Medicine & TechnologyUniversity of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have unraveled the mystery of a strange virus in the hopes of creating more effective tools in the war against human disease. The secret weapon this virus may offer? "Armor" for disease-fighting DNA courtesy of the SIRV2 virus, who calls acid at almost boiling temperatures home.
The Massachusetts-based company OpenBiome is willing to pay $13,000 a year for a steady stream of healthy fecal matter that is used to treat patients suffering from a debilitating intestinal bacteria called C. difficile.