We do a rapid test for adenovirus - if that's what you have, we treat it very differently than if your pinkeye is bacterial.

If adenovirus 36 turns out to be the culprit behind some obesity cases, new treatments might make the painfully difficult task of losing weight a bit easier for some.

TMAdV's rarity in humans could make it a potentially powerful tool as a viral vehicle for delivering gene therapy, Chiu adds.