Episodes
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of theViral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’regoing to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Chris Hill, group leader at the Department of Biology of the University of York. In this episode we're gonna talk about discovering that the tooth fairy is not real, looking at single molecules down the microscope and the pervasiveness of Imposter Syndrome among young researchers.
For the sciency people:
How do some viruses manage to pack more information than physically possible - 10.1146/annurev-virology-111821-120646
How viruses hijack our protein production machinery - doi: 10.1083/jcb.200205044
The wonderful bioimaging facilities at the University of York https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/technologies-for-the-future/bioimaging/#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20York%20have%20developed,more%20about%20Resonant%20Hyperspectral%20Imaging.
Imposter syndrome and how big of a problem it is - https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/women-and-early-career-academics-experience-imposter-syndrome-fields-emphasise
Who is Chris Hill- https://www.hill-lab.co.uk/pi
Follow Chris on X - https://twitter.com/chillzaa
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On Twitter - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
And Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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This is the first SPECIAL episode of The Viral Talk. It was recorded in Liverpool at the UK-International Coronavirus Network Early Career Researchers symposium.
The Viral Talk team was invited to take part to a fantastic initiative organized by the UK-ICN to encourage young scientists to share knowledge, hopes, dreams and to network in Liverpool on the 1st of March 2024.
Three early career researchers were chosen to come on the show and talk about their experience, their projects, and their hopes for the future. The guests were:
-Bobbie-Anne Turner, a third year PhD student at the University of Liverpool in Prof. Julian Hiscox lab, trying to identify which cellular proteins bind and interact with a specific structural protein of many human coronaviruses.
-Carla Ruiz, a first year PhD student from IRTA CReSA (Barcelona) trying to establish a model organism for 'Long' COVID-19
-Nuno Santos, a postdoc at the Francis Crick Insitute in Dr David Bauer lab studying the evolution of coronaviruses and the way their genetic code (RNA) changes.
What is the UK-ICN?
https://uk-icn.co.uk/
Who are the speakers?
Bobbie-Anne Turner - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/bobbie-anne-turner
Carla Ruiz - https://es.linkedin.com/in/carla-ruiz-casas-92a0971a1?trk=people-guest_people_search-card
Nuno Santos - https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/find-a-researcher/nuno-santos
Follow the viral talk on X - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_viral_talk_/
On Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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Episodes manquant?
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of theViral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’regoing to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Ed Emmot, group leader at the Centre for Proteomics Research at the Universty of Liverpool. In this episode we're gonna talk about proteins that cut other proteins, how viruses can benefit from that and the importance of finding your niche.
For the sciency people:
The role of proteolysis in SARS-CoV-2 infection - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25796-w
Book chapter on the proteomics of viruses - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444519801500173#:~:text=sensitivity%20and%20fidelity.-,Proteomics%20is%20a%20promising%20approach%20for%20the%20study%20of%20viruses,disease%2C%20and%20accelerates%20drug%20development
A simple overview on the concept of proteolysis - https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/An-Overview-of-Proteolysis.aspx
Who is Ed Emmot - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/systems-molecular-and-integrative-biology/staff/edward-emmott/publications/
Follow the Viral Talk on IG - https://www.instagram.com/the_viral_talk_/
On Twitter - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
And Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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How were viruses discovered? Who are the pioneers behind the establishment of virology as a branch of biology? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
- The first virus to ever be observed was the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and it was discovered thanks the invention of the Chamberland filter.
- The first mammal virus to be discovered was the Foot and Mouth Disease virus, which is a very economically important virus that infects cloven-hoofed viruses. It was discovered by two german bacteriologists called Friedrich Loeffler and Paul Frosch.
- The first ever human virus to be discovered was Yellow Fever virus, and its history is strongly intertwined with the history of Cuba and the opening of the Panama Canal.
- The word 'virus' (from the latin word for 'poison') already existed before the identification of viruses as a biological entities, but it was used to
describe any cause of infectious disease.
For the most interested:
10.1016/B978-0-12-375156-0.00001-1 - History and Impact of Virology article
PMID: 12523707
doi:10.3201/eid1201.050979
The role of microscopy in modern science - doi: 10.1098/rsob.150019
Follow the Viral Talk on IG - https://www.instagram.com/the_viral_talk_/
On Twitter - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
And Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of theViral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’regoing to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Vanessa Herder, pathobiologist at the Centre for Virus Research at the Universty of Glasgow. In this episode we’re going to talk about looking at tissues to understand how viruses can cause disease, having the courage to change career paths and loving what we do.
