New vulnerability identified in viruses
The immune system targets viruses after they enter cells, suggesting new medical strategies against infections including the common cold and winter vomiting bugThey are mankind's greatest killer and rank among the hardest to treat of all diseases, claiming twice as many lives each year as cancer.But a landmark discovery could give doctors a new weapon in the battle against viruses, including those that cause widespread illnesses such as the common cold and gastroenteritis.In a report published today, scientists announced a previously unknown way that the immune system attacks infections, a finding that offers a completely new approach to treating diseases caused by viruses."Doctors have plenty of antibiotics to fight bacterial infections but few antiviral drugs. Although these are early days, and we don't yet know whether all viruses are cleared by this mechanism, we are excited that our discoveries may open multiple avenues for developing new antiviral drugs," said Dr...
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