This Week in Virology

Vincent, Dick, and Alan (with a cameo appearance by Rich Condit) review the world’s largest Phase III study of a complex HIV vaccine candidate in Thailand, immunization of salmon against infectious salmon anemia virus, and an outbreak of blueberry shock virus in Michigan. Links for this episode: HIV vaccine shows promise for the first time - description of the program, FDA background document (pdf), NEJM review on why AIDS vaccine is difficult (pdf), and arguments for the trial Chile immunizes salmon (USGS article on the virus, pdf) Blueberry virus strikes Michigan research center (information on the disease and the virus) Rotavirus seasonality (thanks Didier!) Viruses and the tree of life at virology blog Big brains have evolved twice (thanks Arsen!) Weekly Science Picks Alan Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus InfectionsDick Boosting Vaccines: The Power of Adjuvants (Scientific American; subscription required)Vincent The Ig Nobel Prizes by Marc Abrahams

Vincent and Jason review influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine trials and protection against the virus conferred by the 1976 swine flu vaccine, then move on to a virus called XMRV and its possible role in prostate cancer. Links for this episode: One dose of influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine without adjuvant is enough Partially completed study on influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine with MF59 adjuvant 1976 swine flu vaccine induces cross-reactive antibodies against influenza 2009 H1N1 strain Explanation of hemagglutination-inhibition and microneutralization assays FDA approves influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine XMRV is present in malignant prostatic epithelium and is associated with prostate cancer Identification of a novel gammaretrovirus in prostate tumors CDC page on Guillain-Barré syndrome Weekly Science Picks Jason Glass MicrobiologyVincent FluWeb Influenza Historical Resources Database

Vincent and Dick continue Virology 101 with a discussion of the seven different types of viral genomes, and how to use the pathway to mRNA to understand viral replication. Links for this episode: Dick talks about hookworm on Radio Lab Dick's video page at BigThink The seven types of viral genome Animation of HIV replication (thanks axiomatically atypical!) Changes in transcript abundance relating to colony collapse disorder in honey bee (thanks Judi!) Weekly Science Picks Dick Discovery Channel: Planet GreenVincent Influenza videos at BigThink: one, two, three, four, five, six

Vincent, Dick, Alan and Rich revisit a vaccinia virus lab accident and viral vaccines produced in plants, then talk about an iPhone app to track infectious diseases, flying foxes, and an inhaled measles vaccine. Links for this episode: Laboratory acquired vaccinia infection Medicago (investor presentation, pdf) and Fraunhofer produce vaccines in plants iPhone app Outbreaks near me No culling of flying foxes in Australia Inhaled powdered measles virus vaccine Herpesvirus latency confers symbiotic protection from bacterial infection (thanks Juliet!) Porcine circovirus vaccine Swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barré (thanks Tom!) The Great Flu and blog post (thanks Swiss compass and Allison!) Building semiconductors with DNA (thanks Duncan!) Email on viral classification (thanks Rodney and Eliot!) Weekly Science Picks Rich Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel GilbertDick Eliot Porter at the Carter Museum and bookstore at AmazonAlan Dr. Clarke's H1N1 rap at the HHS sponsored YouTube contestVincent Coast to Coast Bio Podcast

Vincent and Dick discuss influenza virus-like particle vaccines produced in insect and plant cells, rapid sharing of influenza research, and answer listener questions about cytomegalovirus, viral evolution and symbiosis and much more. Links for this episode: A Farm on Every Floor Influenza virus-like particles in insect and plant cells PLoS Currents: Influenza Transmission of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus to turkeys [Thanks Debbie!] Baxter produces Vero cell H1N1 vaccine [Thanks Peter!] Boundaries of Darwinism podcast [Thanks David!] Phages in human intestine: papers one, two, three [Thanks Terry!] Post-exposure varicella vaccine [Thanks Patricia!] Open science movement here, here, here, and here [Thanks Jim!] Graduate programs in virology [Thanks Greggory and Blake!] Post-exposure Marburg and Ebola vaccines [Thanks John!] Vaccinia infection in the laboratory [Thanks Russ!] Animations of bacteriophage T4 life cycle [Thanks Jim!] Weekly Science Picks Vincent BionumbersDick Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas by Sylvia A. Earle, Linda K. Glover

Vincent and Dick continue virology 101 with a discussion of virus entry into cells, then answer reader email on colony collapse disorder and viruses that confer a benefit to their host. Links for this episode: Illustrations of virus entry into cells Nice reference for biological items (thanks Jim!) Colony collapse disorder: PBS program, descriptive study, metagenomic study, genetic analysis (thanks Swiss compass!) Potato virus Y and Alzheimer's disease (thanks Jennifer!) A virus in a fungus in a plant (thanks Jennifer!) Weekly Science Picks Vincent PLoS PearlsDick West Nile virus website at CDC

Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Jennifer Drahos tackle the Hendra virus disease outbreak in Australia, AIDS-like disease in wild chimps, return of polio type 2 in Nigeria, the influenza pandemic wave, and rabies in three countries. Links for this episode: Hendra virus killing horses in Australia AIDS-like disease in wild chimps [ NY Times ] Polio type 2 returns in Nigeria Influenza pandemic wave [Branswell ] Rabies in Ukraine , South Africa , and USA Cell phones turned into fluorescent microscopes [Thanks, Jim!] HIV-1 vaccine trial in South Africa [Thanks Duncan!] Forum discussion on flu vaccine [Thanks James!] The Brain Science Podcast [Thanks Jim!] WHO note on H1N1 vaccine safety CDC information on H1N1 vaccines Hans Christian Orsted Weekly Science Picks Jennifer Art of Science 2009 Vincent Nobel Intent Dick Diversity of Life by EO Wilson Alan MediaWiki (install tips )

Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Jennifer Drahos consider Marburg virus in Egyptian fruit bats, bacterial citrus pathogen found in shipping facility, canine parvovirus in Michigan, Relenza-resistant influenza virus, new HIV from gorillas, and public engagement on H1N1 immunization program. Links for this episode: Isolation of Marburg virus from Egyptian fruit bats Inspectors find bacterial citrus pathogen in California Parvovirus killing hundreds of dogs in Michigan Relenza-resistant H1N1 identified in Australia (press and journal article) New HIV from gorilla CDC wants public comment on H1N1 vaccination Original antigenic sin (article 1 and article 2) Dr. Stanley Plotkin on Meet the Scientist (thanks Peter!) audioBoo (iPhone app - thanks Jim!) Audio clips (first and second) from the podcast No Agenda (thanks peripatetic apoplectic!) Weekly Science Picks Jennifer Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD Comics) Vincent Giant Microbes (thanks Stephen!) Dick Virology in the 21st Century Alan Annals of the Former World by John McPhee

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

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

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

In episode 21 of This Week in Virology, hosts Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, and special guest Max Gottesman, discuss an unusual wasp-virus symbiosis, influenza transmission and absolute humidity, how mosquitoes survive Dengue virus infection, and viruses of bacteria. Links in the episode indlude: Unusual wasp-virus symbiosis Absolute humidity modulates influenza virus transmission, survival, and seasonality How mosquitoes survive Dengue virus infection Little Lambda, Who Made Thee? Structure of HK97 procapsid Science blog of the week: BioJobBlog by Cliff Mintz Science podcast pick of the week: Distillations - a weekly science podcast that brings you extracts from the past, present, and future of chemistry Science book of the week: The Life of a Virus by Andrea Creager

Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Matt Evans converse about TED, the Wakefield autism controversy, 99 rhinovirus sequences, Marburg in the USA, and hepatitis C virus.

Vincent and Alan discuss cap-snatching by the hantavirus N protein and the influenza virus endonuclease, HIV-1 and Ebola virus antagonism of tetherin, and influenza pneumonia.

Vincent, Dick, and Alan discuss adenovirus type 36 and obesity, new influenza antiviral drugs, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus of fish, and Ebola virus in pigs and pig farmers in the Phillipines.

Vincent, Dick, and Saul talk about discoveries in virology that have had a major impact on the field. Sem•i•nal (adjective): strongly influencing later developments. Note: There are two HPV vaccines on the market: Gardasil (quadrivalent, types 6, 11, 16, 18) and Cervarix (bivalent, types 16 and 18). Links for this episode: Gates Foundation donates to polio eradication effort. Testing a bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine in India. We played a clip from net@night episode 83. I wrote about Jonathan Swift’s ‘Animalcules’ on virology blog. Science blog of the week: Research Blogging Science podcast pick of the week: Boston Museum of Science podcast Science book of the week: The Lives of a Cell: Notes of a Biology Watcher by Lewis Thomas

Vincent and Jeremy, in Saanen, Switzerland, review the 19th Challenge in Virology meeting, and implications of a new HIV-1 sequence from 1960 for the origin of AIDS. Links for this episode: NY Times article on Offit vaccine book. Nature paper on new 1960 HIV-1 sequence. Massive polio immunization in Pakistan. PLoS paper on T cell responses to HERVs in HIV-1 infection. Science blog of the week: Eye on DNA by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei Science podcast pick of the week: Persiflager’s Infectious Disease Podcast Science book of the week: Microbe Hunters by by Paul de Kruif

Vincent, Dick, and Alan converse about hantavirus spread by large deer mice, why the 1918 influenza virus replicates in the lower respiratory tract, measles in Europe, and the growing resistance of influenza virus to antivirals. Links for this episode: MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from CDC. Larger, older deer mice spread hantavirus. Viral RNA polymerase complex promotes optimal growth of 1918 virus in the lower respiratory tract of ferrets. Measles in Europe: an epidemiological assessment. Avian flu (H5N1) gaining resistance to antivirals. Times article on resistance to Tamiflu and analysis by virology blog. Angola widens border closure with DRC over Ebola. Solutions, the iPhone/iPod Touch app to calculate molar solutions. Vaccine, the iPhone/iPod Touch app to determine vaccination schedules. Science blog of the week: Molecule of the Day Science podcast pick of the week: Meet the Scientist by Merry Buckley Science book of the week: The Great Influenza by John M. Barry The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin - published 150 years ago.

