Information

Antimicrobial peptides induced by herpesvirus enhance HIV-1 infection

2 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

The risk of being infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is substantially enhanced in individuals with other sexually transmitted diseases. For example, infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) increases the risk ratio of acquiring HIV from 2 to 4. Explanations for this increased risk include direct inoculation of HIV-1 into the …

Antimicrobial peptides induced by herpesvirus enhance HIV-1 infection Read More »

Harvard University: Great virology, bad science writing

9 Comments / Basic virology, Commentary, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Harvard University is home to some of the world’s finest virologists. But apparently they do not communicate with the writers at Harvard Magazine, where a botched story on the avian H5N1 influenza virus has just been published. The problems begin with the first paragraph: But when Dutch researchers recently created an even more deadly strain …

Harvard University: Great virology, bad science writing Read More »

Comment on H5N1 lethality in humans

1 Comment / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

In a brief letter to Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, Alan Zelicoff notes a problem with serosurveys for influenza H5N1 infection: …peak titers after H5N1 infection occur at about 4 to 6 weeks postinfection and may drop by as much as 32-fold over the course of a year, probably decreasing the sensitivity of serologic testing for past …

Comment on H5N1 lethality in humans Read More »

Virologia en EspaÃ±ol

4 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Tengo el gusto de anunciarles que mi curso de virologia esta ahora disponible en EspaÃ±ol. Este trabajo se realizÃ³ bajo la direcciÃ³n de la Dra. Susana LÃ³pez, virologa del Departamento de Genetica del Desarrollo y FisiologÃa Molecular del Instituto de BiotecnologÃa de la Universidad Nacional AutÃ³noma de Mexico. Las traducciones fueron realizadas gracias a la …

Virologia en EspaÃ±ol Read More »

Did hepatitis C virus originate in horses?

12 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

About 2% of the world’s population is chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This enveloped, positive-strand RNA virus was discovered in 1989, but serological and phylogenetic evidence indicates that it has been infecting humans for hundreds of years, perhaps as long ago as the 14th century. All human viral infections most likely originated in …

Did hepatitis C virus originate in horses? Read More »

The AIDS pandemic

8 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By Vincent Racaniello

Any questions?

Start typing and press enter to search