Brain fights West Nile Virus in unexpected way

(University of Washington Health Sciences/UW Medicine) A biochemical self-destruct trigger found in many types of cells takes on a different role in brain cells infected with West Nile virus. In a turnabout, it guards the lives of these cells and calls up the body's defenses. Neurons might be protected by this otherwise self-demise mechanism because they are non-renewable and too important to kill off.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news