No one wants to suffer from stomach ache and diarrhea, but many do.
Diarrhea is also one of the most common causes of death in children around the world.
The virus that researchers in Umeå have now succeeded in mapping, adenovirus type F41, leads to diarrhea, dehydration and great suffering, especially in developing countries, where there is insufficient care.
Every year, 50,000 children die from this adenovirus.
"Can save lives"
Now, two research groups in Umeå have together developed the first detailed, three-dimensional image of adenovirus type F41.
By studying it closely, down to the lowest atomic level, the researchers have seen how this particular virus differs from other adenoviruses.
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Now that we know what the virus looks like, we have received clues as to which proteins can be used in the manufacture of a vaccine.
This discovery can therefore form the basis for a vaccine against this type of diarrheal disease - and save lives, says Niklas Arnberg, professor of virology.
Copes with the acidic environment of the stomach
What is special about F41 is that it is able to pass the acidic environment in the stomach.
As researchers now map the virus down to the atomic level, the understanding of how the virus can survive in the acidic environment also increases.
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hope is that further research can provide answers as to whether the virus, thanks to its ability to survive in the stomach, can be used as a "carrier" of a vaccine.
In this way, we can manufacture edible vaccines, also against other diseases such as covid-19, says Niklas Arnberg.
The research report was recently published in the journal Science Advances.
See more in Ask the Doctor on Monday 18 January at 18.45 on SVT1 and SVT Play.