For the sciency people:
SARS-CoV-2 in cats - doi: 10.1002/vetr.247. Epub 2021 Apr 22.
Review on pathology due to virus infection - 10.1016/B978-0-12-375156-0.00007-2
Who si Vanessa? https://www.vanessa-herder.com/
What does her work focus on? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lMNfWYs4t4&ab_channel=VanessaHerder
Vanessa's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessaherder/
Follow The Viral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) –https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
On IG – @the_viral_talk_
On Linkedin–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
Leave a Review of the episode on Podchaser.com- https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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What are the ways in which our bodies protect us from viral infections? Is it easy for a virus to establish an infection? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
There are very few ways in which a virus can manage to infect us, and all of them require to surpass the skin in some way, such as getting through cuts, through the mouth, the nose, the eyes or the reproductive organs; There are multiple physical and chemical barriers that prevent viruses from infecting us all the time at each of the vulnerable sites; These include pH, presence of mucus to trap invaders, various enzymes that degrade proteins and even our microbiota (aka the bacteria living in us); The gut has also regions filled with immune cells that scan the environment and activate the immune response if they detect a viral infection going on; In addition, most cells (not just immune cells) are capable of producing a set of molecules called Interferons; Interferons are the master molecules that have evolved to specifically counter viral infections, and are produced when a cell recognises that it has been infected; Interferons also act as signals that alert other, non-infected cells that there are invaders; Interferons also activate the process of inflammation, which brings at the point of infection other immune cells, so that the adaptive immune response can start;Articles for the most interested:
Physical barriers to infection - https://teachmephysiology.com/immune-system/innate-immune-system/barriers-to-infection/
Review on interferons - https://www.nature.com/articles/nri3787
How does the immune system works? - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyxg7p3/revision/2
Follow the Viral Talk on IG - https://www.instagram.com/the_viral_talk_/
On Twitter - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
And Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSONbehind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviewsNerea Irigoyen, Research group leader in the Pathology department of the University of Cambridge. We’re going to talk about Zika virus in pregnancy, the role of climate change for mosquito-borne viruses, and keeping in mind that science is frustrating.
For the sciency people:
What do we know about Zika virus and pregnancy? - https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/zika/pregnancy.html
Preprint on the identification of novel proteins in Zika virus with a role in neurodegeneration – https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/112904v2
Who’s Nerea Irigoyen (on X) – https://twitter.com/NereaIrigoyen
(Uni of Cambridge) - https://www.path.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-nerea-irigoyen
Follow The Viral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) –https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
On IG – @the_viral_talk_
On Linkedin–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
Leave a Review of the episode on Podchaser.com- https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Marcus Blagrove, Senior Lecturer in Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at theUniversity of Liverpool. In this episode we’re going to talk about AI in virology, pandemic preparedness, being a cycling world champion and the importance of the working environment when you start your PhD.
For the sciency people:
Using AI to predict association between previously non-associated viruses and mammals - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24085-w
Preprint on the role of life expectancy on virus burden in mammals (the one mentioned in the episode) - http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2722217/v1
AI to predict new hosts of coronaviruses - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21034-5
Who’s Marcus Blagrove? - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-veterinary-and-ecological-sciences/staff/marcus-blagrove/
Follow The Viral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) –https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk/
On IG – @the_viral_talk_
On Linkedin–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
Leave a Review of the episode on Podchaser.com- https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode Federico interviews Dr Wil Furnon, Post doctoral research associate at the Centre for Virus Research of the University of Glasgow. In this episode we’re going to talk about SARS-CoV-2 variants of concerns (or VOCs), virus evolution, deciding that geology has too much math and the importance of handling failure well.
For the sciency people:
A nice review on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-023-00878-2
Tracking and naming the Variants of Concern (VOCs) of SARS-CoV-2 - 10.3390/microorganisms9050926
SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Classification - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-classifications.html
Follow Dr Wil Furnon on X (formerly Twitter) - https://twitter.com/WFurnon
Follow The Viral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) – https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk/
On IG – @the_viral_talk_
On Linkedin–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
Leave a Review of the episode on Podchaser.com- https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. Join the host Federico in the second episode of the series interviewing Hannah Burgess, lecturer in the Department of Microbial Sciences at the University of Surrey. In this episode we’re going to cover the role of mRNA modification in infection, changing career without disappointing your parents and the importance of engaging with people at conferences. For the sciency people: mRNA modifications as regulators of protein expression - DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1203504
What are the general strategies viruses use to manipulate RNA? -
DOI: 10.1101/gad.349276.121 How certain host proteins control mRNA length to control viral infections - DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256327 Dr Hannah Burgess' lab - https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/hannah-burgess#about
Follow Dr Hannah Burgess on X (formerly Twitter) -https://twitter.com/HannahmBurgess
Follow TheViral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) – https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk On IG –@the_viral_talk_ On Linkedin–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/ Leave aReview of the episode on Podchaser.com - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.
