A team of MIT chemists has discovered the structure of a key influenza protein called BM2, which helps the viruses to release their genetic material inside infected cells. The researchers focused their research on M2 protein found in influenza B viruses as influenza B has remained dominant this winter with 67 percent of all flu cases reported in the U.S. Now that chemists know the structure of the BM2 protein, this could help researchers design drugs that block the protein and prevent the virus from developing.