New Delhi : A virus widely present in humans can cause diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) as well as brain cancer, a study by scientists at IIT Indore has found.
The Union Ministry of Science and Technology said on Monday that scientists claimed that the cancer-causing virus Epstein Barr virus (EBV) can infect neuronal cells, causing both types of diseases.
The scientists worked under the Fund for Improvement of S&T Infrastructure (FIST) scheme for the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to explore the potential effects of cancer-causing EBV on brain cells.
The study, published in the latest issue of ACS Chemical Neuroscience, suggests that neuronal cells may undergo timely and gradual changes under viral influence. The scientists used the Raman microspectroscopy technique, a simple, cost-effective tool for finding sensitive chemical changes in biological samples.
“EBV has been found to be widely present in the human population. It usually does no harm, but in some unusual conditions such as immunological stress or immunodeficiency the virus reactivates inside the body. This can lead to various complications. such as a type of blood cancer called Burkitt’s lymphoma, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and so on,” the government release said.
Dr Hem Chandra Jha, Team Leader, Infection Bioengineering Group at IIT Indore, said, “The research work helps to understand EBV-mediated biomolecular changes in different compartments of the central nervous system, leading to a better understanding of nervous system diseases. Is.” ,
Experts say that earlier studies provided links to the involvement of EBV in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, how this virus can affect and manipulate brain cells is still unclear.
“This study is also helpful in establishing the benefits of Raman microspectroscopy, a cost-effective and non-invasive technique, in conducting studies on the cellular complications associated with viruses in clinical settings. It is also helpful in examining clinical samples compared to other techniques. can provide an upper hand in performing analyses, which require advanced setup to study virus-associated changes in cells, tissues and organs,” said Prof. Rajesh Kumar.