2009

Natural antibody protects against viral infection

12 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Antibodies produced by infection with a virus, or after immunization with viral vaccines, are effective at preventing viral disease. However humans and higher primates contain “natural antibodies” which are present in serum before viral infection. Natural antibodies can activate the classical complement pathway leading to lysis of enveloped virus particles long before the adaptive immune …

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TWiV 52: Scott Hammer, MD on AIDS vaccines

This Week in Virology / By Vincent Racaniello

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Scott Hammer, MD On episode #52 of the podcast “This Week in Virology”, Vincent and Dr. Scott Hammer talk about different types of AIDS vaccines and how they are tested in clinical trials. [powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/twiv/TWiV052.mp3″] Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #52 (51 MB .mp3, 71 …

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Seasonal influenza vaccine

17 Comments / Events, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Here at Columbia University Medical Center, all employees and students may receive, at no charge, influenza vaccine every year. I just went to the lobby of the Milstein Hospital, showed my ID, and received the seasonal influenza vaccine. Here is the proof: As I’ve written before, vaccine records provide interesting information. The medical center administration …

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C1q and the collectins

4 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

The classical complement pathway begins when the initiator protein C1q binds directly to the surface of a pathogen, or to an antibody that is bound to a microbe. There is a binding site for C1q on the Fc portion of antibody molecules. C1q can also recognize molecular patterns characteristic of pathogens, much like the Toll-like receptors. C1q binding …

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Viruses and journalism

15 Comments / Commentary / By Vincent Racaniello

During the more than 30 years that I have studied viruses, I have had many opportunities to speak with journalists of different kinds. For the most part, the print journalists have done a good job at accurately presenting the science, but I cannot say the same for my experience on radio and TV. I want …

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The complement system

15 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

The complement system is a collection of blood and cell surface proteins that is a major primary defense and a clearance component of innate and adaptive immune responses. At least 30 different complement proteins act sequentially to produce a wide ranges of activities, from cell lysis to augmentation of the adaptive response. The complement system …

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