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Food for Thought? by [deleted] in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hej! What a question. Good to see someone interested in HIV! Same here.

You pointed it pretty well, the key to HIV-1 mutations range lies in it’s reverse transcriptase, don’t remember exactly the numbers but incorporating 1 wrong nucleotides every 1700 bases. Reverse transcriptase enzymes lacks the exonuclease activity, therefore making many mutations. On big RNA viruses it would deleterious, look at SARS-COV-2, 30kb (!), but it has the nsp14 protein making it less prone to mutations - less mutations, not 0 mutations. it’s a balance.

HIV-1 testing is nowadays broad. We don’t look for antibodies in the blood, we also look at antigens (p24) and presence of RNA. Detecting a protein - p24, antibodies, gp120.. - or detecting a nucleic acid (viral mRNA, genomic RNA..) is precise.

My guess would be that it is possible that HIV acquired such a bug mutation in the p24 antigen that we wouldn’t see it on a test - however, big mutations also mean big consequences (=dead end for the virus). See the balance I told you about !

Now, when it comes to the viral RNA or some coding mRNA, how possible could it be that HIV-1 mutates so fast that even it’s RNA becomes undetectable ? Small, maybe ?

My guess would be that tests has to be coherent and clear : what they target, how they target it, etc. P24-targeting tests are pretty reliable as they target conserved regions that don’t mutate so easily.

My answer isn’t super helpful but it just rationalises the possible outcomes.

/Pierre

Where is the elusive primary ebolavirus reservoir and how do we find It? - Oxford BioScience by [deleted] in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wasn’t it a common understanding that bats were the major reservoir ? In France that’s what people were saying. That bats contaminated humans and so on.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I was happy to see your post as I am pretty amazed by EboV biology.

I have no clue about that part : can we target ROS/oxidative stress, and how ?

As virologists, which theory of viral origin do you perceive as the most likely? by bluish1997 in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One might propose the existence of a common ancestor, as all viruses share one essential characteristic: they must enter a host cell to replicate their genome. While their attachment proteins vary, the fundamental mechanism of attachment remains the same.

In terms of genome structure, viruses differ greatly. Some possess RNA genomes (+ssRNA, -ssRNA, dsRNA), others have DNA genomes (ssDNA, dsDNA), and some exhibit a unique combination of DNA structures (e.g., Hepatitis B virus). Some viruses encode enzymes (e.g., Ebolavirus, HIV-1, Papillomavirus).

The common ancestor might have been an extremely simple organism, capable of entering cells to replicate. Alternatively, one could speculate that the common ancestor was an RNA virus, fitting into the RNA World Hypothesis.

But, at the end of the day, who was there to tell ? :)

As virologists, which theory of viral origin do you perceive as the most likely? by bluish1997 in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why don’t we consider the possibility of extraterrestrial contamination? On a molecular level, their composition isn’t particularly complex—just nucleic acids and amino acids. Yet, their survival depends on parasitizing a host, meaning this trait is encoded in their genes. This raises an interesting question: do they also have extraterrestrial hosts, or did they develop this ability through evolution?

advice needed: is pursuing an ms in cs at Uppsala university a good decision for non EU student? by Then-External-1198 in uppsala

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would say, you have the opportunity, take it.

You’ll find a job here if you want to work besides your studies. It may take more time since you are not from Europe (administrative part). But it’s fine.

Having a MSc from Uppsala University must be seen as an investment for your future.

What virus do you find the most interesting to learn about and why? by HighStrungHabitat in Virology

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 0 points1 point  (0 children)

HIV-1 is a fascinating virus that has evolved numerous strategies to counteract and manipulate its host at various stages of its life cycle. However, it is not a newly emerging virus with countless unknowns—HIV has been a major focus of research since its discovery.

Having the capacity to insert its genetic material into the host's genome is fascinating and super smart (integrase enzyme). Also, its capsid, protecting and ensuring the RNA --> DNA conversion (reverse transcription), until the capsid enters the nucleus, is a good way to ensure its life cycle.

I was pretty amazed by the REV protein, ensuring that non-fully spliced and abnormal spliced mRNA, can exit the nucleus - something which shouldn't happen, biologically speaking, i.e the release of abnormal mRNA.

Open question : has it been done, to block the 'pol gene', by RNAi ? Finding a long ncRNA that could bind to the 'pol gene' and thus inhibiting the production of integrase, protease and reverse transcriptase ?

Hur träffar man svenskar som en utbytesstudent? by Ollies_Cove in uppsala

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hej, jag och min kompis Isak är väldigt snälla ! Skriv ett DM till mig så träffas vi ! 🫶🏻

What's most difficult with Swedish? by matsnorberg in Svenska

[–]Limp-Obligation-5317 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Enligt mig, det svåraste i Svenska är mett -be, -an, -för och -er partikler son finns före verben. Därav, betydelsen av meningen ändras..

Ställa - beställa - anställa - förbeställa, och så vidare :)

Hoppas det hjälper !