My virus is called the Cata-Derm virus and the host animal is Panda. The disease itself is called Cata-derm. I chose this name because this virus is the catalyst in breaking down the skin layer, the epidermis. The virus once replicated and transmitted to another host, attacks the skin cells to reach maturity quicker. The Panda’s skin initially scales and produces new layers quicker. The symptoms are scaling skin. The incubation period for the disease is 2 months. This disease spreads through pandas by bites of mites. Similar to malaria, the virus has two life cycles, one in the mite and the other in the Panda. The mites remain unaffected and only play the role of a vector. The last stage which shows that death is inevitable, is that the fur on the panda slowly starts shedding. The genome of the virus is DNA, which will ensure that the virus replicates with little or no mutation.The host animal lives with it without symptoms long enough for it to transmit to other pandas and the symptoms only show at the very end. The only way this virus can be defeated is by a vaccine. This vaccine contains a sub-strain of the virus that is less invasive to the body. The sub-strain affects mainly dogs but it is easily identified and isolated from them. The sub-strain has an anti-viral medication to treat it in dogs. The Panda immune system itself can combat the sub-stain and hence can form immunity against the cata-derm virus.
Why the pandas?!?!? This disease sounds scary and I hope none of the pandas contract it because it sounds like a painful death attacking the skin. The scaling skin would be a scary sight if you were to see that on a panda. Looks like the virus has found its purpose with the DNA genome and is sticking to it. Hopefully we can get this much needed vaccine out very quickly to save these pandas! It is good that the sub-strain is easy to identify and isolate to make sure we save these pandas from a horrific and gruesome death.
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Hey Etha,
I am very sorry for bringing up pandas, but all animals have one or the other weakness. Even I, myself, had a feeling it would be too harsh to make up a disease that kills off pandas. Since the disease only lasts about two months, the research on the vaccine is done quickly after it is identified and isolated in pandas. The DNA genome really helps the virus but not the pandas. I believe that prevention is better than cure and once pandas are vaccinated, they remain immune to cata-derm. Since the DNA will not mutate as much, cata-derm can easily be prevented.
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Hey Aastha! Okay, I have to agree with Ethan here, why the pandas?! I actually became sad while I was reading this. It sounds like such a harsh disease. It would be a very painful death for the panda, but I am relieved to know that a vaccine could be easily made and that cata-derm could be prevented. Using DNA as the genome is very interesting. Would it be possible for mother pandas to pass this virus on to their babies? And if that is possible, would there be no way to treat it? I definitely hope no virus like this ever strikes the panda population.
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