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Journal of Virology Jan 2024In the United States (US), biosafety and biosecurity oversight of research on viruses is being reappraised. Safety in virology research is paramount and oversight...
In the United States (US), biosafety and biosecurity oversight of research on viruses is being reappraised. Safety in virology research is paramount and oversight frameworks should be reviewed periodically. Changes should be made with care, however, to avoid impeding science that is essential for rapidly reducing and responding to pandemic threats as well as addressing more common challenges caused by infectious diseases. Decades of research uniquely positioned the US to be able to respond to the COVID-19 crisis with astounding speed, delivering life-saving vaccines within a year of identifying the virus. We should embolden and empower this strength, which is a vital part of protecting the health, economy, and security of US citizens. Herein, we offer our perspectives on priorities for revised rules governing virology research in the US.
Topics: Humans; Containment of Biohazards; COVID-19; United States; Viruses; Virology; Biomedical Research
PubMed: 38168672
DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01791-23 -
Microbiology Spectrum Aug 2016Smallpox is considered among the most devastating of human diseases. Its spread in populations, initiated for thousands of years following a probable transmission from... (Review)
Review
Smallpox is considered among the most devastating of human diseases. Its spread in populations, initiated for thousands of years following a probable transmission from an animal host, was concomitant with movements of people across regions and continents, trade and wars. Literature permitted to retrace the occurrence of epidemics from ancient times to recent human history, smallpox having affected all levels of past society including famous monarchs. The disease was officially declared eradicated in 1979 following intensive vaccination campaigns.Paleomicrobiology dedicated to variola virus is restricted to few studies, most unsuccessful, involving ancient material. Only one recent approach allowed the identification of viral DNA fragments from lung tissue of a 300-year-old body excavated from permafrost in Eastern Siberia; phylogenetic analysis revealed that this ancient strain was distinct from those described during the 20th century.
Topics: Animals; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Epidemics; Global Health; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Human Migration; Humans; Paleopathology; Poxviridae; Smallpox; Travel; Virology
PubMed: 27726788
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.PoH-0004-2014 -
Virology May 2015Viral diagnosis and discovery are receiving increasing emphasis with the recognition of their importance in addressing the challenges of emerging infectious and chronic... (Review)
Review
Viral diagnosis and discovery are receiving increasing emphasis with the recognition of their importance in addressing the challenges of emerging infectious and chronic diseases, and the advent of antiviral drugs with which to reduce the morbidity and mortality of viral infections. Here we review the status of the field including the use of molecular, proteomic and immunological assays for viral detection, social media platforms for surveillance, and public health investments that may enable enhanced situational awareness and insights into the origins of zoonotic viral diseases.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Humans; Social Media; Virology; Virus Diseases; Viruses
PubMed: 25731958
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.02.006 -
Journal of Hepatology Nov 2014Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that causes hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It imposes a serious problem to public health... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that causes hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It imposes a serious problem to public health in the world as the population of chronically infected HCV patients who are at risk of progressive liver disease is projected to increase significantly in the next decades. However, the arrival of new antiviral molecules is progressively changing the landscape of hepatitis C treatment. The search for new anti-HCV therapies has also been a driving force to better understand how HCV interacts with its host, and major progresses have been made on the various steps of the HCV life cycle. Here, we review the most recent advances in the fast growing knowledge on HCV life cycle and interaction with host factors and pathways.
Topics: Cell Biology; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis C; Hepatocytes; Humans; Life Cycle Stages; Lipid Metabolism; RNA, Viral; Virology; Virus Replication
PubMed: 25443344
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.06.031 -
Trends in Microbiology Nov 2020While conventional in vitro culture systems and animal models have been used to study the pathogenesis of viral infections and to facilitate development of vaccines and... (Review)
Review
While conventional in vitro culture systems and animal models have been used to study the pathogenesis of viral infections and to facilitate development of vaccines and therapeutics for viral diseases, models that can accurately recapitulate human responses to infection are still lacking. Human organ-on-a-chip (Organ Chip) microfluidic culture devices that recapitulate tissue-tissue interfaces, fluid flows, mechanical cues, and organ-level physiology have been developed to narrow the gap between in vitro experimental models and human pathophysiology. Here, we describe how recent developments in Organ Chips have enabled re-creation of complex pathophysiological features of human viral infections in vitro.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Microfluidics; Organ Culture Techniques; Virology; Virus Diseases; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Viruses
PubMed: 32674988
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.06.005 -
Virology Apr 2023
Topics: Nanotechnology; Virology
PubMed: 36893501
DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2023.02.015 -
Journal of Bacteriology May 2018Roger W. Hendrix was at the forefront of bacteriophage biology for nearly 50 years and was central to our understanding of both viral capsid assembly and phage genomic... (Review)
Review
Roger W. Hendrix was at the forefront of bacteriophage biology for nearly 50 years and was central to our understanding of both viral capsid assembly and phage genomic diversity and evolution. Roger's warm and gentle demeanor belied a razor-sharp mind and warmed him to numerous highly productive collaborations that amplified his scientific impact. Roger was always completely open with scientific ideas while at the same time quietly agitating with a stream of new ways of thinking about problems and nudging our communities to search for innovative solutions: a gentle but highly effective provocateur.
Topics: Bacteriophages; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; United States; Universities; Virology
PubMed: 29463602
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00058-18 -
Current Topics in Microbiology and... 2015
Topics: Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Herpesvirus 4, Human; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Virology; Workforce
PubMed: 26713341
DOI: No ID Found -
Viruses Dec 2023Norway is situated in a remote and sparsely inhabited part of the world with about 5 [...].
Norway is situated in a remote and sparsely inhabited part of the world with about 5 [...].
Topics: Norway; Virology
PubMed: 38140624
DOI: 10.3390/v15122383 -
Journal of Virology Aug 2021Starting work in a virology research laboratory as a new technician, graduate student, or postdoc can be complex, intimidating, confusing, and stressful. From laboratory...
Starting work in a virology research laboratory as a new technician, graduate student, or postdoc can be complex, intimidating, confusing, and stressful. From laboratory logistics to elemental expectations to scientific specifics, there is much to learn. To help new laboratory members adjust and excel, a series of guidelines for working and thriving in a virology laboratory is presented. While guidelines may be most helpful for new laboratory members, everyone, including principal investigators, is encouraged to use a set of published guidelines as a resource to maximize the time and efforts of all laboratory members. The topics covered here are safety, wellness, balance, teamwork, integrity, reading, research, writing, speaking, and timelines.
Topics: Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Laboratories; Research Design; Research Personnel; Virology
PubMed: 34319158
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01112-21