ve caught a glimpse into the “hidden part of life on Earth” where these viruses reside like a bunch of party crashers at a wildlife rave. But what do viruses even do at these parties? Apparently, they’re just hanging about in the atmosphere, chilling in thermal springs, and causing a ruckus in hydrothermal conduits. Talk about a wild night out!
So, what’s the rub? This isn’t just any old run-of-the-mill virus discovery. No, no! This is the largest number of viruses found in a single study ever! Sorry, germ freaks—this isn’t a competition you want to win. Each of these new viral discoveries gives us a better grasp on just how varied and sneaky these little buggers can be. Who knew? Some of them could even be hanging around in extreme environments, which is just like every bad horror movie you’ve ever seen: “Is that a virus or just another lost hiker?”
Shining a Light on Genetic Dark Matter
Researchers used a machine learning algorithm named LucaProt—sounds like an Italian robot chef, doesn’t it?—to analyze a mountain of genetic data. They processed segments of virus genomes that are longer than my Christmas list (over 47,000 nucleotides, if you’re counting). Professor Holmes insists that while most of these viruses were already lurking around in public databases, they were so “divergent” that no one had the foggiest idea what they were. Think of it as having 160,000 new uninvited guests at the global buffet, but no one remembers sending them an invitation!
Holmes referred to these elusive genes as “genetic sequence dark matter.” Really? ‘Dark matter’? Is that euphemism for all those odd socks I find in the washing machine? It’s what scientists use when they want to discuss stuff they can’t quite explain—like why I put my keys in the fridge but lose my wallet in broad daylight.
According to his partner in crime, Professor Mang Shi, this new AI-based tool has a “sensitivity and specificity” that would make any therapist jealous! It’s meant to help us dig deeper into the echoes of viral diversity, hinting that the world is just bursting with uncharted microbial delights. Who knows what else awaits us? Maybe a special envoy from the virus universe saying, “We’ve arrived to reboot Earth!”
Join the Viral Voyage!
What’s next for this daring team? Refining their system to unearth even more hidden treasures of biodiversity. Picture it: a world where scientists comb through the darkest corners of nature, discovering everything from the “promise of new life” to the deadly form of the next viral Netflix show horror.
So there you have it, dear readers! If you were worried about being bored at the next microbe mixer, fret no more. We’re about to open so many more doors into the weird and wonderful viral world that we won’t have enough time to figure out where we left our shoes!
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A team of researchers from the University of Sydney, among others, turned to artificial intelligence to uncover more than 160,000 new RNA viruses. According to specialists, this discovery will allow us to better understand this essential branch of life.
“We were offered a glimpse into a usually hidden part of life on Earth, revealing remarkable biodiversity in the process,” says the study’s lead author, Professor Edwards Holmes.
The results are published in Cell.
“This is the largest number of viruses discovered in a single study, and it greatly increases our knowledge of the viruses around us,” continued Professor Holmes.
“Finding so many viruses at once is incredible, and this is only a small part of the whole picture. There are millions more waiting to be discovered, and we can use the same approach to identify bacteria and parasites. »
As the researchers write, if RNA viruses are usually associated with human diseases, they are also found in extreme environments, almost everywhere on the planet. As part of the study, they were detected in the atmosphere, in thermal springs, as well as in hydrothermal conduits.
“The fact that extreme environments contain so many viruses is just another example of their phenomenal diversity, as well as their tenacity to live in the most dangerous conditions, which could give us clues about the emergence of viruses and other fundamental life forms,” Professor Holmes said in a press release.
Shed the light
Researchers designed a machine learning algorithm, LucaProt, to process vast amounts of genetic data, including virus genomes of up to more than 47,000 nucleotides, as well as complex genomic information, to discover the most of 160,000 viruses.
“The vast majority of these viruses had already been sequenced and were in public databases, but they were so divergent that no one knew what they were,” Edwards Holmes said.
“It was what we call genetic sequence ‘dark matter.’ Our AI was able to organize and categorize all of this disparate information, shedding new light on this “dark matter” for the first time. »
According to experts, doing this using traditional methods would take a lot of time.
According to Professor Mang Shi, co-author of the study, “we now have an AI-based model that has exceptional sensitivity and specificity, while allowing us to further explore the viral diversity”.
“The next step is to refine our system to discover other parts of biodiversity. Who knows what awaits us? », Adds Professor Holmes.