Vincent and Alan discuss a viral upper respiratory tract infection, transmission of H5N1 influenza virus, death of an HIV denialist, and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Links in this episode: PLoS Pathogens paper on transmission of H5N1 influenza virus. Ebola outbreak in DRC reported by ProMedMail. Death of HIV denialist. BioCrowd, a network for bioscientists. Molecules, the iPhone/iPod Touch app to display molecules. Science blog of the week: ViroBlogy Science podcast pick of the week: Astronomy Cast Science book of the week: The Cutter Incident by Paul A. Offit, MD

Vincent and Alan talk about President-elect Obama’s choices for his science advisors, SARS sensationalism, a new enteric picornavirus, and the top 10 virology stories of 2008. Obama’s science advisors (Yahoo story) CDC RSS feed on influenza PNAS paper on a new enteric picornavirus TWiV’s top 10 virology stories of 2008: 1. Nobel Prize in Medicine to Montagnier, Barré-Sinoussi, and zur Hausen 2. AIDS elite controllers partly explained 3. Cancellation of PAVE HIV-1 vaccine trial 4. Gut homing receptor for HIV-1 5. New Ebola strain 6. New mosquito virus 7. How mosquitoes survive virus infection 8. Mouse model for Chikungunya 9. Genome sequences of 150 avian influenza virus strains 10. Understanding the RS virus vaccine failure Science blog of the week: Aetiology Science podcast pick of the week: biobytes Science book of the week: Principles of Virology, 3rd Edition by Flint, Enquist, Racaniello, and Skalka.

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.

Vincent, Alan, and Jeremy discuss why certain AIDS patients, called ‘elite controllers’ or ‘long-term non-progressors’, do not develop disease, why mosquitoes infected with Sindbis virus remain healthy, and the continuing outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis. Links for this episode: Immunity article on elite controllers. PNAS article on protected mosquitoes. The word quarantine comes from the seventeenth century Venetian quarantena, which means forty day period. Science podcast pick of the week: The Mr. Science Show Science book of the week: Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis. Click here to see a page from my Mother’s marked-up copy. She was a high school English teacher.

Vincent, DIck, and Alan chat about reconstruction of a bat SARS-like coronavirus, herpesviruses that are killing elephants in zoos, and a plan to eradicate AIDS in ten years. Links for this episode: The Virology Network at socialmedian.com. The bat SARS-like coronavirus: scientific article in PNAS, and the Wired Science article. NY Times Editorial on eradicating AIDS. Herpesviruses killing elephants. Science podcast pick of the week: Futures in Biotech. Science book of the week: Principles of Molecular Virology, by AJ Cann.

Vincent and Dick recall the discovery of Lassa virus in Africa in 1969. A non-fictional account of the story, ‘Fever’, written by John G. Fuller and published in 1974, inspired Vincent to become a virologist. Part of the story took place at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital (now Columbia University Medical Center), where both Vincent and Dick are employed. Dick remembers many of the key players in this medical drama. Links for this episode: Click here to view to cover of ‘Fever!’ Buy a used copy of ‘Fever!’ at Amazon. Science podcast pick of the week: The Naked Scientists (iTunes link).

Vincent and Dick converse about warfare preventing immunization of 120,000 children in Afghanistan, bone marrow transplant curing AIDS patient, Google tracking flu, measles outbreak in Gibraltar, using viruses to make batteries, and small mosquitoes and Dengue. Article on using viruses to make batteries (PubMed: Virus-enabled synthesis and assembly of nanowires for lithium ion battery electrodes). Science podcast pick of the week: NY Times Science Times (iTunes link).

Vincent, Dick, and Aidan discuss how viral infections play prominent roles in notable video games. Three games are discussed: World of Warcraft, Pandemic II, and Bioshock. An article on how World of Warcraft became a model for the transmission of virus infections was published in Lancet Infectious Diseases. The title of the article is “The untapped potential of virtual game worlds to shed light on real world epidemics.” After we did the netcast we learned of a game for the iPhone called ‘Virus’. In this game your body is infected with a virus, and you must clear the infection by controlling white blood cells. The game is at the iTunes App store. Science podcast pick of the week: MicrobiologyBytes. TWiV is now part of Sciencepodcasters.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Dickson was at Pop!Tech last week. Neal Stephenson’s Cryptonomicon. US Geological Survey Disease Maps. CDC page on Hendra and Nipah viruses. The flying fox (Google image search). Vincent’s virology course. Vincent’s texbook is Principles of Virology, third edition, ASM Press (available December 2008). Science podcast pick of the week: Brain Science Podcast.

Host: Vincent Racaniello Special guest: Saul Silverstein Dickson Despommier is away this week at Pop!Tech. CDC pages on herpes and zoster (shingles).

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier CDC page on rabies Dick’s Ecology 101 course Ecotone defined Negri bodies defined (down on the page)

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier Article on the mortgage crisis and West Nile virus in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Environment-oriented review of Dengue. Dengue page at the World Health Organization.