A study published in the journal PLOS Pathogens by Taiwanese researchers at the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center has offered insight into the grouper nervous necrosis (GNN) virus and might prove to be critical in helping Taiwan retain its edge in the grouper farming industry.
Researchers Chen Chun-jung (陳俊榮), Chen Nai-chi (陳乃齊) and National Cheng Kung University professor Chen Tsung-yueh (陳宗嶽) successfully analyzed the entire atomic structure of a GNN virus strand after subjecting it to synchrotron radiation at both the Taiwan Light Source synchrotron in Hsinchu City and the SPring-8 synchrotron in Harima, Japan.
The synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that allows for the observation of atomic structure through a sustained beam of electromagnetic waves on different wavelengths brighter than that from a traditional X-ray tube.
The research team found that GNN virus cells had 60 protruding units that acted as “keys” specifically targeting the “lock” that is the grouper cell membrane, which allowed the virus to spread inside groupers.
Once the virus has entered a grouper, it rapidly infects the central nervous system and spreads throughout the fish, fishery owners said, adding that once one fish were infected, the entire pond would usually begin experiencing rapid deaths.
The find might allow for vaccines specifically designed to combat the GNN virus’ targeted evolution to infect groupers, Chen Chun-jung said.
Continuing to use the analogy of keys and doors, Chen Chun-jung said the vaccine could effectively “seal off” the keyhole and deny the virus entry.
The vaccine, once developed, might provide Taiwanese aquaculture a chance to flourish again, Chen Chun-jung said.
Taiwan enjoys international fame for its grouper farming, which generates more than NT$8 billion (US$243.1 million) annually, placing the industry in first place worldwide.
A group of Taiwanese-American and Tibetan-American students at Harvard University on Saturday disrupted Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng’s (謝鋒) speech at the school, accusing him of being responsible for numerous human rights violations. Four students — two Taiwanese Americans and two from Tibet — held up banners inside a conference hall where Xie was delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024. In a video clip provided by the Coalition of Students Resisting the CCP (Chinese Communist Party), Taiwanese-American Cosette Wu (吳亭樺) and Tibetan-American Tsering Yangchen are seen holding banners that together read:
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