See how the herpesvirus reshapes our cells’ DNA in just eight hours

The herpesvirus can manipulate our DNA with far more precision than previously thought.

The virus condenses and changes the shape of our genetic material to hijack the host genes needed for replication, researchers report June 19 in Nature Communications. The study is the first to leverage new, cutting-edge visualization tools to understand how this process occurs, offering a clear view of cellular changes within hours of infection.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), the microbial…