virus
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In a Medical Twist, Zika Virus Could Become a Weapon Against Brain Cancer
A mosquito-borne disease best known for causing severe cranial deformities in babies may someday become humanity’s ally. Duke University scientists and others have created a weakened version of the Zika virus that could potentially be repurposed into a treatment for often fatal brain cancer. In lab experiments, their virus appeared to target and kill off…
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Deepest Virus Ever Detected Unearthed by Scientists in the Mariana Trench
In new research this week, scientists say they’ve unearthed a viral denizen from the depths of the Mariana Trench. The virus is believed to be the deepest of its kind ever discovered and preys on certain bacteria. The Mariana Trench, named after the nearby islands, is found in the Pacific and is the deepest oceanic…
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Experimental Vaccine Would Be the First to Fight Off Fungi
The Last of Us, eat your heart out. Scientists at the University of Georgia say they’ve developed a vaccine that should be able to protect against a variety of dangerous fungi. In animal studies, the vaccine prevented severe infections and deaths from three types of fungi that often cause opportunistic illness in people. The team…
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Scientists Discover First Lifeform Known to Eat Viruses
Viruses are apparently no exception to the dog-eat-dog world that is nature. In a recent study, scientists have found evidence that some microscopic organisms actively feed on viruses. Though this may be the first “virovore” ever documented, many others likely exist, the team says.