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Respiratory virus jumps from monkeys to humans
Nature News ^ | 14 July 2011 | Zoe Cormier

Posted on 07/17/2011 12:06:38 AM PDT by neverdem

Adenovirus remained infectious after crossing species barrier.

A class of virus has for the first time been shown to jump from animals to humans — and then to infect other humans.

The virus is described in PLoS Pathogens today1. The team that discovered it might also have found the first human to be infected: the primary carer for a colony of titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus) that suffered an outbreak.

The culprit is an adenovirus, one of a class of viruses that cause a range of illnesses in humans, including pneumonia. But this particular strain has never been seen before. It has been dubbed TMAdV, or titi-monkey adenovirus.

"It's always been thought that adenoviruses are not likely to be causes of outbreaks or pandemics because they have never been known to cross between animals and humans," says Charles Chiu, director of the UCSF–Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), who led the study. Now that assumption needs to be re-examined.

In May 2009, a deadly outbreak of respiratory illness spread through a colony of titi monkeys at the California National Primate Research Center in Davis. Of the 65 monkeys housed in one building, 23 developed symptoms, including pneumonia. As a result, 19 died or were put down.

Chiu and his colleagues analysed tissue taken from the affected monkeys, and identified a previously unknown virus. Genetic sequencing revealed it to be an adenovirus, although its genome was substantially different to those of all known related viruses...

(Excerpt) Read more at nature.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Testing; US: California
KEYWORDS: 200905; adenovirus; cnprc; disease; health; medicine; microbiology; monkeys; science; titimonkeys; tmadv; virology; virus; viruses; zoonotic

1 posted on 07/17/2011 12:06:45 AM PDT by neverdem
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To: Mother Abigail; EBH; vetvetdoug; Smokin' Joe; Global2010; Battle Axe; null and void; ...

micro ping


2 posted on 07/17/2011 12:08:54 AM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: neverdem

bump for later


3 posted on 07/17/2011 12:14:53 AM PDT by proudtobeanamerican1 (A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln)
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To: neverdem

Thanks! I hope they keep this one contained.


4 posted on 07/17/2011 12:15:29 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: neverdem
A class of virus has for the first time been shown to jump from animals to humans

I don't believe that is true.

A virus for animals has keys (proteins) that only fit the lock on animal cells. Same for humans.

However, sometimes that key mutates, and will fit a human cell lock.

(useless information): Did you know that the viruses were the first creatures on Earth, and that without them we could not survive?

5 posted on 07/17/2011 12:31:12 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: neverdem

I just want to say titi monkey.


6 posted on 07/17/2011 1:26:35 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lame and ill-informed post)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: neverdem
In human-specific strains of adenovirus, death rates usually only reach 18%.

This doesn't sound right; way too high, I'd say.

8 posted on 07/17/2011 4:39:32 AM PDT by gusopol3
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To: UCANSEE2; neverdem

Cowpox?


9 posted on 07/17/2011 4:42:12 AM PDT by gusopol3
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To: gusopol3

But I suppose it doesn’t go human to human without a lot of artificial help.


10 posted on 07/17/2011 4:50:03 AM PDT by gusopol3
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To: neverdem

I thought most if not all flu viruses came from birds.


11 posted on 07/17/2011 5:04:19 AM PDT by Mercat
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To: neverdem

I recommend “The Great Influenza” by Barry.


12 posted on 07/17/2011 5:06:12 AM PDT by Mercat
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To: neverdem; ProtectOurFreedom; Mother Abigail; EBH; vetvetdoug; Smokin' Joe; Global2010; ...
Bring Out Your Dead

Post to me or FReep mail to be on/off the Bring Out Your Dead ping list.

13 posted on 07/17/2011 8:40:10 AM PDT by null and void (Day 907. When your only tools are a Hammer & Sickle, everything looks like a Capitalist...)
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To: Mercat
I thought most if not all flu viruses came from birds.

IIRC the route often is birds ==> pigs ==> people
14 posted on 07/17/2011 9:04:31 AM PDT by algernonpj (He who pays the piper . . .)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

“a colony of titi monkeys”

Beavis? Are you there Beavis?


15 posted on 07/17/2011 9:29:55 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Yes, as a matter of fact, it is that time again -- https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: null and void

Just what we need, more horrid zoonotic (sp?) diseases.


16 posted on 07/17/2011 10:48:50 AM PDT by little jeremiah ("I think you are the sicko! and I think you are an embarrassment to FR.")
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To: gusopol3

Jumping Jehosaphat! 18% must be for 3rd world with no meds.


17 posted on 07/17/2011 7:23:02 PM PDT by Domestic Church (AMDG...)
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