Experimental Aspects Suggesting a “Fluxus” of Information in the Virions of Herpes Simplex Virus Populations

Abstract

Our perspective on nature has changed throughout history and at the same time has affected directly or indirectly our perception of biological processes. In that sense, the “fluxus” of information in a viral population arises a result of a much more complex process than the encoding of a protein by a gene, but as the consequence of the interaction between all the components of the genome and its products: DNA, RNA, and proteins and its modulation by the environment. Even modest “agents of life” like viruses display an intricate way to express their information. This conclusion can be withdrawn from the huge quantity of data furnished by new and potent technologies available now to analyze viral populations. Based on this premise, evolutive processes for viruses are now interpreted as a simultaneous and coordinated phenomenon that leads to global (i.e., not gradual or ‘random’) remodeling of the population. Our system of study involves the modulation of herpes simplex virus populations through the selective pressure exerted by carrageenans, natural compounds that interfere with virion attachment to cells. On this line, we demonstrated that the passaging of virus in the presence of carrageenans leads to the appearance of progeny virus phenotipically different from the parental seed, particularly, the emergence of syncytial (syn) variants. This event precedes the emergence of mutations in the population which can be readily detected five passages after from the moment of the appearance of syn virus. This observation can be explained taking into consideration that the onset of phenotypic changes may be triggered by “environmental-sensitive” glycoproteins. These “environmental-sensitive” glycoproteins may act by themselves or may transmit the stimulus to “adapter” proteins, particularly, proteins of the tegument, which eventually modulate the expression of genomic products in the “virocell.” The modulation of the RNA network is a common strategy of the virocell to respond to environmental changes. This “fast” adaptive mechanism is followed eventually by the appearance of mutations in the viral genome. In this paper, we interpret these findings from a philosophical and scientific point of view interconnecting epigenetic action, exerted by carragenans from early RNA network–DNA interaction to late DNA mutation. The complexity of HSV virion structure is an adequate platform to envision new studies on this topic that may be complemented in a near future through the analysis of the genetic dynamics of HSV populations.

Viral musicality in harmony with nature

“…Multinucleated cells forming a syncytium due to the fusion of adjacent infected cells were also observed. Also, in this passage, a marked change was detected in the size of the viral plaques, coexisting small viral plaques (1 mm) (similar to the parental strain) and large viral plaques of 1.5-2 mm, until passage 16, from which homogeneity of large plaques as syncytium was maintained [10]. When viral titer decreases in 1.5-2 log (Figure 1) a viral amplification was performed using minimal amount of CGN.…”

“…Surprisingly, a preliminary study of structural and nonstructural genes of the variants by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) revealed that, in addition to the glycoproteins, the variants have altered genes that would not be related to the target of action of CGN as thymidine kinase and viral DNA polymerase [10,11]. These genes are responsible for pathogenicity and virulence.…”

“…The binding of HSV to the cell involves glycoproteins gC, gB and gD whereas gB, gH and gL participate in the fusion process between viral and cell membranes [15]. Apparent random interactions between CGNs and glycoproteins during the chaos stage led to the appearance of syncitial variants from passage 11 onwards [10].…”

Sapere aude: Towards a brand new humanity

“…For this recognition to occur, the mask of ego must fall and give way to soul forces (consciousness).This incorporation process is not governed by doctrine principles, by ceremonial formulas or by institutional forms, but by universal and sacred life laws. Human beings around the world, from different social and cultural conditions, are not only spiritual forces, but are also social fabrics, that invisible fabric that serves as physiological support for future humanity, where viruses, their components and regulators (prophages, proviruses) play a fundamental role in dynamics and evolutionary stability of living systems [12,13,14]. This is where these brand new human traits come from.…”

The omnipresent power of the invisible: From viruses to being conscious

“…But if we also take into account its capacity for self-repair, both at the cellular and embryological level, what field of action remains for Natural Selection for changes in organisms that really involve evolution? [19,20,21].…”