25 posts · 23,357 views
I have been studying viruses for over 30 years. As a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City, I oversee a research laboratory to study viruses, and to train other scientists to become virologists. I also teach virology to graduate students, as well as medical, dental, and nursing students.
virology blog
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- July 22, 2010
- 09:00 PM
- 631 views
The virus and the virion
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The illustration at left depicts a virion – the infectious particle that is designed for transmission of the nucleic acid genome among hosts or host cells. A virion is not the same as a virus. I define virus as a distinct biological entity with five distinct characteristics. Others believe that the virus is actually the infected host cell.... Read more »
BANDEA, C. (1983) A new theory on the origin and the nature of viruses. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 105(4), 591-602. DOI: 10.1016/0022-5193(83)90221-7
Forterre, P. (2010) Defining Life: The Virus Viewpoint. Origins of Life and Evolution of Biospheres, 40(2), 151-160. DOI: 10.1007/s11084-010-9194-1
- July 14, 2010
- 03:00 PM
- 715 views
Reovirus infection of farmed salmon
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Global fish farming may be the solution to the impending collapse of the commercial fishing industry, but penned fish are susceptible to infectious diseases. Infection with salmon infectious anemia virus, an orthomyxovirus, lead Wal-Mart to stop buying farmed salmon from Chile, the world’s second largest producer of the fish. As a consequence Chilean farmed salmon are being immunized to prevent infection. Heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) is another disease of farmed salmon, fi........ Read more »
Palacios G, Lovoll M, Tengs T, Hornig M, Hutchison S, Hui J, Kongtorp RT, Savji N, Bussetti AV, Solovyov A.... (2010) Heart and skeletal muscle inflammation of farmed salmon is associated with infection with a novel reovirus. PloS one, 5(7). PMID: 20634888
- November 24, 2009
- 12:00 PM
- 790 views
The D225G change in 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is not a concern
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recently identified a mutation in 2009 H1N1 influenza virus isolated from two patients who died and one with severe disease. It has been suggested that this mutation, which causes a change from the amino acid aspartic acid to glycine at position 225 of the viral HA protein (D225G), could make the virus more likely to infect deeper in the airways and cause more severe disease. What is the basis for this concern and does it have merit?... Read more »
Tumpey, T., Maines, T., Van Hoeven, N., Glaser, L., Solorzano, A., Pappas, C., Cox, N., Swayne, D., Palese, P., Katz, J.... (2007) A Two-Amino Acid Change in the Hemagglutinin of the 1918 Influenza Virus Abolishes Transmission. Science, 315(5812), 655-659. DOI: 10.1126/science.1136212
Shen J, Ma J, & Wang Q. (2009) Evolutionary Trends of A(H1N1) Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin Since 1918. PloS one, 4(11). PMID: 19924230
- November 20, 2009
- 10:00 AM
- 791 views
Raltegravir inhibits murine leukemia virus: implications for chronic fatigue syndrome?
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The finding that a retrovirus, XMRV, is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome has lead to the suggestion that the disease might be treated with some of the antiviral drugs used to treat AIDS. The integrase inhibitor Raltegravir has been found to block the replication of murine leukemia virus, which is highly related to XMRV. But the drug exacerbates autoimmune disease in mice which might rule out its use in treating CFS.... Read more »
G.B. Beck-Engeser, D. Eilat, T. Harrer, H.-M. Jack, M. Wabl. (2009) Early onset of autoimmune disease by the retroviral integrase inhibitor raltegravir. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. info:/10.1073/pnas.0908074106
- November 17, 2009
- 07:00 AM
- 952 views
Tamiflu-resistant pandemic influenza H1N1 virus selected by prophylaxis
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The emergence of oseltamivir (Tamiflu)-resistant 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in a Canadian family illustrates the basic concept that viral loads depend on the dose of antiviral drug.... Read more »
Baz M, Abed Y, Papenburg J, Bouhy X, Hamelin ME, & Boivin G. (2009) Emergence of Oseltamivir-Resistant Pandemic H1N1 Virus during Prophylaxis. The New England journal of medicine. PMID: 19907034
- November 10, 2009
- 01:30 PM
- 668 views
Influenza virus is infectious for days on banknotes
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Influenza virus may be transmitted among humans in three ways: by direct contact with infected individuals; by contact with contaminated objects (called fomites, such as toys, doorknobs); and by inhalation of virus-laden aerosols. The contribution of each mode to overall transmission of influenza is not known. But something that most of us touch on a daily basis – paper currency – appears to be able to hold infectious virus for a surprisingly long period of time.... Read more »
Thomas Y, Vogel G, Wunderli W, Suter P, Witschi M, Koch D, Tapparel C, & Kaiser L. (2008) Survival of influenza virus on banknotes. Applied and environmental microbiology, 74(10), 3002-7. PMID: 18359825
- November 6, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,001 views
Is yearly influenza vaccination of children a bad idea?
