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See how the herpesvirus reshapes our cells’ DNA in just eight hours

New imaging tools reveal how the virus alters our chromosomes to kick-start its own replication

This side-by-side image shows an uninfected cell (left) with its innards spread throughout the cell, and one infected by the herpesvirus (right). The cell's insides are now compacted into a small area in the center of the cell.

Compare human DNA in its natural state (left) with eight hours after being infected with herpesvirus (right). The virus compacts the human genome significantly to make space for it to replicate itself.

Esther González-Almela and Álvaro Castells-García

By Amanda Heidt

The herpesvirus can manipulate our DNA with far more precision than previously thought.