Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service are searching for better ways to control viral enteric diseases in birds. They have unearthed previously known and unknown viruses in poultry using a new molecular tool called metagenomics. Unlike traditional sequencing – metagenomics detects the nucleic acid of thousands of organisms in an entire community. Using this technique – researchers discovered a new virus that could have future antimicrobial applications. A newly discovered virus is the type that naturally kills bacteria and belongs to a group that can potentially be used as alternatives to antibiotics and as tools to fight multi-drug-resistant pathogens.

More about this research can be found on the ARS website – ars dot usda dot gov (www.ars.usda.gov).