Viral ecosystem: An epidemiological hypothesis

Summary Viruses are incomplete elements that require other organisms to survive and multiply, hence constantly mutate during its evolution, resulting from adaptations in response to environmental changes such as the immune response of the host. In this line, they are responsible for many diseases, but today, there is evidence that viruses have many benefits and even have a unique ecosystem to control the different species or strain of themselves. While highlighting the benefits of some viruses and the undesirable effects of their eradication, the present review expresses the idea of the viral ecosystem and its importance, which has been supported in several studies. There are countless articles about virus‐related illnesses and the undesirable effects of therapeutic interventions in eliminating the less pathogenic viruses or manipulating viral ecosystems. By simulating the viral ecosystem with an ecosystem found among the snakes, it can be assumed that the viruses have concentric zones, which its inner zone includes the most dangerous viruses for humans and each zone is surrounded and controlled by an outer zone of less dangerous viruses for humans. The outermost zone consists of viruses that are least dangerous to humans such as common cold that protect humans and possibly other living organisms against more dangerous viruses in inner zone, causing the activation of immune system by playing a unique and pivotal role in the ecosystems. Therefore, manipulating the ecosystem and disrupting the balance might have epidemics and harmful consequences for the plants, animals, and human.