Millions may reside in the holes of your telephone receiver. Teeny, tiny soccer ball-shaped particles studded with thin spears. They can invade the body, dropping off disease-causing genes, that breed harmful molecular offspring which infect more cells. The result is the common cold. The culprits are viruses.
Viruses come in many forms and each type triggers a different disease.
Researchers are finding, however, that some also can play a role in treating diseases, including brain ailments. The switch to good from evil depends on genes. Genes have the powerful job of regulating the construction of proteins - the basis of all biological processes. Scientists have found that they can alter certain viruses so they don't transfer disease - causing genes to nerve cells, or neurons. Instead these viral vehicles can be used to deliver genes that activate the production of helpful proteins.