Membrane 1 (IMAGE) Rice University Caption Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers used computer simulations to study the process by which hemagglutinin helps viruses invade and infect cells. The researchers believe the protein's stem domain unfolds and refolds into a different configuration when triggered, but pauses to release a hidden fusion peptide that binds the virus to the target cell. Credit Xingcheng Lin/Rice University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.