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The suggestion that yearly immunization against influenza might make children more susceptible to serious disease during a pandemic has generated some controversy. Does this idea have merit?... Read more »
Bodewes R, Kreijtz JH, & Rimmelzwaan GF. (2009) Yearly influenza vaccinations: a double-edged sword?. The Lancet infectious diseases. PMID: 19879807
Heikkinen T, & Peltola V. (2009) Influenza vaccination of children. The Lancet infectious diseases. PMID: 19879806
- November 4, 2009
- 10:35 AM
- 935 views
Zinc inhibits rhinovirus replication
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The title of this post should not come as a surprise to readers of virology blog – it was shown in 1974 that zinc could interfere with replication of rhinoviruses (see “Zinc and the common cold“). I am referring to the result of my first experiment to study the mechanism of zinc inhibition – something I promised I would document on these pages.
... Read more »
KORANT, B., KAUER, J., & BUTTERWORTH, B. (1974) Zinc ions inhibit replication of rhinoviruses. Nature, 248(5449), 588-590. DOI: 10.1038/248588a0
- November 2, 2009
- 05:30 PM
- 780 views
Being older is a good defense against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Why is the incidence of infection with 2009 H1N1 influenza highest among 5-24 year olds, and lowest in those over 65 years of age? Were the oldsters previously infected with a related influenza virus, or is there another explanation?... Read more »
Steel J, Staeheli P, Mubareka S, García-Sastre A, Palese P, & Lowen AC. (2009) Transmission of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus and impact of prior exposure to seasonal strains or interferon treatment. Journal of virology. PMID: 19828604
Epstein, S. (2006) Prior H1N1 Influenza Infection and Susceptibility of Cleveland Family Study Participants during the H2N2 Pandemic of 1957: An Experiment of Nature. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 193(1), 49-53. DOI: 10.1086/498980
- October 23, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 974 views
XMRV not detected in German prostate cancer
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-like virus (XMRV) was discovered in 2006 during a search for viral sequences in prostate cancer tissues. The results of a recent study revealed that the virus is present in 23% of prostate cancers from patients in the US. Understanding the role of XMRV in prostate cancers requires more extensive epidemiological studies, including the examination of tissues from patients in other countries. The prevalence of XMRV in prostate cancers from German subjects has now be........ Read more »
Hohn O, Krause H, Barbarotto P, Niederstadt L, Beimforde N, Denner J, Miller K, Kurth R, & Bannert N. (2009) Lack of evidence for xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) in German prostate cancer patients. Retrovirology, 6(1), 92. PMID: 19835577
- October 21, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 866 views
Severe cases of pandemic influenza
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
The World Health Organization recently convened a meeting of 100 clinicians, scientists, and public health professionals to discuss the clinical features of pandemic influenza. They concluded that the vast majority of infections with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus were uncomplicated and are followed by full recovery within 7 days. However, some patients, including children, develop severe, progressive fatal pneumonia. Should we be worried about this pattern of infection?... Read more »
Itoh Y, Shinya K, Kiso M, Watanabe T, Sakoda Y, Hatta M, Muramoto Y, Tamura D, Sakai-Tagawa Y, Noda T.... (2009) In vitro and in vivo characterization of new swine-origin H1N1 influenza viruses. Nature, 460(7258), 1021-5. PMID: 19672242
Maines TR, Jayaraman A, Belser JA, Wadford DA, Pappas C, Zeng H, Gustin KM, Pearce MB, Viswanathan K, Shriver ZH.... (2009) Transmission and pathogenesis of swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza viruses in ferrets and mice. Science (New York, N.Y.), 325(5939), 484-7. PMID: 19574347
