Roundworms, also known as nematodes, are a leading cause of parasitic infection worldwide, causing painful swelling, severe abdominal pain and even blindness. Now, scientists say that viruses carried by these worms may be one reason they cause such severe illness.
In a recent study, published in September in the journal Nature Microbiology, the researchers looked at more than 40 parasitic nematodes, zooming in on a molecule called RNA. A cousin of DNA, RNA helps cells make proteins and also forms the basis of various viruses.
