Ancient Virus Remnants Linked to Fatal ALS Disease.
Scientists have identified PEG10, a virus-like protein, as a significant factor in the progression of ALS, a fatal neurodegenerative disease. PEG10, usually associated with placental development, changes cell behavior in a harmful way when present in high amounts in nerve tissue. This discovery opens up potential new avenues for ALS diagnosis and treatment, as researchers work to understand the molecular pathways involved and find a way of inhibiting the rogue protein.