Chinese researchers identify new pattern in virus transmission

By Efe Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Using synthetic biology techniques, researchers from China's Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology discovered a new pattern in virus transmission.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigates the movement patterns of E. coli bacteria and the bacteriophage M13, which can infect them, CGTN news reported on Monday.

Previously, it was believed that animal migration accelerated the spread of viral infections. However, the study reveals that some species, such as monarch butterflies, are less likely to contract diseases during long-distance migration.

Chinese scientists discovered, using mathematical models and synthetic biology techniques, that faster, directional movement of bacterial populations aids in the elimination of infected bacteria. This process eventually produces a group composed entirely of healthy bacteria.

The study offers a deeper understanding of infectious disease transmission patterns, according to Fu Xiongfei, the paper’s lead author.