Join the host Federico in the first episode of the series interviewing Mark Stenglein, the Associate Professor of
Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology at Colorado State University. In this episode we’re going to cover Bunyaviruses (vector-borne viruses), non-canonical ways to academia and how to discover what we like to do.
For the sciency people:
Review on bunyaviruses - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8004/
Bunyaviruses reassortment - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042682213004509
Virus reassortment in general - https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1004902
Why should we study viruses?
Mark’s take on the case of studying more and unknown viruses - 10.1146/annurev-virology-100220-112915
Prof Mark Stenglein lab - https://www.stengleinlab.org/
Follow The
Viral Talk on X (formerly Twitter) – https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
On IG –
@the_viral_talk_
On Linkedin
–https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
Leave a
Review of the episode on Podchaser.com - https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-viral-talk-5094049
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What are the differences between acute and persistent viral infections? How can certain viruses stay with us forever and never be cleared? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
An acute infection is characterized by a sudden or rapid development of disease, that can either be resolved quickly or lead to death; In a persistent infection, the virus is not cleared by our body, and it either becomes latent (e.g Herpes Simplex Virus) or it keeps replicating at low levels for very long periods of time (e.g. Hepatitis B Virus, HIV); For a latent infection to become a persistent infection,it needs two characteristics: persistence and reversibility. Reversibility is the ability of a virus to resumeactive viral replication after undergoing latency, persistence is the abilityto stay in our body without being eliminated/cleared for a long period of time. A latent virus that lacks a way to be ‘re-activated’only causes dead-end infections. Herpesviruses and Retroviruses are the only knownviral families able to undergo latency. Latency is a successful survival strategy that allowsviruses to avoid being cleared by the host’s defences. In addition to latent viral infections, there isanother type of infection which is chronic viral infections. In chronic infections, the virus keeps replicatinginside the host for long periods of time without being cleared, causing low levels of pathology. The best example for this is HIV, followed by Hepatitis B virus. Constant rounds of infection by these viruses lead tothe onset of the diseases they’re known for, AIDS and hepatitis, respectively.Articles for the most interested:
General definition of persistent viral infections - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8538/
Common threads in persistent viral infections - https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jvi.01905-09
Retroviruses in the human genome - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02039/full
How do viruses go latent? - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2914632/#:~:text=In%20latent%20infection%2C%20the%20full,additional%20properties%3A%20persistence%20and%20reversibility.
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And Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-viral-talk/
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How can tiny viruses hijack a cell and make it do their bidding? How can they survive a whole organism trying to get rid of them? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
Viruses make three types of proteins. One type to replicate, one type to protect their genome once they're outside of the host, and one to modify the cell they infect at their 'whim'. The proteins they use to change the structure of the cell often work through 'mimicry'. They have motifs/domains that resemble cellular proteins, which interact with our proteins to either stop their function or re-direct it. Common to most viral infection is a phenomenon called host translation shut off, in which cellular protein production goes down and viral protein production goes up. Translation shut off can be achieved by either destroying cellular mRNA or tricking the cellular translation machinery into believing that viral mRNA is in fact cellular mRNA. Viruses have also evolved multiple ways to shut down the immune response of cells, through accessory proteins that are not incorporated into the final viral particles but without which they don't fare very well. They have also evolved multiple ways to mimic cellular 'messenger molecules', by doing so causing distruptions in the way cells can respond to infection. These viral proteins are also very important targets for the development of antiviral drugs.Articles for the most interested:
DOI:10.1038/nri980 - Viral mimicry of messenger molecules DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4952 - Influenza mimicry of histone 3 DOI: 10.1006/viro.2000.0816 - HIV Nef protein and MHC DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro267 - Viral Cap snatchin https://viralzone.expasy.org/1579#:~:text=Viruses%20have%20evolved%20ways%20of,to%20evade%20host%20immune%20response%20 - Nice resource that lists way in which viruses cause translation shut off.
