By Gertrud U. Rey There is currently no vaccine to prevent infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2 (HSV-1 or HSV-2). Infection with either of these viruses results in life-long viral latency. Sporadic reactivation and viral shedding may lead to painful oral and genital disease and an increased risk of HIV transmission.
On episode #233 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent, Rich, Alan and Kathy review aerosol transmission studies of influenza H1N1 x H5N1 reassortants, H7N9 infections in China, and the MERS coronavirus. You can find TWiV #233 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.
Robert Herriman of The Global Dispatch interviewed me this week on the H1N1 – H5N1 reassortant study that has been in the headlines: There was much written concerning the research published earlier this month in Science, where researchers from China’s Harbin Veterinary Research Institute reported creating an avian H5N1 (highly pathogenic) and pandemic 2009 H1N1 (easily transmissible) hybrid, that according to them, achieved airborne spread between …
Further defense of the Chinese H1N1 – H5N1 study Read More »
Those of you with an interest in virology, or perhaps simply sensationalism, have probably seen the recent headlines proclaiming another laboratory-made killer influenza virus. From The Independent: ‘Appalling irresponsibility: Senior scientists attack Chinese researchers for creating new strains of influenza virus’; and from InSing.com: ‘Made-in-China killer flu virus’. It’s unfortunate that the comments of several …
Influenza H5N1 x H1N1 reassortants: ignore the headlines, it’s good science Read More »
The isolates of influenza virus obtained in the current global outbreak have proven to be resistant to the adamantane antivirals, but susceptible to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Consequently the two neuraminidase inhibitors will likely be used extensively to control the outbreak until a vaccine is available. Extended use of the antiviral drugs will undoubtedly …
Oseltamivir resistance decreases influenza aerosol transmission Read More »
The cute guinea pig returns for another installment on why influenza is prevalent during winter months in temperate climates. We previously discussed work by Palese and colleagues in which a guinea pig model for influenza virus transmission was used to conclude that spread of influenza virus in aerosols is dependent upon temperature and relative humidity. They found …
