virulence

That genetic twist would likely diminish H5N1’s virulence, experts predict, but no one can say how much less deadly it might become.

Mycoviral infections are multifaceted; they can reduce or increase virulence or remain hidden without obvious symptoms.

These virulence factors are used to differentiate one species of Streptococcus from another and are one way to distinguish samples through phenotypic analysis.

“All the information we have now … is that there’s no difference in virulence,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

Following this mineral assessment, the scientists explored the impact of calcium on several aspects related to the virulence of the pathogen, including its growth rate, ability to form biofilms and motility.