A group of scientists have discovered a previously unknown virus that lives in the intestines of every second person in the world. American bioinformatics experts are confident that this virus affects the behavior of especially common bacteria.
The study was conducted by a multi-national team led by Robert Edwards of San Diego State University. Biologists have named the new virus CrAssphage. According to Ekho Moskvy, experts believe that the virus affects the behavior of some of the most common bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract, which causes chronic diseases.
The virus was detected by comparing DNA fragments present in half of all samples, information about which is stored in the three largest international databases. At the same time, the researchers found out that this sequence had not been previously described.
“It's not unusual to find one while looking for a new virus. It is very unusual that so many people have it,”Edwards commented to BBC News.
They are currently trying to grow the new virus in the laboratory so that the next step is to start researching exactly how it affects the bacteria living in the gut.