A virus that infects nearly all children early in life has, in rare cases, been present within human DNA for thousands of years.

For more than three decades, Ötzi the Iceman has been a kind of time capsule for researchers—an Alpine body preserved so well that it keeps producing scientific “firsts.” Now, a new analysis suggests Ötzi carried a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus,

In a recent review published in the journal Virology, researchers examined the increasing diversity of human viruses, their epidemiological significance, and preventive strategies to mitigate emerging threats. Metagenomic breakthroughs reveal hidden viral ...

A new study, which also found evidence of the high-risk strain in 45,000-year-old remains, suggests HPV has evolved alongside humans for many millennia

This article originally appeared on Undark. Pharmacies in the nation of Georgia have something ours don’t: vials of viruses in neat rows. People swallow or gargle the brews to combat routine bacterial infections. The viruses are bacteria-eaters that take ...

Left: A normal cell where the RNA molecule NORAD allows the STAT3 protein to enter the nucleus and prevent unnecessary immune system activation. Right: When the cell is attacked by a virus, NORAD is cut, preventing STAT3 from entering the nucleus.

Plague, and the infamous Black Death, spread quickly for centuries, killing millions. Plague still occurs but can be treated with antibiotics.