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Leprosy bacteria use 'biological alchemy'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21056644Infectious bacteria have for the first time been caught performing "biological alchemy" to transform parts of a host body into those more suited to their purposes, by a team in Edinburgh.
The study, in the journal Cell, showed leprosy-causing bacteria turning nerves into stem cells and muscle.
The authors said the "clever and sophisticated" technique could further therapies and stem-cell research.
Experts described the discovery as "amazing" and "exciting".