Redondoviridae

On a paper published this month by Frederic D. Bushman from the University of Pennsylvania, a new family of virus was discovered. This family was named Redondoviridae because of the word “Redondo” which in Spanish means round. This is related to the circular structure of the virus´s DNA. 

The discovery was made possible thanks to recent advances in meta-sequencing. Several thousands of samples were analyzed and contrasted with human lung samples. Genomic viruses were elucidated using samples from marine life, animals and plants. It is difficult working with the human virome, a collection of all the virus present in humans, but with new techniques developing faster than ever, results are showing up. Kristin Noell and Jay K. Kolls also reported working with metagenomics and the human virome. 

Discovering new virus is important cause it will lead us to understand them better. In this way, we can develop better strategies against pathogenic virus. It is also worth noting that this new virus group is the second most common in human lungs and mouth.

Links: 
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/pdfExtended/S1931-3128(19)30171-4?_ga=2.19073788.55471235.1557438889-958368770.1544457961#%20

https://www.genengnews.com/news/virus-hunters-stalk-through-genome-and-id-new-disease-associated-viral-family/?fbclid=IwAR0pWhPY0d5xlixReDLsan8FqQeAenEbkiKvqE1VxTDILh-eWJLlSsh7z9c

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1931312819302136