The Evolutionary Marvel of the "Rapunzel" Virus.

Researchers have discovered the secret behind the "Rapunzel bacteriophage," a virus with an extremely long tail that preys on some of the toughest bacteria on the planet. The tail is formed from vertically stacking rings of molecules that make a hollow canal, and the building blocks of the tail lean on each other to stabilize themselves. The researchers plan to use genetic manipulation to alter the length of the phage tail and see how that changes its behavior. Long-tailed phages like the "Rapunzel bacteriophage" have been used in preliminary clinical trials to treat certain bacterial infections.