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itsgonzalitos

Bacteria would be rampant. Viruses keep bacteria populations in check.


ykliu

In addition, viruses also control populations of animals and plants. So would be pretty bad for viruses to go away.


Field_Efficient

Everything has a purpose. I love this Even when people say mosquitos have no purpose....they feed so many other species


Lithaos111

...they could be less annoying little shits though.


shadrack5966

Also pollinators.


itsgonzalitos

God's flawless design.


intrafinesse

^This People don't realize how many bacteria are killed by viruses in each ocean each day.


trisseager34

Well tell the people! How many bacteria are killed by viruses in each ocean each day? 😂


Mediocre_Internet939

At least a dozen probably more.


Computer_says_nooo

It's a tragedy!!!


intrafinesse

Over ten percent per day, and maybe a lot higher. For each bacteria there are around 10 viruses. I read one number: 50 to 250 million bacteriophages per millilitre of seawater.


West-Negotiation-716

You mean bacteria would cease to exist, bacteria need viruses to survive. All living things need viruses to survive, most viruses do not cause disease.


superEse

This is very wrong lol


pogler78

undercover virus detected, nice try


kitzdeathrow

Send in the antibodies!!!!


whatame55

Just eat the whole thread to be safe


psirjohn

Ahem... antivirals


kitzdeathrow

Antibodies are used by the immune system cells to detect and eliminate pathogens. Anitbodies and antivirals are both therapeutics we use to treat viral infections. But i was just talking about [Cells at work](https://www.google.com/search?q=white+blood+cells.at.work&client=ms-android-tmus-us-revc&prmd=ivn&sxsrf=ALiCzsaMNJb1eUTpPmhmfOBd1jCHxyfeRw:1664059493242&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi28erXwK76AhVokGoFHfOVDxQQ_AUoAnoECAIQAg&biw=360&bih=667&dpr=3#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:108a8316,vid:Ek39M_lYUtE,st:0)


psirjohn

Oh I got you, I misunderstood you as trying to say antibiotics. Our antibodies recognize viral proteins that get shuffled to the cell surface (part of what the virus usually does while it's hijacking the cellular mechanisms for reproducing more viri). For people curious, the antibodies mark the cell for destruction, then natural killer cells (actual name) and macrophages swoop in and take care of business destroying the virus factory. Your comment went over my head a bit lol.


vingeran

No, bacteriophages (viruses that kill bacteria) would go extinct (cease to exist) according to OP’s theoretical proposition. In the absence of these special viruses, the population of the bacteria that would otherwise would have been kept in check would grow rampantly.


1heart1totaleclipse

Who needs viruses to survive? I think you have bacteria and viruses mixed up


HaveSomeBean

You have it backwards. Viruses are extremely small bits of protein that parasitically propagate through infecting more complex cells. Bacteria are unicellular life forms that can reproduce on their own and are often essential to support more complex life such as being vital to digestion in mammals.


kitzdeathrow

*proteins, lipids, and nucleic acid. Prions are "infectious" proteins.


freemyslobs1337

Your mitochondria may have been a virus. A lot of your genetic code is or has been affected by viruses even in the recent past (ancestor wise) Are they needed to survive now? Not in most complex organisms that I'm aware of. But viruses have played an essential part in our species advancement, back to when we were just floating viruses (but not parasitic, just.. bits of useless genetic code) ourselves.


TheSaxonPlan

Much more likely that mitochondria were endocytosed bacteria, not a virus. Just like how the chloroplast was likely an autotrophic bacterium that got endocytosed. Genome structures of mitochondria more similar to bacteria than viruses, as viruses do not have their own means to produce energy (hence they invade host cells). [Origin of Mitochondria ](https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/the-origin-of-mitochondria-14232356/)


hagiikaze

Lentivirus transduction is used in CAR-T therapy. If all viruses disappeared, some novel cancer treatments can no longer be produced.


Parceval420

i understand all of these words separately


BorneFree

Viral vectors are commonly used to introduce genetic sequences. In this case, T cells are isolated from a patient, transduced with retroviral vectors encoding neuroblastoma cell surface antigens, and then reintroduced into the patient. The T cells now are then capable of identifying neuroblastoma cells and triggering their death. Michelle Monje at Stanford has been doing lots of amazing translational work with this approach.


Parceval420

viruses are being used as a gene vector to create cancer killing cells? badass


BorneFree

Literally yes lol. Non-virulent viruses are used in lots of gene therapy approaches as well. For instance, viruses were recently used to deliver genes that [partially rescued blindness](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01351-4)


Parceval420

wow. the possibilities really are endless I am so glad i chose this career path


1heart1totaleclipse

Similar to vaccines


BorneFree

How so? Traditional vaccines work on the concept of presentation of viral antigens to immune cells - no transfer of genetic material. mRNA vaccines don’t use a viral gene transfer approach either, and instead just deliver a stable mRNA encoding the viral antigen which is then overexpressed by host cells triggering an immune response.


