This Week in Virology

Vincent and Dick explain virus classification, and revisit the 1976 swine flu immunization campaign and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links for this episode: International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) CBS 60 Minutes on 1976 swine flu vaccine (thanks Gus and Swiss compass!) Vaccines and Guillain-Barré NINDS Guillain-Barré Information Reflections on the 1976 swine flu vaccination program Swine influenza outbreak at Fort Dix, 1976 Weekly Science Picks Dick Five Kingdoms: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth by Lynn Margulis and Karlene V. SchwartzVincent A Genetic Switch by Mark Ptashne

Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Delthia Ricks discuss a new influenza virus-like particle vaccine, dog flu, ultrasensitive pen-sized virus detector, imported rabies in the US, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and next season’s flu vaccines. Hosts Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, and Delthia Ricks Links for this episode: Trivalent virus-like particle vaccine Canine flu virus vaccine Ultrasensitive virus detector Rabies imported into the US Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Kazakhstan FDA approves seasonal flu vaccine for fall Yields of 2009 H1N1 vaccine are low FDA may fast-track approval of 2009 H1N1 vaccine Weekly Science Picks Delthia 100 questions and answers about influenza by Delthia Ricks Alan Tinychat Dick Mythbusters Vincent Effect Measure

In episode 41 of "This Week in Virology", Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove and Rich Condit chat about infectious salmon anemia virus, virus-resistant grapevines, virulence of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, origin of 1918 influenza virus, holy water ban to halt influenza, frequency of human WU and KI polyomavirus infection, rabies in China, and host species of sin nombre virus. Links for this episode Wal-Mart stops buying Chile salmon on virus outbreak Virus-resistant grapevines Virulence of H1N1 pandemic influenza virus in animal models Did 1918 influenza virus originate in birds or not? Holy water ban to halt swine flu Frequent Human Infection with WU and KI Polyomaviruses Rabies in China Increased Host Species Diversity and Decreased Prevalence of Sin Nombre Virus Fast, cheap PCR for crime scenes (thanks Jim!) Weekly Science Picks Alan For Love of Insects by Thomas EisnerRich Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard RhodesDick Origin of Species by Charles Darwin Vincent Gallileoscope (thanks Zach!)

In episode 40 of "This Week in Virology", hosts Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, and Alan Dove consider Reston ebolavirus in swine, historical perspective of H1N1 influenza virus emergence and circulation, Tamiflu-resistant H1N1, Tamiflu in Japanese river waters, transmission of H1N1 virus in ferrets, and pneumonia and respiratory failure from H1N1 in Mexico. Links for this episode Reston ebolavirus in Philippine swine Historical perspective on H1N1 virus Salk's 1947 article on flu vaccine failure Persistent legacy of 1918 H1N1 virus Tamiflu resistant H1N1 virus (AP article) Tamiflu in Japanese river waters H1N1 infection of ferrets (article one and two) Pneumonia and respiratory failure from S-OIV in Mexico DNA-based equine WNV vaccine (thanks Peter!) Fundamentals of Molecular Virology by Nicholas Acheson Weekly Science Picks Alan Coming to Life by Christiane Nusslein-VolhardDick Monsters Inside Me from Discovery ChannelVincent Microbeworld

In episode 39 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello and Dick Despommier discuss virus structure and answer listener questions. Links for this episode Diagrams of virus structures Boston Globe article on Genzyme FDA warning letter to Genzyme (thanks Peter!) Public Health Reports July - December 1918 (thanks Lenn!) Amateur scientists working with professionals (thanks Ennio!) Influenza H1N1 and computer analogies (thanks swiss compass!) Bone marrow transplant to cure AIDS not reported (thanks Andrew!) Paul Offitt interview on vaccines and autism Mark Crislip on vaccines and autism Weekly Science Picks Dick Visual Explanations by Edward R. TufteVincent The Youngest Science by Lewis Thomas

In episode 38 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello and Glenn Rall chat about koi herpesvirus, H1N1 influenza vaccine produced in insect cells, attack by a rabid raccoon, and measles. Links for this episode: Virus suspected in carp die-off: koi herpesvirus H1N1 influenza vaccine produced in insect cells with baculovirus vectors Outbreak of measles in Wales Production of influenza vaccines in cell cultures: MDCK, Vero, PER.C6, EB66, insect (thanks Peter!) Weekly Science Picks Glenn Riddled with Life by Marlene Zuk Vincent All the Virology on the WWW

In episode 37 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and guest Eric Freed talk about vesivirus contamination of bioreactors, pandemic influenza, maximizing the effect of vaccination by targeting children, chikungunya virus, and open access scientific journals. Links for this episode: Genzyme shuts down manufacturing of two enzyme drugs because of vesivirus contamination Brazilian H1N1 isolate is not novel WHO interactive H1N1 map Targeting children maximizes the effect of vaccination Chikungunya virus and Aedes mosquitoes Viruses, an open-access virology journal iBioSeminars A field study of virus removal in septic tank drainfields Weekly Science Picks Alan Forrest Mims (website) Vincent The Machinery of Life by David S. Goodsell

In episode 36 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier and guest Hamish Young discuss the 2009 influenza pandemic, first 2009 H1N1 vaccine, hunting mosquitoes with midges, vaccine-associated polio in India, and adenoviruses. Links for this episode: WHO calls it a pandemic Novartis produces test run of H1N1 vaccine Midge keeps invasive mosquito in check Two cases of vaccine-associated polio in India BBC interactive map of influenza cases Outbreak of adenovirus type 14 Weekly Science Picks Dick The World’s Water by Peter H. Gleick Hamish Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond; Complications by Atul Gawande Alan Eurekalert Vincent Respectful Insolence

In episode 35 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier and guest Richard Kessin talk about Lujo virus, a new arenavirus, influenza, WHO rewriting pandemic rules, adjuvants, and a brief history of microbiology. Links for this episode: Lujo virus, a new arenavirus Is CDC too optimistic about influenza? WHO to rewrite pandemic rules Adjuvant at wikipedia Avery, MacLeod, McCarty 50th anniversary ( pdf) Weekly Science Picks Dick Three papers on origins of infectious diseases (one, two, three) Rich An Imperfect Lens by Anne Roiphe Alan Zotero, a FireFox plugin Vincent e! Science News

In episode 34 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and guest Stephen Morse discuss progressive vaccinia in a smallpox vaccinee, arsenic and influenza in mice, facemasks and flu transmission, and antigenic and genetic analyses of the new H1N1 influenza virus. Links for this episode: Progressive vaccinia in a military smallpox vaccinee Arsenic compromises the immune response to influenza in mice Facemasks prevent flu transmission in a mathematical model Serum cross-reactive antibody response to the new H1N1 influenza virus Antigenic and genetic characteristics of the new H1N1 influenza viruses Preparation of influenza virus vaccine seeds Paul Ewald on the evolution of virulence Weekly Science Picks Alan Org-Mode Vincent Human/Swine A/H1N1 Influenza Origins and Evolution Stephen The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin