Researchers shed light on rotavirus

The structure and function of the rotavirus, one of the commonest causes of childhood diarrhoea, became clearer this week with the publication of two papers and a commentary in Scienc (5 April 276:104-7, 101-3, 46-8).

Rotavirus infections are currently estimated to cause the deaths of up to 870000 children each year, mainly in the developing world.

Researchers trying to make antibodies to the rotaviral protein NSP4 serendipitously observed that it …