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Contact The Viral Talk via email - [email protected]
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How do viruses cause disease? What are the processes that make us sick and what can we do about it? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.
Takeaways:
When viruses infect our cells they hijack them and sequester all the resources that the cell might need to stay alive, causing it to malfunction and die. Infected cells also recognize that they're infected and 'self-destruct' to stop the infection. When cells recognize a virus they release signals that call in the immune system, which leads to inflammation and cell death. The virulence of a virus is dependent both on its genomic content and its 'tropism' aka the tissues and cells that it infects. Influenza has a preference for cells of the respiratory tract and causes respiratory infections. HIV infects immune cells and therefore causes AIDS. Some viruses like Ebolaviruses do not have a preferred cell and are able to infect most of them, causing very severe, generalised infections. The type of disease is also due to mutations in our genome, which can make us more or less prone to severe immune responses called 'cytokine storms'.Links and scientific papers:
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What are mRNA vaccines? How do they work and why are they considered revolutionary? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk.
Key Takeaways:
Vaccines work by introducing an element that resembles a pathogen into our body, so that our immune system can learn to counter it without the need to get infected first. Vaccination induces our body to produce antibodies, which are tiny proteins that recognise and attach themselves to the pathogen. mRNA vaccines are a relatively new technology that inject into our body the instructions (messenger RNA) to produce one or more proteins of the pathogen they target. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines give the cell the instructions to produce the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, which is 'used' by the virus to enter inside the cells. In this way, when the virus infects a vaccinated person, antibodies will attach onto the Spike protein of the virus and prevent it from getting inside our cells. The mRNA vaccine technology has been in development for more than a decade and was initially thought to vaccinate against cancer. mRNA vaccines are faster to produce, more flexible and easier to update compared to other traditional vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines do not give people COVID-19, as they do not contain virus particles. COVID-19 vaccines were produced so quickly because vast amounts of resources and money were put in their development from the get-go. No corners were cut in the experimental phase and many studies suggest that they provide very high protection against severe COVID-19 disease. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain fetal elements, microchips, trackers or other dangerous elements. The biggest components of COVID-19 vaccines are water, sugar, lipids and mRNA, in this order.For your interest:
How do vaccines work?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SKmAlQtAj8&ab_channel=naturevideo
mRNA vaccines review - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41573-021-00283-5
Efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine - DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2035389
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Contact The Viral Talk via email - [email protected]
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How many types of viruses are there? How do scientist classify them and why is it important to know? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk.
Key takeaways:
Scientists predict hundreds of millions of different viral species on our planet, but they can all be grouped in 'only' seven different groups. These seven groups have been theorized by virologist David Baltimore based on the different types of genomes they can have, and how this affects the way in which they replicate. In nature, almost all organisms follow the central dogma of biology: DNA->RNA->Proteins. But not all viruses follow it. The seven groups are: double stranded DNA viruses (e.g. herpesviruses) single stranded DNA viruses (e.g. many bacterial viruses) double stranded RNA viruses (e.g. rotaviruses) positive sense single stranded RNA viruses (e.g. coronaviruses) negative sense single stranded RNA viruses (e.g. Influenza virus) double stranded RNA viruses with DNA intermediate (e.g. HIV) double stranded DNA viruses with RNA intermediates (e.g. Hepatitis B virus) Knowing how viruses replicate beforehand can give us a heads-up on potential targets for antiviral drug development. Examples include antivirals against HIV and other retroviruses.For people who'd like to know more:
Original paper on Baltimore classification - DOI: 10.1128/br.35.3.235-241.1971
Success story on antivirals against HIV: DOI: 10.1016/S0166-3542(98)00025-4
Visual explanation of Baltimore classification scheme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2YOZnvgcuk&ab_channel=Shomu%27sBiology
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What are bacteriophages? Are they important for our ecology and what do we know about them? Join the host Federico De Angelis in understanding what these viruses are, what they do and how we can harness their potential.
Takeaways:
- Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses. They only infect bacteria.
- They are the most abundant biological entity on the planet.
- Phages are very specific, with one phage species infecting a single bacterial species.
- Phages have two distinct infectious cycles. The lytic cycle during which they infect bacteria and kill them by bursting out, and the lysogenic cycle, where their genome is integrated in the genome of their host, turning them into prophages.
- Sometimes lysogenic phages establish symbiotic relationships with their host, for example Vibrio cholera, the bug responsible for Cholera, has a prophage in its genome that encodes for the toxin responsible for the watery diarrhea it causes.