Munster VJ, de Wit E, van den Brand JM, Herfst S, Schrauwen EJ, Bestebroer TM, van de Vijver D, Boucher CA, Koopmans M, Rimmelzwaan GF.... (2009) Pathogenesis and transmission of swine-origin 2009 A(H1N1) influenza virus in ferrets. Science (New York, N.Y.), 325(5939), 481-3. PMID: 19574348
- October 15, 2009
- 04:14 PM
- 903 views
XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
A retrovirus that has been implicated in prostate cancer has now been found in the blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. What is this virus and where did it come from?... Read more »
Urisman A, Molinaro RJ, Fischer N, Plummer SJ, Casey G, Klein EA, Malathi K, Magi-Galluzzi C, Tubbs RR, Ganem D.... (2006) Identification of a novel Gammaretrovirus in prostate tumors of patients homozygous for R462Q RNASEL variant. PLoS pathogens, 2(3). PMID: 16609730
Lombardi VC, Ruscetti FW, Das Gupta J, Pfost MA, Hagen KS, Peterson DL, Ruscetti SK, Bagni RK, Petrow-Sadowski C, Gold B.... (2009) Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Science (New York, N.Y.). PMID: 19815723
Schlaberg R, Choe DJ, Brown KR, Thaker HM, & Singh IR. (2009) XMRV is present in malignant prostatic epithelium and is associated with prostate cancer, especially high-grade tumors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(38), 16351-6. PMID: 19805305
- October 14, 2009
- 06:00 PM
- 554 views
Are you receiving the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
All the evidence I’ve seen so far points to a poor uptake of the influenza 2009 H1N1 vaccine in the United States. This is not good news – inadequate immunization means more infections and more deaths.... Read more »
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009) Influenza vaccination coverage among children and adults - United States, 2008-09 influenza season. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 58(39), 1091-5. PMID: 19816396
- October 8, 2009
- 11:04 AM
- 961 views
Zinc and the common cold
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Shortly after I developed sore throat, cough, and congestion last week, a package of 'Cold - Eeze' materialized on my kitchen counter. The writing on the package of zinc-laden lozenges promised to 'shorten your cold', and noted that they were 'clinically proven to reduce the duration of the common cold'. Do zinc lozenges have any effect on the common cold?... Read more »
Korant BD, Kauer JC, & Butterworth BE. (1974) Zinc ions inhibit replication of rhinoviruses. Nature, 248(449), 588-90. PMID: 4363085
Geist FC, Bateman JA, & Hayden FG. (1987) In vitro activity of zinc salts against human rhinoviruses. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy, 31(4), 622-4. PMID: 3038000
Krenn, B., Gaudernak, E., Holzer, B., Lanke, K., Van Kuppeveld, F., & Seipelt, J. (2008) Antiviral Activity of the Zinc Ionophores Pyrithione and Hinokitiol against Picornavirus Infections. Journal of Virology, 83(1), 58-64. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01543-08
Roxas M, & Jurenka J. (2007) Colds and influenza: a review of diagnosis and conventional, botanical, and nutritional considerations. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic, 12(1), 25-48. PMID: 17397266
- October 6, 2009
- 01:35 PM
- 997 views
Natural antibody protects against viral infection
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Antibodies produced by infection with a virus, or after immunization with viral vaccines, are effective at preventing viral disease. However humans and higher primates contains “natural antibodies” which are present in serum before viral infection. Natural antibodies can activate the classical complement pathway leading to lysis of enveloped virus particles long before the adaptive immune response is activated.... Read more »
Takeuchi Y, Liong SH, Bieniasz PD, Jäger U, Porter CD, Friedman T, McClure MO, & Weiss RA. (1997) Sensitization of rhabdo-, lenti-, and spumaviruses to human serum by galactosyl(alpha1-3)galactosylation. Journal of virology, 71(8), 6174-8. PMID: 9223512
