U.S.A. — A study published in Cell Host & Microbe found that different stomach viruses tend to be more contagious when the virus particles cluster together.<br /><br />The scientists conducted the study by analyzing stool samples from patients who had rotavirus or norovirus.<br /><br />They found out that stomach virus such as norovirus and rotavirus cluster together to form "packs" of up to 40 viruses.<br /><br />The virus clusters — called vesicles — are then covered in a protective membrane. <br /><br />The virus inside the clusters are also quick to replicate inside the membrane to form more virus particles.<br /><br />According to the study, the protective membrane protects the virus clusters from being noticed by the immune system.<br /><br />As the vesicles pass through the immune system and into the intestine, it quickly separates and infects one single cell with multiple viruses.<br /><br />In the study, scientists found that mice infected with clustered viruses became more ill compared to those that were infected with a single virus.<br /><br />The researchers noted as there are currently no vaccine to treat the vesicles, treatments to target the clusters, instead of individual virus particles, would need to be developed.
