When my laboratory discovered the cell receptor for poliovirus in 1989, many new research directions were suddenly revealed - such as creating a mouse model for poliomyelitis. One application we did not think of was to use the receptor to screen samples of drinking water for the presence of viruses. ...

On episode #31 of the science show This Week in Microbiology, Vincent, Jo, and Michael discuss an archetypal protein transport system in bacterial outer membranes, and evidence that gut microbial enterotypes might not fall into defined groups. You can find TWiM at microbeworld.org/twim.

On episode #179 of the science show This Week in Virology, Gertrud joins the TWiVoners to review how dengue virus infection of mosquitoes alters blood feeding behavior, and gene therapy as practiced by parasitoid wasps. You can find TWiV #179 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

Influenza H5N1 virus frightens many because of the widely quoted case fatality ratio of >50%, which is based on the number of deaths among the fewer than 600 cases confirmed by the World Health Organization. Such fear is misguided, because it is likely that the fatality ratio is far lower. ...

On episode #178 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiValians meet up with Tyler Sharp for a discussion on the Epidemic Intelligence Service and controlling dengue. You can find TWiV #178 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.