Publications by authors named "P Shapshak"
Microbial organisms have been implicated in several mass extinction events throughout Earth's planetary history. Concurrently, it can be reasoned from recent viral pandemics that viruses likely exacerbated the decline of life during these periods of mass extinction. The fields of exovirology and exobiology have evolved significantly since the 20th century, with early investigations into the varied atmospheric compositions of exoplanets revealing complex interactions between metallic and non-metallic elements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the 20th century, the concept of terrestrial life's unity was solidified, and the 21st century saw the emergence and establishment of astrovirology. To date, life originating beyond Earth has not been identified. The singular instance where NASA investigated potential microfossils in Martian ejecta found on Earth has since been refuted.
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- - Filoviruses, classified as WHO Risk Group 4 pathogens, pose severe global health risks due to their high virulence and include strains like Ebola and Marburg.
- - These viruses originated around 10,000 years ago but became more virulent after overcoming a genetic bottleneck in the mid-20th century, leading to dangerous strains emerging since the 1970s.
- - Current research on Filoviruses is conducted in highly secure BSL-4 laboratories, highlighting the rising health threats they pose both within Africa and potentially beyond its borders.
World Health Organization (WHO) Risk Group-4 (RG-4) pathogens are among the most dangerous of the emergent and re-emergent viruses. International health agencies, working in concert, bridge the gaps in health care for populations at risk for RG-4 viral pathogen exposure. RG-4 virus research incorporates Biodefense Program and Biosafety Laboratory (BSL)-4 technologies.
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