Latest news with #VerenaSchünemann
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Economic Times
Swiss researchers decode ancient 'influenza virus' genome from preserved pandemic victim
TIL Creatives Swiss scientists decode 1918 Spanish flu virus using preserved tissue sample Scientists have decoded the genome of the deadly 1918 influenza virus from preserved tissue of a Swiss patient, offering new insights into how the virus adapted to humans and triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history. The pandemic killed an estimated 20 to 100 million people globally. Researchers say their work could help prepare for future pandemics by improving models of how viruses evolve and spread in human populations. The breakthrough was led by researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Basel, using a 107-year-old preserved lung specimen from an 18-year-old male patient in Zurich who died in July 1918, during the first wave of the Spanish flu in Switzerland. "This is the first time we've had access to an influenza genome from the 1918–1920 pandemic in Switzerland," said lead researcher Verena Schünemann, a paleogeneticist at the University of Basel. 'It opens up new insights into the dynamics of how the virus adapted in Europe at the start of the pandemic.'By comparing the Swiss strain to genomes previously reconstructed in Germany and North America, the team found that the virus already carried three key adaptations to human hosts at the very start of the outbreak. Two mutations helped it resist a human immune system component that normally blocks avian-like flu viruses, while a third mutation enhanced the virus's ability to bind to human cell receptors, making it more infectious. These findings suggest that the 1918 virus had adapted to humans early, allowing it to spread rapidly across populations. One of the biggest challenges was recovering the virus's fragile RNA, which degrades far more quickly than DNA. To overcome this, the team developed a new method for extracting ancient RNA from formalin-fixed tissue, a technique that could now be used to study other historical viral outbreaks. 'Ancient RNA is only preserved over long periods under very specific conditions,' said Christian Urban, first author of the study. 'That's why we developed a new method to improve our ability to recover these fragments.'The study also highlights the untapped potential of medical archives. 'Medical collections are an invaluable archive for reconstructing ancient RNA virus genomes,' said Frank Rühli, co-author and head of UZH's Institute of Evolutionary Medicine.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Swiss researchers decode ancient 'influenza virus' genome from preserved pandemic victim
Scientists have decoded the genome of the deadly 1918 influenza virus from preserved tissue of a Swiss patient, offering new insights into how the virus adapted to humans and triggered one of the deadliest pandemics in modern history. The pandemic killed an estimated 20 to 100 million people globally. Researchers say their work could help prepare for future pandemics by improving models of how viruses evolve and spread in human populations. The breakthrough was led by researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Basel, using a 107-year-old preserved lung specimen from an 18-year-old male patient in Zurich who died in July 1918, during the first wave of the Spanish flu in Switzerland. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Product Management Finance Management Data Science Public Policy CXO Leadership others healthcare Degree PGDM Data Analytics Design Thinking Technology MBA Cybersecurity MCA Others Artificial Intelligence Data Science Operations Management Project Management Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details "This is the first time we've had access to an influenza genome from the 1918–1920 pandemic in Switzerland," said lead researcher Verena Schünemann, a paleogeneticist at the University of Basel. 'It opens up new insights into the dynamics of how the virus adapted in Europe at the start of the pandemic.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo By comparing the Swiss strain to genomes previously reconstructed in Germany and North America, the team found that the virus already carried three key adaptations to human hosts at the very start of the outbreak. Two mutations helped it resist a human immune system component that normally blocks avian-like flu viruses, while a third mutation enhanced the virus's ability to bind to human cell receptors, making it more infectious. These findings suggest that the 1918 virus had adapted to humans early, allowing it to spread rapidly across populations. One of the biggest challenges was recovering the virus's fragile RNA, which degrades far more quickly than DNA. To overcome this, the team developed a new method for extracting ancient RNA from formalin-fixed tissue, a technique that could now be used to study other historical viral outbreaks . Live Events 'Ancient RNA is only preserved over long periods under very specific conditions,' said Christian Urban, first author of the study. 'That's why we developed a new method to improve our ability to recover these fragments.' The study also highlights the untapped potential of medical archives. 'Medical collections are an invaluable archive for reconstructing ancient RNA virus genomes,' said Frank Rühli, co-author and head of UZH's Institute of Evolutionary Medicine.
