Viruses interact with other specie of viruses but the style in which they do this are little understood . Applying our understanding of animal behavior to these protein - coated diminutive pieces of genetic material , Dr Samuel Diaz - Muñozof the University of California Davis , argue , can open up up new ways to think about , and fight , agents of infective disease .
Themixingof genetic stuff that goes on when strains of a virus such as influenza carbon monoxide - infect the same host is one of the reasons vaccine struggle to keep up with speedy change in sealed specie . When co - infecting computer virus are of different species , competition ensues as to which will get to master the horde ’s cadre to allow it to repeat . An ecosystem flesh , which Diaz - Muñoz indicate inCell Host & Microberesembles the way animals compete and cooperate on a coral reef or in a rainforest .
“ We ’ve seen more and more how things we did n’t guess were social are social and there are a muckle of fundamental biological process that are social , ” Diaz - Muñoz say in astatement . “ I ’m concerned in how interactions between soul affect reproduction . And replica , of row , is primal for evolution . ”
The estimate of societal fundamental interaction between viruses has not catch on , Diaz - Muñoz argued , because they clearly lack cognitive electrical capacity . However , organic evolution can produce something that closely duplicate societal behavior without need any brains at all .
Only a spoilt parasite kill its legion – down the goose that lays the fortunate egg – but virus lack the tidings to understand this . Nevertheless , natural natural selection has raise infectious agent with the capability to slow up down breeding so as to keep horde alive long enough to transport to others , resemble cooperative behavior in more advanced life contour .
Wherever there is cooperation there are those whocheat , coasting on the benefits provided by others without wait on the usual trade good themselves . sure virus , for model , are known to expend the retort of others to enable theirown reproduction . Pushback against cheaters can fall out even in organism with no content to understand they have been cheat .
Diaz - Muñoz to begin with worked in the bailiwick of social behaviour of leoncita monkeys , but as he see about the fundamental interaction between viruses he address the attainment he had determine might be transferable .
“ Even though we ’re using words like ‘ conflict ’ and ‘ cooperation ’ that colloquially mean sure thing , these are in reality base on mathematical theory and do not require complex cognitive physical process , ” Diaz - Muñoz explained . “ You do n’t require complex knowledge to have social development . ”
Only by understanding the way viruses treat each other , Diaz - Muñoz believes , can we learn the weaknesses that give us the best chance to control them .
