Researchers Find New Way to Combat Deadly Amoeba
Researchers have demonstrated an impressive way to fight the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri, raising hopes of purifying water bodies from this predator.
New Virus Discovered to Infect Dangerous Parasite
Scientists have discovered a new type of virus capable of infecting the dangerous parasite Naegleria fowleri, which causes a fatal brain disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. These viruses belong to the category of giant viruses, discovered in the early 2000s, and are characterized by unusually large sizes and complex genetic structures. The discovery of this method of combat has attracted the attention of the scientific community.
Discovery Offers Hope for Water Purification
The discovery, made by Patrick Artoff and Matthias Horn from the University of Vienna, was published in the journal Nature Communications. The new viruses, named Naegleriavirus, were found in sewage treatment plants near Vienna. They attack amoebas by mimicking a food source but quickly replicate and destroy host cells within a few hours. Their method involves specialized proteins that help prevent premature cell death of the host cells during virus replication. This discovery opens up new prospects for combating infections caused by Naegleria fowleri in environments where they are commonly found, such as public water bodies.
