TWiV #12 - Prions, lemur lentiviruses, RS virus vaccine, H5N1

Vincent, Alan, and Angela discuss Kuru, prions in milk, ancient lentiviruses found in the chromosomes of lemurs, a respiratory syncytial virus vaccine failure in the 1960s, and recent outbreaks of H5N1 influenza in chickens.

Links for this episode:

D. Carleton Gajdusek obituary in the NY Times. We forgot to mention that he won the 1976 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on Kuru.

PLoS Pathogens article on prions in sheep milk.

PNAS article on endogenous lemur lentivirus

Nature Medicine article on the failed respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.

December 18 was the 100th anniversary of the discovery of poliovirus.

Science podcast pick of the week: Skepticality.

Science book of the week: Science Fictions: A Scientific Mystery, a Massive Cover-up and the Dark Legacy of Robert Gallo by John Crewdson.