Virus, parasite may combine to increase harm to humans
Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 15:30
in Biology & Nature
A parasite and a virus may be teaming up in a way that increases the parasite's ability to harm humans, scientists have discovered. When the parasite Leishmania infects a human, immune system cells known as macrophages respond. However, some Leishmania strains are infected with a virus that can trigger a severe response in macrophages, allowing the parasite to do more harm in animal infections.