TWiV 47: Vertical vaccine farm

August 30, 2009

nicotiana_benthamiana_plantHosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dick Despommier

Vincent and Dick discuss influenza virus-like particle vaccines produced in insect and plant cells, rapid sharing of influenza research, and answer listener questions about cytomegalovirus, viral evolution and symbiosis and much more.

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Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #47 (51 MB .mp3, 71 minutes)

Links for this episode:

Weekly Science Picks
Vincent Bionumbers
Dick Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas by Sylvia A. Earle, Linda K. Glover

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  • http://arielgalula.co.cc אריאל

    Hello Dick and Vincent, i have another idea about Leonardo's mirror writing, He was just don't want any guest reach his secrets in a quick look on his papers on his desk.

  • http://www.virology.ws profvrr

    I like that idea!

  • christianamorkvalheim

    Hey I'm based out of Barcelona, Spain and I just got sent home under suspicion of H1N1. Caused a little panic at work. Strange illness, I got bronchitis, sinus problems, achy body but extremely low fever. All in all the mildest flu I have had. Is the low/no fever due to the Avian part of the virus? Seems as much as 1/3 of the people infected has either low or no fever. My wife's been sick for 1 week with the same symptoms.

    The Spanish government is basically giving anyone suspected of flu 7 days off and only testing people falling into the high risk categories.

  • http://www.virology.ws profvrr

    It's not clear why a certain fraction of those infected with the 2009
    H1N1 virus develop low or no fever. To ascribe it to the avian
    component would be incorrect, because there is little understanding of
    what parts of the viral genome are responsible for induction of fever.

  • DoctorJekyl

    Come on! H1N1 is a complete joke from my point of view. It is just a flu which if you manage to get infected with, you will do just fine as long as you follow a treatment for flu. Of course that people that are poor and don't follow a treatment can develop complications and die. But then again, you can die from a simple untreated cold.
    ____________________________________________
    Sinus Relief

  • DoctorJekyl

    Come on! H1N1 is a complete joke from my point of view. It is just a flu which if you manage to get infected with, you will do just fine as long as you follow a treatment for flu. Of course that people that are poor and don't follow a treatment can develop complications and die. But then again, you can die from a simple untreated cold.
    ____________________________________________
    Sinus Relief

  • DrugLord

    I agree with your opinion as well. This Ah1n1 flu is just a psychological test to see how people panic and react to fear of death by contacting a lethal virus. I sincerely don't think that the flu really exists and if it does, it's just a flu like another one. We have a new kind of flu every year and every year lots of people die.
    ______________________________________
    Drug Treatment

  • Robert Shepherd

    Hi TWIV hosts, I’m not sure if this is the best place to write this, but I just listened to this old episode and would love to fill you in some more on the current state of plant-made vaccine as discussed on this show. I’m a graduate student in the laboratory of Dr Amanda Walmsley, the co-inventor of the first plant-made vaccine that has been successfully licence for the treatment of Newcastle virus disease in chickens. I have some details on my site at robertshepherd.com, but would also be happy to be interviewed to give you an update as to how far this field has come in the past 2 years. Cheers, Robert.