Research Team Isolates Receptor For Deadly Viruses; Discovery Could Be Key To Bioterrorism Defense

... A collaborative research team from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have made a major breakthrough in efforts to combat two deadly viruses that could be engineered for use as bioweapons. The team isolated the functional receptor for the Nipah and Hendra viruses -- naturally occurring and highly pathogenic paramyxoviruses for which no treatments or vaccines are currently available. ...