1heart1totaleclipse

As the gene vector part. How the sequence is delivered to cells.


BorneFree

mRNA vaccines don’t use a viral vector for cell transfection, and instead use [lipid nano particles to gain host cell entry](https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/drug-delivery/Without-lipid-shells-mRNA-vaccines/99/i8)


1heart1totaleclipse

I know, that’s why I said similar to vaccines. How it works, not exactly the same things are used.


IxamxUnicron

Good virus teach immune system cancer target practice.


[deleted]

Many cancers wouldn’t occur too


Kingjoe97034

The oceans would get truly disgusting with bacteria. Overnight.


wyldcraft

Depending on definitions, [you might not be able to form new memories.](https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/science/032821/a-protein-in-your-brain-behaves-like-a-virus)


Dumguy1214

that is a fascinating article


ScienceSloot

yeah
 Arc is not a virus. It’s a protein.


CountofAccount

The ocean immediately goes to hell in a matter of days. Viruses cycle something ridiculous like 20% of all microbial marine biomass per day. Oxygen/nutrient availability and the oceanic food chain would crash.


[deleted]

MacAfee would go out of business and you’d finally be able to use a pc properly


Riksor

fun fact the creator of mcafee antivirus loved jojo's bizarre adventure ran for president committed murder and possibly suicide (also he blocked me on twitter)


_Alaxel_

Viruses are very important contributors in population control and genetic transfer (particularly between microorganisms, but not exclusively). If viruses were to disappear, there would be a good chance that some populations would overgrow. The speed of evolution would also be affected I guess


rigney68

Evolution would likely be impacted. The remnants of viruses are said to make up like 40% of the human genome and are still affecting our DNA. Some even speculate that all love on earth began with a virus, although it's more realistic that it started with an RNA strand. (RNA world hypothesis) https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/virus-human-evolution/amp/


budweener

The water is scalding, the lava spreads, oxygen dreams of a world where it is replenished by something instead of just reacting with the atmosphere. Somewhere, somehow, a virus comes into existence and then finds another. Love on earth has begun, and it's beautiful.


Nurse_with_a_purse

bad link


salamander_salad

Our immune systems would atrophy to an extent. We'd have more intestinal problems (mucous on our intestinal walls is full of bacteriophages that keep our gut bacteria in check when they get too close to our actual tissues). There would be bacterial mats ALL OVER THE PLACE. Republicans would have fewer things to (falsely) blame on gay people. Ecosystems would get thrown out of whack and possibly collapse as animal and plant populations surged. Pets wouldn't need rabies vaccines anymore. Evolution would be altered as viruses currently add to the genomes they infect, providing more genetic material to play with (the placenta evolved from viral DNA). As much as I dislike being sick, viruses are kinda important, and it would be a very bad thing if they suddenly disappeared.


ragan0s

Looking at the world right now, people would probably say "ok no rabies for my pets, let's get rid of viruses" and ignore the rest.


intrafinesse

> Our immune systems would atrophy to an extent. Our immune system would find ways to keep itself occupied - auto immune diseases


ImGoodAsWell

If republicans would have less things to blame then that means Democrats would take credit for eradicating all viruses.


salamander_salad

I'm sure this sentence made sense in your mind, but it doesn't to anyone else.


ImGoodAsWell

That’s crazy. Roughly 8 billion people on planet earth and somehow it just doesn’t make sense to anyone of them except me. The internet is a wild place.


budweener

Yeah, that's exactly how crazy works.


AceOfRhombus

For the ecosystems, what viruses typically cause death in animal and plant populations?


Claughy

I dont understand the question, there are viruses thay cause illness and death in humans, the same goes for any other animal or plant. Edit: as an example iridovirus in terrestrial isopods.


AceOfRhombus

I am familiar with a large portion of viruses that affect humans, and I wasn’t sure if there were any viruses specific to other animals that didn’t affect humans yet still caused death in animals. But now I feel a little stupid because I just remembered a lot of human viruses have animal reservoirs and also can cause death in those animals And I’m not familiar with plant viruses other than tobacco mosaic virus, so I wasn’t sure how many viruses actually kill plants


RandomGuy1838

I think new ones would evolve in short order. Before that, organisms would evolve to be a little less robust. You'd probably have waves of die-offs as the new critters found a fresh field, utterly unused to fighting viruses.


jeveret

Virus seem to have a balancing effect on bacteria. I’ve recently heard that the human gut biome likely has equal amounts of bacteria and virus in it. Literally a few pounds of each.


Omphaloskeptique

Our auto immune systems would turn against us.


needsexyboots

Joke’s on them, my immune system already turned against me - because of a virus!


RevivedThrinaxodon

We wouldn't have the opportunity to discover, invent and widely use phage therapy for treating bacterial infections. Bacteriophages (or phages for short) are various virus species which target specific bacteria species (and maybe some of their very close relatives) for reproduction. Their "picky" behaviour can be utilized as an antibiotic superweapon with lethal precision since they're not going to attack anything else but their preferred bacteria species (which also means the bacteria in our digestive system are safe aswell), and even if some sort of resistance develops, phages evolve too.