- Phages can be engineered to target specific virulent bacteria and treat antibiotic resistant infections.
Additional info for the most interested:
Review on sea phages - https://www.nature.com/articles/nature04160
In-depth article about Vibrio cholera - https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro2204
Resource on bacteriophages biology - https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/biology-of-viruses/virus-biology/a/bacteriophages
TedX Talk on Phage therapy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPqbcvCTE80&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
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And Twitter - https://twitter.com/The_Viral_Talk
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Contact me via email! - [email protected]
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What is an emerging virus? How do new viral pathogens emerge, which viruses are the ones on our watchlist and what is being done to prevent a new pandemic from happening? Join the host Federico De Angelis in understanding what are the threats that virologists from all over the world are trying to tame.
Takeaways:
Emerging viruses are agents responsible for a new or previously non-recognized infection. For a new viral pathogen to emerge, it needs the ability to infect a different host from its reservoir, and to diffuse in the new host population. The chances of both these things happening are very slim. The WHO has made a list of the viruses to watch in 2015 encompassing: 1) severe emerging coronaviruses SARS and MERS, 2) Filoviruses like Ebola and Marburg virus, 3) Nipah virus, 4) Rift valley virus, 5) Crimean congo haemorragic fever virus and 6) Lassa fever virus. All these viruses are RNA viruses. These viruses have been put on the list based on a series of characteristics. They are all able to infect humans, but not to spread very well human-to-human. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, a great deal of effort has gone into: surveillance, basic lab research for development of antivirals and vaccines, and a lot more effort in the development of infrastructure for better international collaborations, from PPE manufacturing to data sharing.Additional info for the most interested:
Youtube lecture from Prof. Vincent Racaniello at Columbia University on emerging viral diseases:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZQFy-d7ISk&ab_channel=VincentRacaniello
Review on cross-species transmission of emerging viruses:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110969Pan-coronavirus vaccine development pipeline:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-022-00074-6
What is the Pandemic Preparedness Treaty?
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9550/
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If you have any other question, contact the host via email at [email protected]
Remember, you have a say on the topics that I will cover in the following episodes, so engage with the poll, engage with the IG and twitter page, and let me know
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What needs to happen for a virus to successfully infect a host? What is the infectious cycle? Join the host Federico De Angelis in finding out what are all the obstacles that must be overcome by viruses in order to establish an infection, and what happens once viruses manage to get inside a cell.
Takeaways:
Viruses can only infect us through our openings, such as the mouth, nose, eyes, genitals and scratches or bruises on our skin. Once they get inside the host they have to survive a multiple of physical and chemical defenses at each site of entry. Viruses have proteins on their surfaces which act as keys to cells. In order to infect us they need to stumble upon the correct cell with the correct 'door lock' (molecule/receptor) on the cell surface. When viruses find the right cell and get inside, they have to release their genetic content either in the cytoplasm (if RNA viruses) or in the nucleus (if DNA viruses), but there are exceptions. This allows their genome to be copied in high numbers, and their proteins to be produced. Produced viral proteins then hijack the cell in many different ways to transform it in a 'virus factory'. When the viral genome has been copied and the viral proteins produced, these then are transported to the surface of the cell, where they can assemble into a mature viral particle and exit the cell to find other cells and re-start the cycle.Additional sources:
Review on viral entry inside the cell - https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro817
Review on the viral life cycle - https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(OpenStax)/06%3A_Acellular_Pathogens/6.02%3A_The_Viral_Life_Cycle
BBC bitesized guide to non specific body defenses - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znpxwty/revision/2
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What does the term 'spillover' mean? How do zoonoses apply to our everyday life? What can we do to reduce the chances of new pandemics happening? Join the host Federico De Angelis to find out.
Takeaways:
A zoonosis (or zoonotic event) takes place when a pathogen that is adapted at infecting one species (e.g. humans), manages to 'jump' and infect a different one. Between 60 and 75% of all human pathogens come from our exposure to animals. There are human factors which can increase the chances of zoonosis happening - climate change, deforestation, 'bushmeat' trade. It is well within our power to adopt behaviors that decrease the probability of a new pandemic to happen.David Quammen book 'Spillover' - https://davidquammen.com/spillover
Estimates on human pathogens emergence - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/3367654
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2001.0888
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Coming soon - Join the host Federico De Angelis in discovering the basic biological principles of coronaviruses, their host type, how many they are and the type of infection they cause.
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