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Bacteria-Killing Viruses Wield an Iron Spike

Posted by Soulskill on from the isn't-it-ironic dept.

sciencehabit writes "Scientists have long known that a group of viruses called bacteriophages have a knack for infiltrating bacteria and that some begin their attack with a protein spike. But the tip of this spike is so small that no one knew what it was made of or exactly how it worked. Now a team of researchers has found a single iron atom at the head of the spike, a discovery that suggests phages enter bacteria in a different way than surmised (abstract)."

3 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. Awww by Aerorae · · Score: 3, Funny

    I always liked to fantasize it was a wooden one...

  2. Re:Viruses wield iron swords by MachDelta · · Score: 5, Funny

    300 microns: the movie
    Starring Gerard Butler as the voice of Bacterionidas
    and Michael Fassbender as Infectillios
    with Lena Headey as Queen Gorgorrhea
    and Rodrigo Santoro as X3/rX35 the God-Virus
    Featuring amazing microscopy effects which seamlessly switch between 4000x 10,000x and 16,000x views in mid action sequence!
    Coming this summer!

    "Tonight, we dine in the lower digestive tract!"

  3. Re:Tools by MooseByte · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's worse than that. Now that the bacteriophages have achieved Iron Age upgrades, they can develop Archery and Siege Workshop. If they research Ballistics and deploy enough Helepolis units, they will become unstoppable...