The National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) has published “Adaptations of Avian Flu Virus Are a Cause for Concern”, an explanation of their recommendations with respect to influenza H5N1 research (versions at Science and Nature). It starts with the statement that advances in technology now allow manipulation of microbial genomes in ways that could be misused, leading to global …
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Alan Dove, and Welkin Johnson Welkin joins the TWiV team for a discussion of HIV prophlaxis using vectored antibodies, and the influenza H5N1 virus studies in ferrets that were not redacted. [powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/twiv/TWiV168.mp3″] Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV 168 (59 MB .mp3, 98 minutes). …
TWiV 168: Super CalTech prophylaxis and ferret runny noses Read More »
Peter Palese and Taia Wang have written a compelling article that uses scientific facts to address the controversy over publication of research involving transmission of avian influenza H5N1 in ferrets. In response to calls in the media to destroy the viruses, curtail the research, and protect the public from frightening research, they write that “fear …
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Alan Dove The complete TWiVome deconstructs the movie Contagion. [powerpress url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/twiv/TWiV167.mp3″] Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV 167 (53 MB .mp3, 88 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your …
In letters to Science and Nature, the authors of the controversial avian H5N1 influenza virus transmission experiments in ferrets, together with other influenza virologists, have agreed to a 60 day moratorium on transmission research: …we have agreed on a voluntary pause of 60 days on any research involving highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses leading …
Moratorium on influenza H5N1 transmission research Read More »
The third annual installment of my virology course at Columbia University, Biology W3310, has begun. This course, which I taught for the first time in 2009, is intended for advanced undergraduates and will be taught at the Morningside Campus. Until I started this course, no instruction in virology had been offered at the Morningside Heights …
