TWiV 77: Non-nuclear proliferation

April 11, 2010

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit

Vincent, Alan, and Rich revisit circovirus contamination of Rotarix, then discuss poxvirus-like replication of mimivirus in the cell cytoplasm, and whether seasonal influenza immunization increases the risk of infection with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus.

This episode is sponsored by Data Robotics Inc.

Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #77 (60 MB .mp3, 83 minutes)

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9 comments on “TWiV 77: Non-nuclear proliferation

  1. Amy M. Apr 14, 2010

    I am writing in response to Ms. Christine’s letter about her lack of Rubella immunity. Mr. Dove made a comment about her being tested outside of pregnancy, and by the posting of her letter it appears she was tested. Women are tested during pregnancy because of the serious effects rubella can have during that time, so most women are tested at their first prenatal appointment. But Ms. Christine stated “before getting pregnant with my second child I was tested again” which implies to me she was planning on getting pregnant, told her OB/GYN and because of her past lack of immunity decided to test again before she was pregnant. In her letter she states she needed another vaccine, so in her case it does not seem the lack of immunity was related to pregnancy.

    Love the show!

  2. andrew124 Apr 16, 2010

    Please make these podcasts shorter.

    • What would you like us to cut out? Virology? Reader email? Science picks?

      • ErikCarter Apr 17, 2010

        I disagree. The podcasts are a perfect length. If andrew124 doesn't want to watch the entire podcast, then he doesn't have to. Or he could just split it. Watch half one day and half the other. Please please please don't shorten them unless you yourself want to (do to your schedule or something like that).

        On a different note, I tried to get the the twiv skype page, but when i typed in 'twivpodcast' it couldn't be found. I'd like to try leaving an audio comment with a question I have about antivirals.
        Thanks for having such a great podcast.

        • If you want to leave a voicemail question for TWiV, start up the Skype
          application on your computer, and call twivpodcast. There isn't a
          twivpodcast page at Skype – you have to call in. Thanks.

  3. About the Canadian study that found a correlation between people receiving the seasonal flu shot and being hospitalized with H1N1, here's a possible reason for you: at least in BC, the seasonal flu shot is only available for free if you are considered to be at risk (e.g. very old, very young, whatever). So if we do a good job of giving the seasonal flu shot mostly to people who are at risk of becoming severely ill from the flu, then it hardly seems surprising to see more of the same group coming into the hospital with H1N1.

    The only question that remains would be: wouldn't these at-risk people also have been vaccinated for H1N1? I haven't read the paper, but the H1N1 vaccine wasn't available until the fall of 2009 (again speaking for BC), so perhaps the results were from before the H1N1 vaccine was widely available.

    Thanks for the podcast!
    Cheers.