Researchers at Otago's Omni Electron Microscopy unit are using high resolution electron microscopy images to work on the recently-discovered Seneca Valley Virus (SVV), in the hope their work will help develop it for clinical use.
Unit academic director Mihnea Bostinasaid they had high hopes in what was a "hot'' international field of research.
The virus, which infects cancer cells, but not normal tissue, has become a main research project in Dr Bostina's laboratory.
Being able to clarify exactly how the anti-cancer virus interacted with human tumour cells would also help researchers find ways of making the potential viral therapy more effective in killing cancer cells, he said.
The recently-published research was the latest in a series of high-profile research studies produced by the unit.