The TWiVsters explain how the shape of pleomorphic virus particles – spherical or filamentous – determines the probability of virus attachment and fusion, and resistance to selective pressure such as antibodies that block cell entry.
The TWiVosophers review the Chinese plasma virome revealed by non-invasive prenatal testing, and a new filovirus genome from bats in China.
TWiV 415: Ebola pipettors and the philosopher’s clone
- November 13, 2016
- Tagged as: adaptation, amino acid, ebola virus, filovirus, glycoprotein, mutation, NPC1, spillover, viral, virology, virus, viruses, zoonosis
Jeremy, Aaron, and Ted join the TWiV team to discuss their work on identifying a single amino acid change in the Ebola virus glycoprotein from the West African outbreak that increases infectivity in human cells.
TWiV 394: Cards in a hand
- June 18, 2016
- Tagged as: cryoEM, ebolavirus, filovirus, Marburg virus, protein, protein structure, structural biology, viral, virology, virus, viruses, X-ray structure
Vincent and Alan speak with Erica about her career and her work on understanding the functions of proteins of Ebolaviruses, Marburg virus, and other hemorrhagic fever viruses, at ASM Microbe 2016 in Boston, MA.
The TWiVocytes answer questions about Ebola virus, including mode of transmission, quarantine, incubation period, immunity, and much more.
The TWiVites present an all-ebolavirus episode, tackling virology, epidemiology, and approaches to prevention and cure that are in the pipeline.
Jens speaks with the TWiV team about filoviruses, including the recent Ebola virus outbreak in Guinea.
Vincent, Alan, and Rich celebrate the 200th episode of TWiV by visiting the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University Medical Center, where they meet with Elke, Paul, and Ron to talk about building and working in a BSL4 facility.
The TWiVites meet with Mark Stenglein and Joseph DeRisi to discuss their discovery of a novel arenavirus in snakes with inclusion body disease.
Vincent, Dickson, Alan, Rich and Welkin discuss the nature, origin, and evolution of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), and the recent finding of endogenous filovirus genomes in mammals.
Inside a BSL-4
