Rapid escalation characterizes virus/host arms race

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A scanning electron microscope image of a piece of biofilm shows that these microbial communities comprise a very tight association of microbial cells. The bacteria archaea and viruses in the biofilm grow hundreds of feet underground in the absence o ...
A scanning electron microscope image of a piece of biofilm shows that these microbial communities comprise a very tight association of microbial cells. The bacteria, archaea and viruses in the biofilm grow hundreds of feet underground in the absence of light. (Clara Chan/UC Berkeley)

The interaction between a virus and its host is often portrayed as an arms race, with each new viral attack parried by the host and each new defense by the host one-upped by the virus.


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All News summaries for May 22, 2008

Breaking harmful bonds

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Explosives go 'green'

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New giant clam species offers window into human past

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Unexpected large monkey population discovered

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A Wildlife Conservation Society report reveals surprisingly large populations of two globally threatened primates in a protected area in Cambodia.