The innate immune system responds within minutes of infection to produce type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interferons induce the synthesis of cell proteins with antiviral activity, and also shape the adaptive immune response by priming T cells. Despite the discovery of interferons over 50 years ago, only recently have we begun to understand how …
The success in treating AIDS with multiple combinations of three antiviral drugs is a model for the successful management of viral resistance. Can we expect that a deep arsenal of anti-influenza virus drugs will be developed? So far we have three antiviral drugs against influenza viruses. Most H3N2 strains are resistant to rimantidine, which targets …
Here is my favorite poem about science. I found it stuck on the wall in my empty lab when I first came to Columbia in the fall of 1982. It is still tacked to my corkboard, yellowing and frayed. V.B. Nimble, V.B. Quick (inspired by V.B. Wigglesworth, F.R.S., Quick Professor of Biology at the University …
Is that title correct? Arenaviruses have an RNA genome which is not known to be copied into DNA at any stage of the replication cycle. How could a DNA copy of this virus be produced and be inserted into the host genome? The RNA genome of retroviruses is converted to a DNA form during viral …
Integration of arenavirus DNA into the cell genome Read More »
Ebola virus infection was reported in Phillipine pigs in 2008. This past week it was revealed that the virus was apparently transmitted from Phillipine pigs to a pig farmer. Why do these events bring Nipah virus to mind? The Ebola virus that was found in 4 of 6,000 pigs in the Phillipines last year is …
On This Week in Virology episode #17, Vincent, Dick, and guest Saul Silverstein talk about discoveries in virology that have had a major impact on the field. By seminal, we mean “strongly influencing later developments”. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #17
