Study Reveals Some Species Are More vulnerable to a Broad Range of Viruses

Some fruit fly species are more vulnerable to viruses than others according to a recent study from the University of Exeter. In study, 35 distinct fruit fly species were exposed to 11 different kinds of viruses. Findings demonstrated that some species were more severely impacted by specific viruses, while others were more resistant to them. It’s interesting to note that species that performed well against one virus also fared better against others. This demonstrates the relationship between exposure and resistance, highlighting the ways in which some species are more vulnerable to viruses.

The study’s findings also revealed something interesting: there was a “positive correlation in susceptibility” to viruses. This means that fruit fly species that showed resistance to one type of virus were often resistant to others as well, even if those viruses were quite different from the first. It’s like a domino effect of resistance, where the flies that could handle one virus seemed to be better equipped to fight off a range of others.

The significance of these large-scale testing was described by Dr. Ryan Imrie, who is currently at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research. We can better understand how infections adapt to new hosts by knowing how viruses spread from one species to another, he said. This research isn’t just useful for studying fruit flies; it can be applied to a wide range of animals, including humans. These findings could give us valuable insight into how viruses might evolve and spread across different species.

The fruit flies in this study have something fascinating in common—they share a common ancestor that dates back 50 million years. This gives them a diversity similar to that of mammals, which is why researchers are asking big questions about the distances at which viruses shift from one host to another. Many scientists are working to predict the next pandemic, but the challenge is that it’s impossible to test every virus out there. That’s why they focus on understanding the general patterns in how viruses behave when they move to new hosts.

Professor Ben Longdon, from the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall, explained that we can sometimes learn about new viruses by comparing them to related ones. But there’s a catch—just a few mutations in a virus can dramatically change its behavior. These small changes can make a virus behave very differently from its close relatives, which is why studying viruses in this way can be so helpful.

This kind of research helps us better understand basic mechanisms underlying the evolution and adaptation of viruses. It’s an essential component in figuring out how new viruses might appear & what they would signify for animals—and possibly people—down the road.

In the study, susceptibility was measured by something called “viral load.” This refers to how much a virus has replicated and stuck around two days into an infection. Dr. Longdon offered some insight into why certain fly species might struggle more with resisting viruses. He explained that immunity can be costly for species. The flies that were more susceptible may have evolved in environments where viruses were less common, or they could be species that viruses have figured out how to infect more easily.

The interesting finding of the study was that no negative connections were discovered. As a result, a fly species that was highly resistant to one virus did not always have poor resistance to others. As a matter of fact, studies show that fruit fly immune systems did not evolve trade-offs in response to disease. In other words, becoming resistant to one virus did not lead to becoming resistant to other viruses. This is a fascinating discovery that could provide insight into the evolution of immune systems.

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FAQ: Are Some Species Are More vulnerable to Viruses?

What did the University of Exeter study find about fruit fly species and viruses?
The study found that some fruit fly species are more vulnerable to viruses than others. Certain species showed greater resistance, while others were more severely impacted.

How were fruit fly species exposed to viruses in the study?
35 different fruit fly species were exposed to 11 different types of viruses to measure their resistance and susceptibility.

What is the “positive correlation in susceptibility” found in the study?
The study revealed that fruit fly species resistant to one virus were often resistant to others as well, even if the viruses were very different.

Why is this research important for understanding virus behavior in animals?
The research helps scientists understand how viruses adapt to new hosts, which can provide valuable insights into how viruses might evolve and spread across different species, including humans.

What does the study say about immunity and resistance to viruses in fruit flies?
The study found that fruit fly species that were more susceptible to viruses might have evolved in environments with fewer viruses, or the viruses had adapted to infect them more easily.