Virology
US President’s report on 2009 H1N1 influenza
By Vincent Racaniello
President Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has released a report assessing H1N1 preparations. According to the White House Office of the Press Secretary: A Presidential advisory group of the nation's leading scientists and engineers today released a new report assessing the Obama Administration's preparations for this ...
TWiV 46: Virus entry into cells
By Vincent Racaniello
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dick Despommier In episode #46 of the podcast "This Week in Virology", Vincent and Dick continue virology 101 with a discussion of virus entry into cells, then answer reader email on colony collapse disorder and viruses that confer a benefit to their host. [powerpress url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/twiv/TWiV046.mp3"] Click ...
Rapid sharing of influenza research
By Vincent Racaniello
The open-access Public Library of Science (PLoS) has launched PLoS Currents, a website for the rapid communication of research results and ideas. The first research theme at PLoS Currents is influenza. The opening of PLoS Currents: Influenza was announced by Harold Varmus, Chairman and Co-Founder of PLoS. He wrote about ...
Influenza virus-like particle vaccine
By Vincent Racaniello
A new type of vaccine against influenza, made with virus-like particles, has been shown to protect ferrets from infection with the 2009 H1N1 swine-origin strain. What is a virus-like particle, and how is it produced? If you have been taking influenza 101, you know that new virus particles are produced ...
Poliovirus type 2 returns
By Vincent Racaniello
The global battle to eradicate poliomyelitis is already 9 years behind schedule. To make matters worse, type 2 poliovirus, which was declared eradicated in 1999, has returned. There are three serotypes of poliovirus, each of which causes poliomyelitis. The vaccine used by WHO in the global eradication effort is a ...
