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Blood-borne Identity
18 January 2016

Blood-borne Identity

The liver is a serious multi-tasker. It has a wide range of functions from breaking down drug products in our blood to producing bile to break down fats. When the liver gets diseased, the most common culprits are one of the five known hepatitis viruses. By using next-generation sequencing, scientists recently analysed plasma from a patient infected with hepatitis C virus (pictured), and discovered a completely new virus. Provisionally designated human pegivirus 2, it was also found in other patients already infected with hepatitis C. It’s possible however for a virus to get into a cell and multiply but then cause no disease, thanks to our immune system keeping it in check. So the next important step is to find out if human pegivirus 2 can actually cause us harm. Screening for the virus, to ensure that blood components – for example for transfusion – are not contaminated, can then follow.

Written by Soumya Perinparajah

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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