MicrobeWorld

One of two papers on avian influenza H5N1 virus that caused such a furor in the past six months was published today in the journal Nature. I have read it, and I can assure you that the results do not enable the construction of a deadly biological weapon. Instead, they illuminate important requir... Read More

The Public Library of Science's open access journals just release its 2009 June Progress Report in which they project "a publishing business model projected to be 100% self-sufficient in 2010."

"PLoS journals use a business model that recovers expenses — including administration of peer revie... Read More

Damon writes:

I've been having an enjoyable time on my commute lately catching up with TWiV. Today I listened to #26 (Poxviruses), which included a discussion of Tysabri and PML. I work at Millipore which sells many products that go into a MAb production train, includ... Read More

The Nº 109 of the "El podcast del microbio" deals with the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the accident in the Deepwater Hor... Read More

Raihan writes:

Hi Guys,

I saw this video during the course of listening to TWiP. Is there any parasitic truth behind this phenomenon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL_48wUQeXQ

Amaz... Read More

The third annual installment of my virology course at Columbia University, Biology W3310, has begun, and all the lectures will be available online. Read More

The hunt continues for novel antiviral agents especially against the pandemic H1N1 virus. In this article, a drug that has been used to fight HIV infection and vesicular stomatitis now appears to have the potential to block influenzavirus infection by inhibiting neuraminidase. This may be yet ... Read More

This episode: Bacteria in mosquitoes could prevent Dengue fever!

Download Episode... Read More

Ebrahim writes:

Dear Dr. Racaniello

I was watching the conference in Dublin and I wanted to thank you for sharing my e-mail with the people in the panel, since I saw how nice it was for me to reach the specialists with that ease through TWIV.<... Read More

Jim writes:

Prof Dickson,

Does the same concern that you discussed with suppressed immunity after a transplant apply to folks who undergo chemotherapy for cancer? (re strongyloides)

Jim
Smithfield, VA

Spencer writes:

Hi V... Read More

El podcast del Microbio Nº174 and 175 are dedicated to Alice Catherine Evans, one of the first women microbiologists. Los ... Read More

On episode #89 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent and Alan review recent findings on the association of the retrovirus XMRV with ME/CFS, reassortment of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in swine,... Read More

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello,  Read More

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit... Read More

The American Society for Microbiology Committee on K-12 Education publishes peer-reviewed resources that convey important scientific concepts from the microbial world, such as microbial processes, methods used to study microorganisms and other general science topics. The activities are student-c... Read More

Recent research has suggested a new method of flu prevention and treatment: the administration of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to the lungs of mice significantly reduced flu symptoms and prevented mortality after a lethal dose of influenza virus. GM-CSF helps the bod... Read More

Sharon writes:

Hello fellow virus lovers,

I first want to comment about Vincent's pick of the week a few weeks back, the book "Polio" by David Oshinsky. I am currently studying poliovirus in Julie Pfeiffer's lab (as you revealed many moons ago with a previous ... Read More

El podcast del Microbio Nº206 is dedicated to the recent discovery of stromatolites in deep of Antartic lake Untersee. El p... Read More

Peter writes:

Dear TWiM Team

I see that some action is now being taken in America against the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics as livestock growth promoters:

Read More

A laboratory in the Netherlands has identified a lethal influenza H5N1 virus strain that is transmitted among ferrets. These findings are under review by the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) to ensure that they do not constitute a threat to human health. Meanwhile both the... Read More