Chinese scientists on Thursday discovered 1,445 new RNA virus species, and this is expected to facilitate future studies in virus evolution and the origins of life.
Zhang Yongzhen, researcher with Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, said in Beijing.
Yongzhen said the research was led by a team of scientists at the CDC, with the findings published online in the journal Nature.
“The discovery of the new virus species will challenge current rules in classifying viruses.
“The team found the new viruses by studying over 220 invertebrate species, a wide range of creatures, including insects that account for 95 per cent of the world’s animals.
“Some of the new viruses can be classified as new virus families, given their differences to known virus species,” Zhang said, adding that the discovery enriches diversities of RNA viruses.
Xu Jianqing, professor at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences at Fudan University, also said the new research had also revealed the co-evolution of viruses.
“Especially hosts cells that harbour viruses as well as the way hosts switch viruses as they evolve, which is likely to revolutionise people’s understanding of the origins of life,” Xu added. (Xinhua/NAN)
