This Week in Virology

A TWiV panel of five considers the finding of Streptococcus pneumoniae in fatal H1N1 cases in Argentina, hysteria in the Ukraine over pandemic influenza, and human vaccinia infection after contact with a raccoon rabies vaccine bait. Host links Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Gustavo Palacios, and Mady Hornig Links for this episode: Argentine flu death mystery H1N1 influenza outbreak in Ukraine (article one and two, and WHO statement) Human vaccinia infection after contact with rabies

Vincent, Dick, and Alan are joined by emergency medicine physician Dr. Joshua Stillman to talk about passive antibody therapy for Nipah infection in ferrets, annual influenza immunization of children, facemasks to prevent influenza, predicting dengue outbreaks by the weather, and the amazing viral communities in an icy Antarctic lake. Host links Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, and Joshua Stillman Links for this episode: Post-exposure passive antibody therapy for Nipah virus in

Vincent visits Scotch Plains – Fanwood High School and talks about viruses with high school biology students. Host links: Vincent Racaniello Links for this episode: Vincent’s presentation (pdf) Thank you letters Oncolytic reovirus Does rhinovirus interfere with influenza?

Vincent, Dick, Alan, and Cliff answer questions from listeners on swine influenza origins, transmission, virulence, and vaccines, HIV and AIDS, and more. Host links: Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, and Cliff Mintz Links for this episode: Physicists propose 'Schrödinger's Virus' experiment (thanks Duncan) Nanoparticle adjuvant (ScienceDaily and Journal of Controlled Release - thanks Jim) Hand washing won't stop H1N1 at Newsweek (thanks Jim) Newsweek's virus quiz TWiV timeline

The largest TWiV panel ever assembled takes on XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome, 2009 chemistry Nobel prizes for ribosome structure, finding new poxvirus vaccine candidates, a brouhaha over leaked Canadian data on flu susceptibility, and transmission of H1N1 influenza to a pet ferret. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dick Despommier, Alan Dove, Jason Rodriguez, and Rich Condit Links for this episode: XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome XMRV not found in German prostate cancer 2009 Chemistry Nobel

Vincent speaks with Lynn Enquist about his career in virology, moving from academia to industry and back. Along the way he did pioneering research on bacteriophage, participated in the birth of recombinant DNA technology, and studied herpesviruses. Links for this episode: Holliday junction Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA Restriction enzymes Movies of herpesvirus movement in nerve cells The 'other' Enquist lab Can you find the TWiV 54 hosts in this photo? Weekly Science Picks Lynn Francis

Vincent, Dick, and Alan talk about Nobel prizes for telomere research, bacteriophages that protect aphids from wasps, salicylates and pandemic influenza mortality, and hand washing. Links for this episode: Bacteriophages encode toxins that protect aphids from wasps 14 year old dies after receiving HPV vaccine Salicylates and pandemic influenza mortality Canadian microbiologist says hand washing is not proven to prevent influenza Surgical mask vs N95 respirator for preventing influenza Americans