This Week in Virology

The TWiVers discuss the declining readability of scientific texts, and review the use of self-inactivating rabies virus for tracing neural circuits. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Brianne Barker Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Meet the Microbiologist TWiV 1: West Nile Virus Decreasing readability of scientific texts (eLife) Measure text readability Tracing neural circuits with self-inactivating rabies virus (Cell) Cre driver network (NIH) Monosynaptic tracing with rabies virus (Neuron) Letters read on TWiV 461 This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Kathy -Best eclipse video (to date) and solargraph Dickson - Photos by Will Eades Brianne - Pale Rider by Laura Spinney Rich - "Supergenes" Drive Evolution Vincent -Anatomy of a Moral Panic Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Vincent travels to the University of Pennsylvania and speaks with virologists Gary Cohen, Scott Hensley, Carolina Lopez, and Susan Weiss about their careers and their research. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Gary Cohen, Scott Hensley, Carolina Lopez, and Susan Weiss Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Cohen Laboratory Hensley Laboratory Lopez Laboratory Weiss Laboratory This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

The TWiV team reviews the first FDA approved gene therapy, accidental exposure to poliovirus type 2 in a manufacturing plant, and production of a candidate poliovirus vaccine in plants. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode ASM Conference on Viral Manipulation of Nuclear Processes ASM Public Outreach Fellowship Kymriah approved (PennMed) CAR T cells (NCBI) Cost of Kymriah (NYTimes) Accidental exposure to poliovirus type 2 (Eurosurveill) GAPIII (WHO) Poliovaccine candidate in plants (Nat Commun) Vertical vaccine farm (TWiV 47) All picornaviruses, all the time (TWiV 425) Image credit Letters read on TWiV 459 This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Kathy - Cassini photos Dickson - Caliber Biotherapeutics Alan - Grav Rich - Google street view of the International Space Station (article) Vincent - the bioinformatics chat Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

