Here, pathogens are hiding among human proteins (pink and grey). | Photo: H. Lee et al. (2024)

The parvovirus B19 is widespread and can cause miscarriages. Since there is no method for growing the virus, research into it has been limited. A team from the University of Bern has now isolated it from the blood of infected patients and determined its structure. They were surprised to find that human proteins cover its surface. “This is probably how the virus hides from the immune system and can replicate unhindered for a long time”, says team leader Carlos Ros.

H. Lee et al.: Infectious parvovirus B19 circulates in the blood coated with active host protease inhibitors. Nature Communications (2024)

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