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Scientists unlock mystery to Nipah virus

Infection Control Monitor, July 8, 2005

U.S. scientists believe they have decoded the deadly Nipah virus and hope to use their findings to defend against the virus, which is considered to be a potential biological weapon, Reuters reports.

The virus infects cells by attaching to a cell receptor, Ephrin-B2, scientists from UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania learned. Identifying the cell receptor gives scientists insight to how the virus operates and perhaps ways to halt outbreaks.

More than 100 people died during a 1999 outbreak, which health officials eventually traced to fruit bats.

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