Viruses
Shape‑shifting protein helps explain how rabies virus commandeers host cells
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Australian researchers report that a rabies virus protein changes shape and binds RNA to access liquid-like cellular compartments, offering a unifying explanation for how the virus exerts broad control with few genes. The work, published October 29, 2025, in Nature Communications, could inform future antivirals and vaccines, the team says.
A new study reveals that giant viruses, like the mimivirus, encode parts of the cellular protein-making machinery, allowing them to direct their amoeba hosts more effectively. This capability blurs the line between living and non-living entities. Researchers suggest it enhances viral production even under stressful conditions.
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Scientists have identified the oldest confirmed human RNA virus in lung tissue from a woman who died in London around the 1770s. The rhinovirus, which causes the common cold, was reconstructed from fragmented genetic material preserved in alcohol. This discovery opens new possibilities for studying the evolution of RNA viruses in human history.