Ebola May Enter Cell via Folate Gate
By Nathan Seppa
Every virus thrives by invading cells, replicating within them, and then spreading to other cells. Unlike a burglar who crudely breaks into a residence, however, a virus uses its own proteins as molecular keys to unlock cells.
Deadly Ebola virus and its cousin Marburg virus are among the most efficient intruders known.
Yet scientists havent discovered their means of cell entry. New findings in the July 13 Cell point to a possible lock for the viruses key: a cell-surface molecule that normally binds to a member of the vitamin B family.