Category: Uncategorized

FIRST CONSENSUS. "The evolutionary origin of the eukaryotic cell represents an enigmatic, yet largely incomplete, puzzle...some consensus has been reached about the following points: first, the LECA (last eukaryotic common ancestor) most probably contained the mitochondrial progenitor derived from endosymbiosis with an alphaproteobacterium." https://lnkd.in/ewbMda5 View in LinkedIn

SYMBIOTIC VIRUSES. "Viral persistence in host organisms is crucial because they reliably protect the host against similar parasites. Interestingly, competing viruses are in most cases of the same or related species, whereas unrelated viruses do not compete but interact symbiotically." https://lnkd.in/e-pJFM6 View in LinkedIn

SESSILE LIFESTYLE. "Persistent viruses are capable of continuous or episodic reproduction in the hosts. The main direction is not to infect cells for reproduction with lytic consequences and often epidemic viral diseases, but a sessile life-style without harming the host." https://lnkd.in/e-pJFM6 View in LinkedIn

PERSISTENT VIRUSES "are either integrated into the hosting genome or the cell plasma, and act non-destructively during most life stages of the host. The persistent life-style allows the virus to transmit complex viral phenotypes to the hosting organism. Doing so enables the host to broaden evolutive potentials that can lead to the formation of new species." https://lnkd.in/e-pJFM6 View in LinkedIn

TWO VIRAL LIFESTYLES. "Viruses have two completely different life strategies, which are clearly reflected in their genomes. Accordingly, acute lyric viruses exhibit lytic action and can induce disease and even death, whereas the life strategy of persistent viruses implies compatible interactions with the host." A fabulous review. https://lnkd.in/e-pJFM6 View in LinkedIn

LONG DORMANCY. "Some viruses may remain dormant inside host cells for long periods, causing no obvious change in their host cells (a stage known as the lysogenic phase). But when a dormant virus is stimulated, it enters the lytic phase: new viruses are formed, self-assemble, and burst out of the host cell, killing the cell and going on to infect other cells." http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/alllife/virus.html View in LinkedIn

HIJACKING CELLULAR MACHINERY. "When it comes into contact with a host cell, a virus can insert its genetic material into its host, literally taking over the host's functions. An infected cell produces more viral protein and genetic material instead of its usual products." http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/alllife/virus.html View in LinkedIn

Yesterday, I served on a panel of judges at London Business School's Healthcare challenge, where five finalist pitched for a 10,000 pound prize. A great team from Innersight (3D radiologic imaging for surgery) won the competition. As usual, LBS Heathcare Club excelled. View in LinkedIn

"MASSIVE VIRAL COLONIZATION occurred from the very beginning of life, starting with the evolution of Bacteria and Archaea, later on of Protoctista and multicellular Eukaryota. The formation of all kingdoms, their families, genera, and species relies on the effects of viral colonization and results in diversified lineages and ultimately in the evolution of new species." https://lnkd.in/e-pJFM6 View in LinkedIn

THERE'S A BUG IN TNE OINTMENT. "On the basis of phylogenetic studies, part of these bacterial genes can be readily attributed to the alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont from which mitochondria evolved. Yet, the origin of the remaining set of bacterial genes in eukaryotic genomes, which seemingly lacks phylogenetic coherence, is a matter of debate." http://www.biochemsoctrans.org/content/41/1/451.full View in LinkedIn