by Gertrud U. Rey There is currently no vaccine that is effective against all viruses and it is unlikely that one will ever exist. But what about a universal antiviral drug? A recent study out of Columbia University suggests that it might be possible to develop effective broad-spectrum antivirals against known, emerging, and unknown viruses. …
The TWiV crew reveal a unique portal on the calcivirus capsid formed upon receptor engagement, and the regulation of interferon responses in virus-infected cells by methylation of mRNA. Click arrow to play Download TWiV 534 (57 MB .mp3, 95 min) Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Show notes at microbe.tv/twiv
Some antiviral drugs, like acyclovir for treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, are chain terminators that block RNA or DNA synthesis. They are modified nucleotides that can be incorporated into a growing RNA strand, but no additional nucleotides can be added. Amazingly, a cell protein has been found that can synthesize antiviral chain terminators.
On episode #263 of the science show This Week in Virology, Ben tenOever joins the TWiV team to reveal the winner of his contest in which influenza viruses carrying different interferon-stimulated genes vie against one another in mice. You can find TWiV #263 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.
On episode #180 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Rich review association of an interferon-induced protein with severe influenza, and stabilization of HCV RNA by a microRNA. You can find TWiV #180 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.
Viruses are known to evade the early, or innate, host defenses by interfering with the sensing of infection, production of IFN, and synthesis and activity of ISGs. Today we’ll examine the evidence that the function of one or more ISGs is blocked in poliovirus-infected cells. When IFN is added to the medium of cultured cells, hundreds of …
