TWiV 251: Don’t kiss the camel

September 22, 2013

kissing a camelHosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

The complete TWiV crew reviews work on MERS-coronavirus, including serological studies in camels, production of an infectious DNA clone, and identification of an interferon antagonist.

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Download TWiV 251 (71 MB .mp3, 98 min)
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Links for this episode:

Weekly Science Picks

Dickson – Scharf Photo
Kathy
 – Blaschka glass models (NY Times, Cornell)
AlanDigital Public Library of America
RichDengue virus life cycle animation
VincentCreative Live

Listener Pick of the Week

John – Last person to get smallpox (NPR)
PeterSARS documentary (BBC)
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3 comments on “TWiV 251: Don’t kiss the camel

  1. Dorian McILROY Sep 29, 2013

    Re the choice between TCID50 and plaque assay. I do not have huge experience in these techniques, but I have tried to get undergraduates to do both these types of test in lab classes (for baculovirus – the students have no opportunity to infect themselves). TCID50 works well, but plaque assays have generally failed, so I guess that TCID50 is technically easier to set up, and to me appears to be less sensitive to operator error.

  2. Pranav Shah Sep 29, 2013

    Loved the DENV life cycle link posted by Rich Condit. It would have been even more awesome if the could have described the formation of RC’s and their significance in the life cycle.

  3. someone Dec 29, 2013

    I just want to comment on this shakespearian phrase that Dickson said, i mean that’s not something original from shakespeare as are many things that are attributed to him, onde venes is latin or from any romance language, it’s from “¿de donde vienes? ” in spanish at least.