The TWiVians present an imported case of yellow fever in New York City, and explain how a dengue virus subgenomic RNA disrupts immunity in mosquito salivary glands to increase virus replication. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode ASM Conference on Viral Manipulation of Nuclear Processes Roger W. Hendrix, 74 (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Roger Hendrix video on TWiV #135 Yellow fever in traveler returning from Peru (MMWR) Dengue subgenomic RNA in mosquito salivary gland (PLoS Path) Image credit Letters read on TWiV 458 This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Kathy - Antibody validation Editorial Asilomar meeting report Dickson - Despommierphotoart.com Alan - NOAA Hurricane Hunters Rich - Awakenings by Oliver Sacks (encephalitis lethargica) Vincent - Goodnight Lab by Chris Ferrie Listener Picks Pete - Change Agent by Daniel Suarez Paul - Pasteur's Gambit by Stephen Dando-Collins Maureen - Discovery Documentary First in Human Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Brianne returns to the TWiV Gang to discuss the distribution of proteins on the influenza viral genome, and the evolution of myxoma virus that was released in Australia to control the rabbit population. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Guest: Brianne Barker Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode First genetically engineered salmon sold in Canada Nucleoprotein on influenza virus RNA (Nucl Acids Res) Evolution of released myxoma virus in Australia (PNAS) Image credit Letters read on TWiV 457 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what's on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase - WITH FREE SHIPPING - by going to blueapron.com/twiv. This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Brianne - 3D printed viruses Dickson - Secrets of Schooling Alan - Making sails in the Nevada desert Rich - David Vetter isolation suit (Wiki) Vincent - Confounds the Science Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Brianne joins the TWiVMasters to explain how mutations in genes encoding RNA polymerase III predispose children to severe varicella, and detection of an RNA virus by a DNA sensor. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit Guest: Brianne Barker Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode RNA pol III mutations underlie severe varicella (J Clin Inves) Dengue virus activates cGAS by release of mitochondrial DNA (Sci Rep) Dengue virus NS2B protein targets cGAS for degradation (Nat Micr) Image credit Letters read on TWiV 456 This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Brianne - Up-Goer Five Challenge (related to Thing Explainer) Rich - The Farthest: Voyager in Space and Vipassana Momma: Science Vincent - Episode of Revisionist History: The Basement Tapes Listener Pick Jennie - What Piece of Lab Equipment Are You? Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Erin joins the TWiVirions to discuss a computer exploit encoded in DNA, creation of pigs free of endogenous retroviruses, and mutations in the gene encoding an innate sensor of RNA in children with severe viral respiratory disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Erin Garcia Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode DNA-based computer exploit (pdf) Inactivation of porcine endogenous retrovirus in pigs (Science) Severe viral respiratory infections in children with IFIH1 mutations (PNAS) IRF7 deficiency and severe respiratory infection (TWiV 336) Image credit Letters read on TWiV 455 This episode is brought to you by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Part of the U.S. Department of Defense, the Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department hosts the 2017 Chemical and Biological Defense Science & Technology Conference to exchange information on the latest and most dynamic developments for countering chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. Find out more at http://www.cbdstconference.com Weekly Science Picks Erin - What If? by Randall Monroe Rich - Art.Science.Gallery (J. Haley Gillespie) Kathy - Astronomy photographer of the year shortlist Alan - Upcoming Eclipses Vincent - Ford Thunderbird Automatic Transmission Rebuild Listener Pick Bryan - Neuroscientists tricks journals Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Sharon and Scott return to TWiV for a Zika virus update, including their work on viral evolution and spread, and whether pre-existing immunity to dengue virus enhances pathogenesis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler Guests: Sharon Isern and Scott Michael Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Hurricane Zika (TWiV 410) 454 Corporation (Wikipedia) Regional Zika update, Americas (PAHO, WHO) Zika virus serum bank (pdf) Zika virus evolution and spread in the Americas (Nature) Multiple introductions of Zika virus in US (Nature) Inhibition of Zika Virus Replication by Wolbachia (J Virol) Zika virus pathogenesis in rhesus macaques unaffected by immunity to dengue virus (Nat Commun) Impact of flavivirus immunity on Zika virus infection in rhesus macaques (PLoS Path) Enhancement of Zika virus pathogenesis by antiflavivirus immunity (Science) No ADE by dengue antibodies in Zika virus patients (Clin Inf Dis) Oropharyngeal mucosal transmission of Zika virus in rhesus macaques (Nat Commun) Letters read on TWiV 454 Weekly Science Picks Dickson - Industrial Scars Kathy - Eclipse info by zipcode Sharon - Michaela's article in The Conversation Scott - Signal P, Pecaan, Phamerator, DNAmasterAlan - The Eagle Whisperer" (and the Great Big Story channel) Vincent - Bottle Listener Pick Kevin - Tenure track scientist bites the dust Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

From the Vector-Borne Viruses Symposium in Hamilton, Montana, Dickson and Vincent speak with Diane Griffin about her career and her work on understanding viral infections of the central nervous system. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Guest: Diane Griffin Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Vector-Borne Viruses Symposium Diane Griffin Adoptive immunization of immunosuppressed mice infected with Sindbis virus Role of the immune response in age-dependent resistance of mice to encephalitis due to Sindbis virus Antibody-mediated clearance of alphavirus infection from neurons Persistence of viral RNA in mouse brains after recovery from acute alphavirus encephalitis Conversion of lytic to persistent alphavirus infection by the bcl-2 cellular oncogene Bc1-2 protects mice against fatal alphavirus encephalitis This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what's on the menu this week and get 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twiv. Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Lynda Coughlan joins the weekly virtual bus companions for a discussion of a host defense peptide from frogs that destroys influenza virus, and mouse models for acute and chronic hepacivirus infection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Lynda Coughlan Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Linda on Virus Watch and BSGCT Anti-influenza peptide from frogs (Immunity) Magainins (Wikipedia) Urumi Kathy's defensin paper (PLoS Path) World Hepatitis Day Mouse model for hepacivirus infection (Science) Letters read on TWiV 452 Weekly Science Picks Kathy - US rivers as subway map Lynda - No Time to Lose: A Life in Pursuit of Deadly Viruses by Peter Piot Alan - Apollo-era computers found in dead engineer's basement Vincent - 110 NFL Brains, research article in JAMA and The best science is often accidental Listener Pick Stig - Security Now! and The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee Ricardo - John Oliver on Vaccines Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees. Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv