Genetically altered HIV to battle leukemia

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/health/a-breakthrough-against-leukemia-using-altered-t-cells.html/ref=science&gwh=D9083766D40AE2F7CE684DB2E7476883&_r=0

HIV attacks the immune system and as a retrovirus it can insert its genome into the immune cells' DNA. This research team is using a genetically modified form of HIV to have it specifically put certain genes into the T cells that cause them to target the B-cells (which are the problematic dividing cells in this case)

The exposure of the modified HIV to the T-cells takes place outside of the body then the newly altered T-cells are returned to the host. Sounds like this is in the promising stage but still needs further work

I especially think it's so amazing to be using such a destructive virus to our benefit

Thanks to Alex Pedicone for bringing this one to my attention!

Megavirus chilensis takes current award for biggest virus

From Oct 10, 2011 issue of PNAS

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2011/10/04/1110889108.abstract

isolated from the sea near Chile, somewhat related to the prior record-holder Mimivirus, contains 1120 protein-coding genes, 1.26 Mbp of DNA, and size of ~0.2-0.3 uM

(image from geekosystem.com)

Squiggly virus

from my favorite satire site:

Deadly New Virus Found To Be 'Real Squiggly

vaccines not cancellations for flu?

Study of the UCSD campus during a 2009 H1N1 outbreak

http://www.asm.org/index.php/news-room/how-flu-virus-spreads-to-college-community-major-implications-for-control.html (also has link to original journal article there)


highlights:

• quite a diversity of flu strains coming into the campus
• influx of strains has enough impact on the student community that they end up recommending that perhaps vaccinations are more important than doing something like cancelling classes as a way to prevent spread

would this be a pattern seen consistently enough to apply to our school? Neat application.