Because all animal viruses initiate infection by binding to a receptor on the cell surface, this step has long been considered a prime target for antiviral therapy. Unfortunately, drugs that block virus attachment to cells have never shown much promise. Another approach, which is to ablate the receptor from the ...

On episode #276 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent meets up with Susan Baker and Tom Gallagher at Loyola University to talk about their work on coronaviruses. You can find TWiV #276 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

In Carl Zimmer's New York Times article describing the recovery of the giant virus Pithovirus sibericum from the Siberian permafrost, he used the words revive and resurrect. Can a virus be restored to life? The headline of the article read 'Out of Siberian ice, a virus revived'. Within the body ...

Infection with influenza virus is known to increase susceptibility to bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. In a mouse model of influenza, increased bacterial colonization was also observed after administration of an infectious, attenuated influenza virus vaccine. Primary influenza virus infection increases colonization of the human upper and lower respiratory ...

On episode #275 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent and Rich meet up with Eugene Koonin to talk about the central role of viruses in the evolution of all life. You can find TWiV #275 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.