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Nasty stomach viruses can travel in packs

In mice, rotavirus and norovirus clumps caused more severe infections than viruses working solo

illustration of viruses in vesicles

THE ENEMY WITHIN Some rotaviruses and noroviruses will clump together in vesicles, as shown in this illustration, to invade a body and cause infection.

NIH

By Leah Rosenbaum

- More than 2 years ago

Conventional wisdom states that viruses work as lone soldiers. Scientists now report that some viruses also clump together in vesicles, or membrane-bound sacs, before an invasion.