This Week in Virology

Latest Episodes:

TWiV #32 - Influenza in silico May 17, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #31 - Fever plus cough or sore throat May 10, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV Special - Dr. Peter Palese May 06, 2009

Show notes

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.

TWiV #30 - A/Mexico/4108/2009 (H1N1) May 03, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #29 - Swine flu returns Apr 27, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #28 - SARS Apr 19, 2009

Show notes

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)

TWiV #27 - Leaving latency Apr 04, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #26 - Poxviruses Mar 29, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #25 - Viral evolution Mar 22, 2009

Show notes

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

TWiV #24 - Viroids Mar 15, 2009

Show notes

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

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected