Virology
Rubella virus and birth defects
By Vincent Racaniello
Amidst the fear surrounding Zika virus, remember that there are over 100,000 children born each year with birth defects caused by infection with rubella virus. The virus Rubella virus is a member of the Togaviridae family, which also includes chikungunya virus. The genome is a 9.7 kilobase, positive strand RNA enclosed in a capsid ...
TWiV 376: The flavi of the week is Zika
By Vincent Racaniello
On episode #376 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiV team discusses the latest data on Zika virus, including ocular defects in infants with microcephaly, and isolation of the entire viral genome from fetal brain tissue. You can find TWiV #376 at microbe.tv/twiv.
Scientists, share your Zika virus reagents!
By Vincent Racaniello
Today I learned that a number of investigators refuse to share their samples of Zika virus with other laboratories. There are countless stories about scientists not sharing reagents because they want to be the first to make a discovery. This behavior allows them to publish first, secure more grant funding, garner invitations to speak at meetings, ...
Zika virus and microcephaly
By Vincent Racaniello
Three reports have been published that together make a compelling case that Zika virus is causing microcephaly in Brazil. An epidemic of Zika virus infection began in Brazil in April 2015, and by the end of the year the virus had spread through 19 states, many in the northeastern part of the country. ...
An open letter to The Lancet, again
By Vincent Racaniello
On November 13th, five colleagues and I released an open letter to The Lancet and editor Richard Horton about the PACE trial, which the journal published in 2011. The study's reported findings--that cognitive behavior therapy and graded exercise therapy are effective treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome--have had enormous influence on clinical guidelines for ...