 To protect the Iberian species from viral diseases, the myxoma virus was genetically modified to immunize the rabbits, while in Australia the same myxoma virus was genetically modified to lower fertility in the Australian rabbit population.Outside of biology scientists have used a genetically modified virus to construct a lithium-ion battery and other nanostructured materials.It is possible to engineer bacteriophages to express modified proteins on their surface and join them up in specific patterns (a technique called phage display).