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Monday, 07 Oct, 2019
Researchers discover dengue virus can change shape to resist vaccines, drugs (Singapore Tonight, CNA)
The dengue virus can change its shape from smooth to bumpy, and as a result, it can possibly evade vaccines and drugs. Researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School have established that treatment strategies against the mosquito-borne disease need to factor in this new discovery -- that is, the virus' ability to morph. The virus appears smooth and spherical while growing in a mosquito, which has a base temperature of 29°C. However, upon entering a human body at 37°C, it changes to a bumpy surface, helping the virus to evade the immune system of the human host.
Original article: Researchers discover dengue virus can change shape to resist vaccines, drugs (Singapore Tonight, CNA)