Viruses are usually associated exclusively with diseases due to its ability to invade organisms and cause infections. These microorganisms can cause everything from mild infections, such as the common cold, to serious pathologies, such as smallpox.
However, not all viruses are harmful; some play a protective role and even help fight diseases. These viruses become an effective solution against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which cause the death of thousands of people each year.
The question that arises is: are there “bad” viruses and “good” viruses? In this article we will explore this idea and how viruses can affect living things both negatively and positively.
The viruses
Knowledge of viruses has advanced significantly. A while ago, only the harmful effects they caused were known. However, It has been discovered that they can offer benefits to humans.
Working with viruses has always been very difficult, due to their tiny size, which is, on average, about 100 nanometers. With the development of new technologies, can now be studied in depth. This has allowed us to understand its biology and its applications in various scientific fields.
Thanks to advances in technology and molecular biology, Viruses have become valuable tools for genetic engineering. These advances are helping to solve important problems.
Currently There is a new approach in which viruses can be used in a controlled and beneficial way. This is similar to what happened with the discovery of the use of bacteria, plants and animals in agriculture and livestock since ancient times.
Viruses and evolution
Viruses are intracellular parasites that need to infect cells to reproduce. During this process, they alter or destroy such cells. However, its interaction with humans has been key in evolution. Approximately 9% of the human genome comes from viruses.
An example of this is the gene responsible for the production of syncytin.. This is a protein that is crucial for the implantation of the placenta in the uterus. Without this protein, pregnancy would not be possible, which would have meant the extinction of our species.
In addition, Viruses act as an evolutionary pressure factor since our origins as a species. They have helped shape human beings as we know them today. In fact, each person harbors a large number of viruses. This is known as the “human virome” and is made up of approximately 380 trillion virions.
These viruses play a fundamental role in regulating the bacterial populationespecially in the intestine. There they help prevent the uncontrolled growth of bacteria that could cause health problems such as diarrhea. Without viruses, the bacterial balance in our body would be seriously altered.
The bacteriophages
Bacteriophages are viruses that exclusively infect bacteria.. To reproduce, they need to enter a bacterial cell and multiply within it. Unlike other viruses, phages do not pose any risk to humans, animals, plants or the environment. This makes them a promising tool in the fight against resistant bacteria.
One of the main advantages of bacteriophages over antibiotics is their specificity. While antibiotics are typically broad-spectrum, affecting both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria, phages attack only target bacteria.
The same way, Bacteriophages are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Once inside a bacteria, they replicate automatically and increase the ability to fight infections.
As the effectiveness of antibiotics decreases due to bacterial resistance, Bacteriophages have emerged as a viable alternative for the treatment of infections.
Since they have the ability to multiply within the bacteria they infect, Its power increases over time. This is in contrast to antibiotics, which tend to be less effective with long-term use. Some viruses represent hope in the fight against bacterial infections. It is very important to continue researching in this field.
The role of viruses in ecosystems
Viruses also play an important role in ecosystems. For example, viruses that infect phytoplankton can influence ocean dynamics and nutrient cycling. In addition, they can help control populations of bacteria and other microorganisms, thus maintaining ecological balance.
Conclusion
Classifying viruses as “bad” or “good” is simplistic and does not reflect the complexity of their interaction with living organisms. Although many viruses are pathogens that cause disease, others can be valuable tools in medicine and ecology. Understanding this duality is essential for the development of new therapies and for the conservation of biodiversity. Research in virology continues to reveal the importance of viruses in human health and the environment.
