Scientists discover a weak spot shared by polio and common cold viruses

Scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, have identified a key vulnerability shared by enteroviruses, including those that cause polio and the common cold. The discovery reveals how viral RNA recruits proteins to assemble the machinery needed for replication, acting as a molecular "on-off switch" that controls viral copying and protein production. This finding provides unprecedented detail into the replication process of enteroviruses, which cause a range of diseases including myocarditis and encephalitis. The research may lead to the development of new treatments targeting this shared weakness.

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