A bit unsettling, but this is what happens when a sneeze is not contained: If you have a respiratory viral infection, each drop expelled can contain tens of thousands of infectious virions. Made by South Australian Health.

Poliovirus recently made the cover of Time magazine. Prompted by a reader question, I searched the Time archive to find out if there have been other virology-themed covers. I found fifteen in all, depicting poliovirus (3), herpesvirus (1), HIV/AIDS (4), influenza (5), and SARS coronavirus (2) (I did not distinguish ...

On episode #216 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, Rich, and Kathy resume the virology 101 series with a discussion of RNA capping, splicing, and export. You can find TWiV #216 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released early estimates of the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine in preventing influenza infection. Influenza vaccine effectiveness is assessed each year by the U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network. Patients with acute respiratory infection (ARI) are enrolled in the study; respiratory samples ...

During my visit to the University of Vermont today I had lunch with seven talented Microbiology Ph.D. students. One of them asked me what was an important quality to have for achieving success in science. I said without hesitation, 'Be curious'. It's the answer I always give. Being curious is ...