Virology lectures
Each year I teach basic virology to medical, dental, and nursing students here at Columbia University Medical Center. You can find all the lecture videos, slides, and readings here at virology blog: virology.ws/course.
Basic virology
The D225G change in 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is not a concern
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recently identified a mutation in 2009 H1N1 influenza virus isolated from two patients who died and one with severe disease. It has been suggested that this mutation, which causes a change from the amino acid aspartic acid to glycine at position 225 of the viral HA protein (D225G), could …
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Zinc and rhinovirus replication
Recently I began experiments to understand how zinc inhibits rhinovirus replication, and I promised to document my findings on the pages of this blog. Here are the results of the second plaque assay. In the last experiment I confirmed the finding that 0.1 mM ZnCl2 inhibits plaque formation by rhinovirus type 1A. Based on the …
Raltegravir inhibits murine leukemia virus: implications for chronic fatigue syndrome?
The finding that a retrovirus, XMRV, is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome has lead to the suggestion that the disease might be treated with some of the antiviral drugs used to treat AIDS. The integrase inhibitor Raltegravir has been found to block the replication of murine leukemia virus, which is highly related to XMRV. But …
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Tamiflu-resistant pandemic influenza H1N1 virus selected by prophylaxis
The emergence of oseltamivir (Tamiflu)-resistant 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in a Canadian family illustrates the basic concept that viral loads depend on the dose of antiviral drug. Neuraminidase inhibitors like Tamiflu and Relenza are used to treat severe illness caused by the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. The antiviral drugs may also be used …
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Influenza virus is infectious for days on banknotes
Influenza virus may be transmitted among humans in three ways: by direct contact with infected individuals; by contact with contaminated objects (called fomites, such as toys, doorknobs); and by inhalation of virus-laden aerosols. The contribution of each mode to overall transmission of influenza is not known. But something that most of us touch on a …
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