Ochsenbein AF, Fehr T, Lutz C, Suter M, Brombacher F, Hengartner H, & Zinkernagel RM. (1999) Control of early viral and bacterial distribution and disease by natural antibodies. Science (New York, N.Y.), 286(5447), 2156-9. PMID: 10591647
- September 22, 2009
- 02:00 PM
- 1,026 views
The A, B, and C of influenza virus
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Influenza A viruses tend to garner most of the attention, but let’s not forget that there are two other virus types, B and C.... Read more »
Hatta, M., & Kawaoka, Y. (2003) The NB Protein of Influenza B Virus Is Not Necessary for Virus Replication In Vitro. Journal of Virology, 77(10), 6050-6054. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.10.6050-6054.2003
Racaniello VR, & Palese P. (1979) Isolation of influenza C virus recombinants. Journal of virology, 32(3), 1006-14. PMID: 513198
- September 18, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,126 views
Interfering with interferon
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
During a discussion about blogging on the Coast to Coast Bio Podcast, it was suggested that science professors should spend more time writing about their research – by explaining what problems they are trying to solve, how they approach them, and why they are interesting. My goal here at virology blog is mainly to teach virology. But explaining what we do in my virology laboratory can be an effective instructional tool.... Read more »
Drahos J, & Racaniello VR. (2009) Cleavage of IPS-1 in cells infected with human rhinovirus. Journal of virology. PMID: 19740998
Barral, P., Sarkar, D., Fisher, P., & Racaniello, V. (2009) RIG-I is cleaved during picornavirus infection. Virology, 391(2), 171-176. DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.06.045
Barral, P., Morrison, J., Drahos, J., Gupta, P., Sarkar, D., Fisher, P., & Racaniello, V. (2007) MDA-5 Is Cleaved in Poliovirus-Infected Cells. Journal of Virology, 81(8), 3677-3684. DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01360-06
Papon L, Oteiza A, Imaizumi T, Kato H, Brocchi E, Lawson TG, Akira S, & Mechti N. (2009) The viral RNA recognition sensor RIG-I is degraded during encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection. Virology. PMID: 19733381
- September 15, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,150 views
What if influenza virus did not reassort?
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
Would influenza virus be the same pathogen if it could not undergo reassortment of its segmented RNA genome? This is the question being asked in the wake of the development of a method to prevent the free assortment of influenza viral RNAs.... Read more »
Gao, Q., & Palese, P. (2009) Rewiring the RNAs of influenza virus to prevent reassortment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0908897106
- September 11, 2009
- 08:00 AM
- 1,053 views
Influenza virus reassortment, then and now
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
I thought you might like to see how I did a similar experiment in 1979 – a very different era for laboratory techniques.... Read more »
Racaniello VR, & Palese P. (1979) Influenza B virus genome: assignment of viral polypeptides to RNA segments. Journal of virology, 29(1), 361-73. PMID: 430594
- September 10, 2009
- 10:00 PM
- 1,110 views
Single dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine immunogenic in adults
by Vincent Racaniello in virology blog
An Australian group has reported results of a clinical trial to determine the safety and immunogenicity of a 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus vaccine.... Read more »
Michael E. Greenberg, M.D., M.P.H., Michael H. Lai, B.Med.Sc., M.B., B.S., M.Med.Sc., Gunter F. Hartel, M.S., Ph.D., Christine H. Wichems, Ph.D., Charmaine Gittleson, B.Sc., M.B., B.Ch., Jillian Bennet, M.Sc., M.P.H., Gail Dawson, B.Pharm., Wilson Hu, M.D. (2009) Response after One Dose of a Monovalent Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Vaccine. New England Journal of Medicine. info:/10.1056/NEJMoa0907413
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