This Week in Virology

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

Vincent, Alan, and Hamish Young discuss bacteriophages in viral vaccines, enteroviruses and diabetes, inhibition of Hendra and Nipah virus replication by the malaria drug chloroquine, and viroids. Links for this episode: Bacteriophages in viral vaccines Presence of enteroviral VP1 protein in pancreatic islets of diabetics Chloroquine inhibits Hendra and Nipah virus replication Review on viroids discovered by TO Diener Mumps in Ireland CDC information on EBV (thanks Megan!) and Journal of Virology paper (thanks Everett!) Science blog of the week: The Weekly Virus Science podcast pick of the week: NIH Research Radio Podcast Science book of the week: Ahead of the Curve: David Baltimore’s Life in Science by Shane Crotty

Vincent, Dick, and Alan review a new macaque model for HIV-1 infection, a possible role for Epstein-Barr virus in multiple sclerosis, accidental release of H5N1 by a vaccine company, resistance of frogs to virus infection, and extreme virology - the biggest and smallest viruses and viral genomes. Links for this episode: Harold Varmus on The Daily Show Macaque model for HIV-1 infection (photo of pig-tailed macaque) Possible role of Epstein-Barr virus in multiple sclerosis Accidental distribution of H5N1 influenza virus by pharmaceutical company Major histocompatibility class I marker and frog resistance to viral infection Smallest virion and DNA genome: Circovirus Largest virion and DNA genome: Mimivirus Biggest RNA genome: (we forgot to mention on the show!) Coronavirus SW1 List of viral genome lengths at NCBI Sputnik virophage Papers for Macintosh and iPhone Science blog of the week: H5N1 by Croft Science podcast pick of the week: MicrobeWorld video Science book of the week: Autism’s False Prophets by Paul A. Offit, MD (podcast with Dr. Ginger Campbell)

In episode 22 of This Week in Virology, host Vincent Racaniello and guest host Chris Upton, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria in Vancouver, Canada, converse about hepatitis B in India, AIDS gene therapy with a ribozyme, antibodies that neutralize many influenza virus strains, killing tumors with vaccinia virus, myxoma virus of rabbits, and the Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center. Links in the episode indlude: Hepatitis B outbreak in India AIDS gene therapy clinical trial Antibodies that neutralize many influenza virus strains (papers 1 and 2) Vaccinia virus as an oncolytic agent Mutations that attenuate myxoma virus in rabbits Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center Science blog of the week: The VBRC blog by Chris Upton Science podcast pick of the week: Nova ScienceNow Science book of the week: The Hot Zone by Richard Preston