Health & Medicine - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 12:20 - 0 Comments

Neurons’ novel way of battling infections

The images show the impact of interferons in fighting viral proteins in neurons. The nucleus of each cell is in blue while the viral proteins are in red. In the top image, neurons have not been treated with interferons, thus allowing viral proteins to replicate. The bottom image shows neurons that have been treated with interferons, resulting in a containment of the virus. (Reprinted with permission from DNA and Cell Biology, 2010 (in press), published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, New Rochelle, N.Y.)

NYU (US)—Biologists have determined how neurons combat viral infections, a discovery that may offer a path for treating viral encephalitis and related afflictions. Continue…