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Virulent rabies infection is described as causing severe central nervous system immune dysfunction.
The study uses single-cell transcriptomic mapping of brain and immune cells in mice.
It compares the virulent CVS-11 strain with the attenuated SRV9 strain.
Fatal infection is linked to microglia dysfunction, neutrophil infiltration, and T cell exhaustion.
Why it mattersThe findings clarify why rabies becomes so deadly, which could shape future treatments and prevention research.
More context
The attenuated strain is associated with protective neuroimmune responses and viral clearance.
The findings are presented as an explanation for why severe rabies overwhelms brain immunity.