Scargill proved right

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carries the code for the handful of protein molecules that make up the rest of the virus. These protein molecules form a protective coat for the DNA by fitting together to make regular geometric shapes, so that viruses are more like crystals than any other form of matter.

All viruses are parasites which operate in a very effective way. They enter a 'host' cell and take over its protein-making machinery, so that it starts making the virus's proteins. The virus's DNA is also copied many times.

Proteins The proteins and DNA then assemble themselves into new viruses, rather like crystals forming in a solution. The new viruses are then released from the dying host cell to infect new celis.

Viruses cannot infect just any type of cell. Each species of virus has a single or main species of victim, though some can also infect other species. Thus, there are many different animal viruses, plant viruses, and... bacterial viruses.

These last are called the bacteriophages (bacteria-eaters) or 'phages' '. Soon after their discovery in 1915, research was under way to see if they could be used to combat infections.

This research was rather inconclusive, and the arrival of the antibiotics drew attention away from phages, but now some of that research has been repeated under more reliable conditions (reported by H W Smith and M M B Huggins in the Journal of in the It was found that, like antibiotic treatment, phage therapy sometimes encouraged - the development of resistant bacteria, but these were much less dangerous to the host than ordinary E.coli-K. This is probably to do with the way the phages attack the bacteria.

They seem to recognise E. coli-K by the very same toxic molecule that causes the illness of the host. Change that molecule slightly, and the phages no longer recognise it, but neither will it affect the animal's body in the same way as Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are usually just as deadly, though.

The second finding was that samples of faeces from phagetreated animals did not cause illness in other animals; even though they contained enough E.coli-K to cause a fatal infection. This was because they also contained the phages that could deal with the bacteria.

So, unlike antibiotic therapy, where each infected animal must be treated separately, phages can spread just like the original infection.

The only drawback with phage therapy is that each species of phage is effective for only one strain of pathogen. So we will have to discover lots of phages, or even make them la job for the genetic engineers).

But if phage therapy can be applied to other types of infection, it could even prove more revolutionary than antibiotics.

Now, all we need are viruses against viruses..!

Join the Socialist Labour Fightthe THE NUM claim, highlighted by Arthur Scargill, that the National Coal Board has embarked on an escalating programme of pit closures and job losses was confirmed last week (Wednesday 23 November) by figures released by the NCB.

In the current financial year ending in March, between 18 and 20 pits will have been closed - more than twice last year's figure of nine, and more than the 1980-81 figure of 11 pits.

The latest pit to be affected by closure is Crompton, Lancashire in the NCB's Western Area, which employs 500 miners.

Already eight pits have been closed with five more agreed for closure as well as one merger and another to take place shortly.

The current workforce of 188,000 has seen 18,000 job losses so far this year - the reduction in 1981-2 being 10,000 - and with the above plans for further closures, this figure will be substantially increased.

The NUM is now in its fifth week of operating an overtime ban in furtherance of a 15% pay claim which is causing the NCB the loss of more than 350,000 tonnes of coal per week. Yet this action so far appears to be having little effect on the NCB to improve their offer of 5.2% -and leaves untouched MacGregor's closure and contraction plans.