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I doubt any of us can remember every single virus that we have ever contracted in our entire lives. Thanks to a new blood test dubbed VirScan, scientists can now identify all the viruses someone has ever been infected with in just one drop of blood. This new technology is able to identify prior exposure to 1000 strains of 206 different types of viruses. These 206 viruses represent almost all of the viruses known to infect humans. A team of scientists led by Dr. Stephen Elledge, professor of medicine and genetics at Harvard Medical School, published their VirScan findings this June in the journal Science.
Dr. Elledge believes that VirScan will enable scientists to "ask questions that just couldn't be asked before." For example, scientists could compare the viral histories of people with and without certain diseases to see if there are any remarkable differences between the two. This research could help scientists determine if viral infections play a role in the development of cancer, diabetes and chronic fatigue syndrome in humans. Vincent Racaniello, a microbiology and immunology professor at Columbia University (and not involved with VirScan's development), explains that "there are a lot of chronic diseases where we think a virus might be involved but we can't quite pinpoint it... ." Furthermore, Racaniello believes that VirScan "is going to be helpful" in formulating a connection between chronic disease and viruses. VirScan could also be used to help detect HIV and Hepatitis C early on since patients can go years without displaying any visible symptoms. Another potential use for VirScan is to assess the best time for children to be vaccinated. VirScan would be administered to a large population in order to determine at what age most children are exposed to various viruses.
In the next few years VirScan may become part of your yearly checkup. As of now, each blood test costs 25 dollars to perform, although the price may rise to generate profit if VirScan becomes commercially available. VirScan is not currently backed by any company but a patent for VirScan is in the works.
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Thanks so much for your comment, it means a lot to me! I hope you enjoyed reading my blog post and hope to hear from you again.
Sincerely,
Julia
It appears I can comment on this article, but not on your mosquito/AIDS article. I would like to compliment you on your research and writing skills, as they go far above the average high school student that barely knows how to spell, let alone write something that qualifies for quality academic work. Keep up your love for science and medicine. Also, good luck in college and medical school.
All the Best,
--Alexander