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331 points breve | 1 comments | 26 Aug 25 14:07 UTC | HN request time: 0.217s | source

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mcculley ◴[26 Aug 25 18:38 UTC] No.45030508[source]▶

I always wonder this and maybe people in the comments here know the answer: If humans had the technology to eliminate all viruses on Earth, what would be the outcome? Do viruses keep other bad things in check? Would there be bad consequences if we eliminated all viruses?

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1. ammon ◴[27 Aug 25 01:04 UTC] No.45034265[source]▶

>>45030508 #

For one thing, viruses keep bacteria in check. Bacteria populations live in an equilibrium standoff with bacteriophages (viruses). The human gut contains more bacteriophage virions than bacterial cells. So eliminating all viruses could lead to bacteria overgrowth

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One universal antiviral to rule them all?