Virology
Antibodies mediate severe dengue in humans
By Vincent Racaniello
Severe dengue virus disease, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), is most likely to occur in previously infected individuals experiencing a second encounter with a different serotype. A specific range of serum antibody titers has been shown to enhance viral replication in cell culture and in animal ...
TWiV 472: The riddle of the skinks
By Vincent Racaniello
The TWiV team reveal the origin of the poxvirus membrane, and how a retrovirus drove the development of the placenta of a lizard. <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: ...
Immune 3: Two epitopes, four serotypes, and a partridge in a pear tree
By Vincent Racaniello
Cindy, Steph, and Vincent discuss recent problems with dengue virus vaccine, and a bi-specific monoclonal antibody against Zika virus. <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> Click arrow to play Download Immune 3 (48 MB .mp3, 79 min) ...
Retroviruses turned egg-layers into live-bearers
By Vincent Racaniello
The protein syncytin, which is essential for formation of the placenta, originally came to the genome of our ancestors, and those of other mammals, via a retrovirus infection. Placental structures have also developed in non-mammalian vertebrates. The Mabuya lizard (pictured: image credit), which emerged 25 million years ago, has a ...
TWiV 471: Songs of innocence and experience
By Vincent Racaniello
The TWiVerinos discuss restriction of dengue virus vaccine by Sanofi, and data which suggest that Dengvaxia causes enhanced disease in previously uninfected recipients. <span data-mce-type="bookmark" 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: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&amp;lt;span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: ...