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Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered a new RNA virus, Apocryptovirus odysseus, that appears to hitch a ride with a common human parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The discovery, published recently in the journal Virus Evolution, could shed light on the connection between viruses and neuroinflammatory diseases.
“We discovered A. odysseus in human neurons using an open-science platform to analyze large datasets of RNA viruses,” said Purav Gupta, lead author of the study. The team believes the virus hides within the parasite, similar to a soldier in a Trojan horse, to gain access to the human brain.
T. gondii is a widespread parasite that infects an estimated one-third of the global population. It can form cysts inside cells and often goes unnoticed as it rarely causes symptoms. However, it can be serious for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
The newly discovered virus was found in two particularly virulent strains of T. gondii associated with severe health problems. RUB, found in French Guinea, can cause fever and organ failure, while COUGAR, identified in British Columbia, is linked to ocular toxoplasmosis, a leading cause of infectious blindness.
The research team suggests that the parasite carrying the virus triggers a hyperactive immune response, potentially worsening toxoplasmosis symptoms. They believe this virus could serve as a valuable marker for diagnosing severe toxoplasmosis and other parasitic infections.
“This study highlights the importance of investigating the broader range of viruses that interact with humans, not just those that directly infect us,” said Artem Babaian, principal investigator on the study. The research was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
