Augmanity, a research company based in Rehovot, Israel, has synthesized molecular machines, made from nucleic acids, which are capable of digesting viral RNA and utilizing it to assemble additional copies of itself inside living cells. The machine’s body plan combines several parts that build upon the target RNA, assembling an immobile, DNA:RNA 4-way junction, which contains a single gene encoding a hammerhead ribozyme (HHR). Full assembly of the machine’s body from its parts enables the subsequent elongation of the gene and transcription of HHR molecules, followed by HHR-mediated digestion of the target molecule. This digestion converts the target to a
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