This Week in Virology

Vincent, Alan, Dick, and Raul Andino live at ASM discussed cytomegalovirus infection and blood pressure, restriction of avian influenza viral replication at low temperature, first isolation of West Nile virus in PA, and current status of influenza. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier, and Raul Andino Links for this episode: Cytomegalovirus infection causes an increase of arterial blood pressure Avian influenza virus glycoproteins restrict virus replication at low temperature First West Nile virus isolation of the year in PA CDC press release of 18 May 2009 Glaxo's influenza vaccine with adjuvant NY Times article on Guillain-Barré and a more scientific view Weekly Science Picks Dick - National Museum of the History of Science and Medicine, Leiden Alan - Beginning Mac OS X Programming Vincent - Vaccinated by Paul Offit Raul - HubbleSite

In episode 32 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and guest Raul Rabadan converse about polio survivors in iron lungs, bocavirus, structure of mimivirus, and genome sequence analysis of influenza H1N1 viruses. Links for this episode: Death of Marsha Mason, who lived 60 years in an iron lung First discovery of bocavirus in human stool Structural studies of the giant mimivirus Pandemic potential of H1N1 influenza virus Was swine flu a lab accident? Bloomberg and NY Times articles Hong Kong virologist says new H1N1 strain is ‘unstable’ Article by John Barry on site of origin of 1918 influenza

In episode 31 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier and guest Marc Pelletier summarize the past week’s influenza H1N1 activity, and discuss parvovirus infection of dogs and humans. Weekly Science Picks Marc Celestia, an application Dick US Geological Survey website Alan Society for Amateur Scientists website Vincent Sneeze, an online game

On this special episode of This Week in Virology Vincent Racaniello and Dr. Peter Palese, noted influenza expert, discuss the origin and pandemic potential of the new H1N1 influenza virus.

In episode 30 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier and guest Hamish Young focus on the new H1N1 influenza virus, which originated in swine and is likely to be the next pandemic strain. Links for this episode: Original CDC report of California and Texas outbreak; recent updates here Science interview with CDC’s Ruben Donis CDC webpage on US status of influenza WHO webpage on international status of influenza Learn more about the outbreak an influenza virus biology at virology blog Science blog of the week: GermBlog by Dr. Harley Rotbart Science podcast pick of the week: Science and the City Science book of the week: The Swine Flu Affair: Decision-making on a Slippery Disease by by Richard E. Neustadt, Harvey V. Fineberg

In episode 29 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and Dick Despommier talk about insect and human dengue virus host proteins, equine vaccine for WNV and EEEV, return of swine flu to humans, spread of polio in Africa, and listener email. Links for this episode: Discovery of insect and human dengue virus host proteins Immunize your horse with PreveNile Swine flu returns to California, Texas, Mexico Polio spreads from Nigeria to 15 African countries Dead Chinese woman on Russian train: no SARS or influenza Jenny McCarthy body count Ten dumbass reasons why people don’t get their flu shots Science blog of the week: Science-based medicine Science podcast pick of the week: WNYC’s Radio Lab Science book of the week: Flu by Gina Kolata

In episode 28 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier, and Eric F. Donaldson discuss a new test for influenza H5N1, poliovirus in Minnesota, Koala retrovirus, batteries made from viruses, and SARS. Links for this episode: New rapid test for influenza H5N1 based on PDZ binding. Definition of ELISA. Poliovirus isolated from Minnesotan (article 1 and 2) Koala retrovirus: Japan story and review article Batteries made from viruses (cathode and anode). Image of phage M13. iMoleBuilder (iTunes link and review at Sunset Lake Software) Discovery of Norwalk virus Regulatin’ Genes (YouTube link) Science blog of the week: The Great Beyond by Nature Science podcast pick of the week: Sorting Out Science Science book of the week: A Slot Machine, A Broken Test Tube by S.E. Luria (out of print - check your library)

In episode 27 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dick Despommier, and Saul Silverstein revisit an ebola virus needlestick accident, and discuss the role of TLR3 in formation of Negri bodies, a New England college closed by norovirus gastroenteritis, hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak in China, and the exit of herpes simplex virus from latency by synthesis of VP16. Links for this episode: Update on ebolavirus needlestick accident Formation of Negri bodies depend upon TLR3 Norovirus outbreak closes New England college Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak in China Synthesis of VP16 coordinates herpes simplex virus exit from latency Science blog of the week: Biocurious Science podcast pick of the week: NPR’s Science Friday Science book of the week: A Conspiracy of Cells by Michael Gold Dick’s pick: Andros Island Bonefish Club Saul’s pick: Secret Science Club

In episode 26 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and guest Rich Condit converse about induction of polyomavirus replication in multiple sclerosis patients treated with the MS drug Tysabri, the extent of human polyomavirus infection, selection of influenza vaccines for the 2009-10 season, cowpox virus transmission from animals to humans, vaccinia-like virus infecting humans and cattle in Brasil, and poxviruses. Links for this episode: JC virus, Tysabri, PML, and mefloquine at virology blog Seroepidemiology of polyomaviruses in human Next season’s influenza virus vaccines and how they are selected Cell-culture propagated smallpox vaccine Cowpox tranmission from rats to humans ( Germany and France) and from cats to humans in Italy Vaccinia-like virus infecting cows and humans in Brasil When good vaccines go wild (review) Mosquito Map (thanks Duncan) Pfeiffer & Kirkegaard paper on quasispecies and virulence in mice Science blog of the week: Coevolvers by Devin Drown Science podcast pick of the week: QuackCast Science book of the week: Listen to the Music: The Life of Hilary Koprowski by Roger Vaughan

In episode 25 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove and guest Luis Villarreal discuss rabies in Viet Nam and Angola, needle-stick infections with ebola virus and West Nile virus, and viral evolution. Links for this episode: Furious rabies after an atypical exposure Rabies outbreak in Angola Ebola virus needle stick injury in Germany West Nile virus needle stick injury in South Africa Antibody response to smallpox vaccine in humans (including Dr. Villarreal) The chemical formula for polio virus is: C332, 652H492, 388N98, 245O131, 196P7, 501S2, 340. Because poliovirus is a quasispecies, the number of atoms is a population average. Review article: Ten Reasons to Exclude Viruses from the Tree of Life Origin and Evolution of Viruses, second edition, edited by Esteban Domingo Origin of Group Identity by Luis Villarreal Science blog of the week: Small Things Considered by Moselio Schaechter and Merry YouleScience podcast pick of the week: The Skeptics’ Guide to the UniverseScience book of the week: Viruses and the Evolution of Life by Luis Villarreal