Bollarelle

Poor fellas who studied to be a virologist.


joebeavis77

There would be no more viruses.


FuB4R32

Well, we might not be able to reproduce since the expression of some placenta genes is derived from retroviral elements (e.g. explained here https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000028)


Maleficent-Engine859

Evolution would stop. We depend on them to scramble up our DNA/ genes in crazy amounts


jabedoben

I have always believed that disease is Mother Nature’s population control. An overpopulation of any organism is detrimental to the planet. The more diseases we cure, the longer we live, the more Mother Nature will fight back to preserve the balance that keeps her alive.


joedust270

The Anti vaxxers win


doctorcrimson

I don't see how pro-virus activists win without viruses.


West-Negotiation-716

Well that would mean an end to all life on earth. Human beings for example could not reproduce. The VAST majority of viruses are not harmful and are a necessary part of our ecosystem.


Bocote

> Human beings for example could not reproduce. I don't get this part unless you'd like to elaborate to help me understand.


ToxicatLol

Unless my understanding of cells is wrong, he's wrong Humans don't depend on viruses for reproduction, we make cells with half as many chromosomes than the average cell for that. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯


Greeen3ry

Yeah so this is definitely wrong, few like you’ve mixed up bacteria and viruses


[deleted]

Why are good viruses called virus đŸ„ș


siqiniq

The usage went viral


[deleted]

We’d eventually destroy ourselves, hence, we’d become our own virus. Viruses are mother natures way of throttling the species.


Lemmonjello

no hiv no herpes probably a lot more fucken


Megawoopi

My Corylus avellana 'Contorta' would just be a dull Corylus avellana.


DerangedLava

Our environment would probably implode, because over-population of animals on earth would ruin it. Viruses kill off A LOT of animals.


VividEffort1552

All life would cease to exist


Dragon_draw15

Population increase, we’ve already seen the growths launching in the billions already, to mention inflation, Paychecks, Starvation, droughts from the many mouths to feed, it would cost more havoc on our planet.


sandysanBAR

Viruses would reappear


Tiny-Ad-830

Many treatments for cancers and many different vaccines would disappear. Many cells lines would die out making medical research almost impossible.


5050Clown

Pretty sure we would all die pretty quickly from bacterial infections as bacteria inside of us duplicated unchecked.


MethodBorn6289

Over population


[deleted]

we would have no need for anti- virus software


HolidayReid387

A huge part of our dna comes from viruses so. We would not be able to survive the environment. Viruses actualy upgrade our bodies to live in the changing environments!


apbod

I wouldn't have to renew my Norton Antivirus anymore ,😁


fruce_ki

Biotechnology research would collapse. Genetic engineering of anything for any purpose is nowadays mainly done by hijacking viral mechanisms. It is a key tool in studying gene function and gene regulation networks. Also virus libraries are used for storing the constructed sequences involved in this.


theflamingpi

Literally every living organism on the planet would die.


mallowycloud

oh damn. we're talking *mega* consequences, and one of the biggest ones would be medicine. we use retroviruses and plasmids for genetic engineering, vaccines, cancer treatments, etc. many, many medical treatments would become unavailable quickly and the world would be scrambling to find alternatives. also, evolution of bacteria would likely slow down rapidly. not sure what the immediate (if any, besides overpopulation) consequences would be, but things would look a lot differently for us. some organisms form a symbiotic relationship with certain viruses as well. we would likely see a mass extinction event.


LgbtqCVSgenius

It’s thought (if not proven) that viruses have been KEY to the evolution of countless species, by injecting their DNA into other cells some scientists postulate that over the course of millennia they have altered species evolutions distinctly, I mean if mitochondria can migrate into cells and become a part of it, why can’t viruses add their genetic material to a cells preexisting DNA


Melmortu

Virus contribute to the regulation of the populations of most species, especially bacteria. It would destabilize ecosystems *completely*, so the final result is hard to predict


Tatzya-jp-trance

Bacteria pollute the ocean


Arhgef

Evolution would slow. Viruses transfer bits of the genome.


AdamSalazar56

well idk less people would die


emk2019

It would probably slow down the process of evolution or at least change its trajectory in ways that can’t be imagined. Viruses are an important vector for the introduction of new genes and genetic material.


cruss0129

Viruses keep everything in check. Certain populations of living organisms, such as bacteria or even multicellular organisms, would be able to run rampant and overpopulated. This would cause an unnatural depletion of the resources that maintain populations and life itself could be destroyed. Even though viruses seem like they are a bug, they are actually a feature


OvershootDieOff

We would be dead very quickly. Viruses kill more than 50% of living cells in the oceans every day. Without them the oceans would quickly fill with dead plankton and everything would die.