There is an unforseen epidemic spreading. This disease is characterized by an in

Question

There is an unforseen epidemic spreading. This disease is characterized by an increase of birth defects early in development affecting a wide range of species from fruit flies,poultry,primates etc.... the illness may exhibit different mechanisms of disease in different species. The early stages of the outbreak harbers little solid research to direct an investigation but some early testing indicates the presence of a new virus in infected patients. Government agencies have inquired you to come up with several hypotheses about the cause of this disease.

Develop exactly 3 hypotheses.  Make these hypotheses logical, to the point, and extremely different from each other to give researchers worldwide as many possibilities to investigate as possible. Each hypothesis should be 2 (max 3) sentences in length.

Each Hypothesis must (or I will not award 175 Karma points):
1.) Present a logical and distinct explanation of the unique mutation
2.) Explain the role of the virus
3.) Explain the distinct effect on the genes of the infected species
4.) Contain a very different mechanism compared to the other two hypotheses

Example:

#1: A retrovirus associated with humans has mutated its RNA genome and thus been able to enter fruit fly cells and primate cells.  The capsid protein of the virion binds to other capsids as well as to the bicoid transcription factor which artificially lowers the level of bicoid in the early embryo. this results in major defects in fruit fly development as bicoid is a master regulator of early axis formation and the infected flies tend to die early in development. 

Explanation / Answer

#1. Herpes viruses, a DNA virus which can cause latent or lytic infections in humans is mutated its DNA and able to enter into primate cells. Viral particles contacts a cell with receptor molecules and binds to it. The viral DNA migrate to the cell nucleus and transcription of viral genes occurs. These infected cells transcribe Lytic viral genes (latency associated transcript) leading to replication of virus, which infects the particular cell type,neurons of the host leading to malfuntioning of nervous sytem of the animal. #2. A papillomavirus which is capable of infecting humans has mutated and able to enter into fruit flies and primates. This virus bind to live tissue infecting epithelial tissues through micro-abrasions. The ras oncogenes are activated and late genes L1 and L2 are transcribed/translated for amplification of viral genome by infecting small number of stem cells of skin. This leads to the malfunctioning of the skin and reduction of protective function resulting in death of the organism. #3. Adenovirus causes infections in respiratory system, adenoids,tonsils of humans is mutated and able to enter into guinea pigs or primates. The mutated virus infects the Atoh1 gene ( which stimulates the hair cells in cochlea that translate sound vibrations into nerve signals) of the infected host. This infection to Atoh1 gene leads to ear impairment in animal. The infection caused by these viruses to Atoh1 genes leads to permanent deafness in animals.

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