Science Communication 2018
We did a lot of science communication in 2018. By we, I mean all the individuals who gave their time selflessly to write for this blog or record podcasts with me. Here is a summary of what we did last year. virology blog
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Viral infections of the enteric nervous system and intestinal dysmotility
Intestinal dysmotility disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome affect 10-30% of humans in Western countries. Some of these diseases appear to correlate with viral infection. Inoculation of mice with neurotropic flaviviruses leads to injury and death of enteric neurons, inflammation, intestinal dilation and retarded bowel transit, providing a model for studying and treating these human …
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These Bacteria are Bugged
By Gertrud U. Rey Quorum sensing is a form of cell to cell communication in bacteria in which individual cells coordinate their behavior based on population density. In human terms, the word “quorum” means “the minimum number of people required to conduct business.”
The lost picornavirus ORF
For over 50 years the RNA genome of picornaviruses (illustrated below for poliovirus) was thought to be translated into a single, long polyprotein. All this time a very small upstream open reading frame (uORF) has gone undetected – until now.
Paul Has Measles
Susana López, Martha Yocupicio, Selene Zárate, virologists from Mexico, together with graphic illustrator Eva Lobatón, have teamed up to produce Paul Has Measles, a children’s book about viruses and vaccines. Paul Has Measles is available as a free pdf in 16 languages. It may also be purchased as a Kindle or paperback edition at Amazon: English …
Leaving Koch behind
For the past 40 years, certain laboratory mice in Australia and the US have been unexpectedly dying in middle age, but the cause has remained elusive. A novel member of the parvovirus family appears to be the culprit.