Virology
A breath of fresh influenza virus
By Vincent Racaniello
Influenza virus may be transmitted among humans in three ways: by direct contact with infected individuals; by contact with contaminated objects (called fomites, such as toys, doorknobs); and by inhalation of virus-laden aerosols. A recent study suggests that normal tidal breathing plays a substantial role in aerosol transmission. Volunteers in a ...
TWiV 479: Trypsin the flight fantastic
By Vincent Racaniello
The TWiVome explores induction of antiviral responses by repeating patterns of capsids, and a fungus in the mosquito gut that aids dengue virus replication. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>&lt;span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; ...
A human rhinovirus in chimpanzees
By Vincent Racaniello
Rhinovirus receptors An outbreak of respiratory disease in Ugandan chimpanzees provides insight into how virus infection can shape the genome and lead to differences in the cell receptor gene that regulate susceptibility to infection. Severe respiratory disease was noted in the Kanyawara community of chimpanzees in western Uganda from February ...
TWiV 478: A pox on your horse
By Vincent Racaniello
The TWiV team explains how infectious horsepox virus - likely the ancestor of smallpox vaccines - was recovered from chemically synthesized DNA fragments. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span><span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span>&lt;span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: ...
HPV vaccines do not encourage risky sexual behavior
By Vincent Racaniello
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines save lives by preventing lethal cervical and anogenital cancers. If Henrietta Lacks had received an HPV vaccine, she would not have succumbed to cervical cancer. Yet not enough young men and women receive the vaccine. An obstacle to more widespread adoption of the HPV ...
