The Esperanza Patient
This post describes the case of a woman who appears to have been naturally cured of her HIV infection.
Basic virology
Pills for COVID-19
Multiple vaccines have been developed that have made substantial contributions to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, but where are the antivirals? Only repurposed drugs have been used and not with much success. That situation seems about to change with the authorization of drugs that target the RNA polymerase (Molnupiravir) and a viral protease (Paxlovid). Molnupiravir is …
Spikevax Induces Durable Protection from the Delta Variant in Rhesus Macaques
Rhesus macaques that are vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 are protected from severe disease and probably transmit very little virus when infected with SARS-CoV-2 one year later.
Wuhan spiny eel influenza virus
Influenza B viruses, unlike influenza A viruses, do not cause pandemics. There are many non-human animal reservoirs of influenza A viruses which provide gene segments that go towards making reassortant viruses that can infect humans. Influenza B viruses do not appear to have an animal reservoir other than humans – they have been isolated from …
Molnupiravir, a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug, is mutagenic in cells
Molnupiravir might be the first highly effective antiviral drug given emergency use authorization for treatment of COVID-19. Should we be concerned about the results of a recent study which show that the drug is mutagenic in cells? Molnupiravir is an orally available pro-drug of the nucleoside analog N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC). The latter is a nucleoside analogue …
Molnupiravir, a SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug, is mutagenic in cells Read More »
An Appreciation for Viruses
Most people associate viruses with illness and suffering, however, considering that the vast majority of viruses cause no illness and are actually beneficial to humans and the planet as a whole, this sentiment is largely misplaced.