This cancer-causing virus lies dormant for years before striking

There’s no limit to viral ruthlessness. These lifeless packets of genetic code cause countless ails, often without a known cure. One such monster spends most of its time as a seemingly benign strand of DNA that could sit latent for years before striking, causing cells to turn into a rare but aggressive form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. A new study from researchers at the University of Pittsburgh details how that virus, the Merkel cell polyomavirus, lies dormant. Discovering this new method might shed light on how other viruses attack, or even on how to stop some cancers in their tracks. “The virus is silent when people are first infected, and we can find no symptoms associated with it. I’m probably infected,” Distinguished Professor Patrick Moore told Gizmodo. But once it awakens, its quick replication could become deadly. Merkel cell carcinoma manifests as pink lumps that usually show up around...