There is a virus, like a super Transformers in the microscopic world, that can transform its form like a magician: sometimes it becomes a compact sphere, and sometimes it stretches into long filamentous structures - it is the H1N1 virus! And all of this is for better survival in complex environments, evading the pursuit of the immune system, and constantly evolving. The "transformation" ability of the H1N1 virus was discovered by scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a subsidiary of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States. The research paper was published in the latest issue of Nature Microbiology. Before this, scientists had a long-standing confusion: why do some H1N1 virus particles appear as slender filaments instead of the more common spherical shape? You should know that manufacturing these filamentous structures requires more energy, but they are widely present. To solve this puzzle, scientists have developed a new method that allows for real-time observation and recording of the true morphological changes of influenza virus A. The experimental results are like a plot in science fiction: when faced with unfavorable conditions, such as the presence of antiviral antibodies or incompatible host cells, the H1N1 virus quickly transforms. Its shape is not fixed at all, but dynamically adjusts with environmental changes - which is completely different from the previous belief that 'virus morphology is determined by the strain'. By evaluating 16 different virus cell combinations, scientists have found that the trend of changes in virus morphology can actually be predicted. What's even more interesting is that research has shown that the filamentous structure of H1N1 viruses is actually their 'invisibility cloak', which helps resist the action of antibodies. Now, scientists are delving into how antibodies affect virus morphology and infection efficiency, and plan to further explore the impact of virus mutations on morphology. Not only the H1N1 virus, but also various other viruses such as measles, Ebola, Nipah, Hendra, and respiratory syncytial virus have adopted similar strategies by transforming into different forms, significantly increasing their chances of survival. These findings not only reveal to people how viruses "cunningly" respond to environmental challenges, but also provide a new perspective for developing new antiviral treatment methods in the future. (New Society)