Harvard scientists engineer virus-proof organism.

Harvard geneticists have developed a bacteria, E. coli, that is immune to all viruses by altering its genetic code using a special type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA). The team added "trickster" tRNAs that install a different amino acid, creating non-functional virus proteins and blocking replication. The bacteria's modified genes cannot escape into the wild due to two safety mechanisms. The research could have implications for bacteria-based production, including the production of biopharmaceuticals, and may provide a general strategy to make any organism safely resistant to all natural viruses.