MicrobeWorld

I was given a package of zinc lozenges when I contracted a cold a few weeks ago. That got me interested in the effect of zinc on rhinovirus replication. As a consequence I began a series of experiments to understand the mechanism of inhibition of viral replication by this metal. It's unusual that an old virologist such as myself even picks up a pipette; but even more unusual is that I plan to document this series of experiments at virology blog. Check out the first installment where I show that 0.1 mM ZnCl2 inhibits plaque formation by rhinovirus type 1a.