Rebecca Hochstein, a recent doctorate from Montana State University’s Microbiology and Immunology department, has dedicated seven years of her life to hiking through Yellowstone on the search for the mysterious pathogens within the steaming hot springs. Hochstein and her research team recently found a new DNA virus called the “Acidianus virus” with a capsid described as “lemon-shaped” and able to transform into “long, thin cylinders” unlike normal icosahedral and helical capsids. They are investigating the way that this lemon-shaped virus assembles its capsid and how it is able to eject its DNA into a host. Much like squeezing a lemon, the virus squeezes out its DNA when transforming from the lemon shape to the long, thin cylinders. Research into this new pathogen gives the virology world a better basic understanding of this shape of virus and provides a potential for new gene therapy mechanisms. The Acidianus virus was isolated from the boiling acid hot springs at a temperature of 80℃ - a heat resistance that can be used to benefit this virus as a vector. The high heat-resistance of Acidianus virus along with its ability to operate in acidic conditions means that the capsid would be able to have an extended life within the host, thereby implying that the gene therapy can be used for longer periods of time within patients. Research teams have already provided experimental models that support the idea that this virus can be used as a viral vector in the GI tract of animals which only opens more doors for smart drug delivery. The main issue the team is facing is that the virus can’t grow in the lab which makes retrieval of the virus dangerous and difficult to study further. We may be on the right track to developing a new viral vector, but we’ve got a bit of a way to go!
-Meley
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