Racaniello On NPR Radio Today

 

 

Update: Dr. Racaniello has posted a link to a recording of the interview/debate (27 MB mp3).

 

 

# 6056

 

 

A quick note, Professor Vincent Racaniello will be on NPR radio Science Friday today between 2pm-3pm EST to discuss the controversies over bird flu research.

 

Here’s the notice on his Virology Blog.

 

Avian H5N1 influenza and biosecurity on Science Friday

6 January 2012

I will be on NPR’s Science Friday this afternoon (6 January, 2 PM EST) to discuss the H5N1-NSABB story. You can listen live, or download the recording which will be available later.

 

(Continue . . . )

 

 

 

This should make for a very interesting discussion.

»» Read More

Racaniello On H5N1’s Fatality Rate

 

# 6050

 

Vincent Racaniello, Professor of Microbiology at Columbia University Medical Center and host of 3 weekly podcasts (TWIP, TWIM and TWIV), also pens the outstanding Virology blog.

 

Today he has a post on the supposed CFR (Case Fatality Ratio) of the H5N1 virus. 

 

The mantra in the popular press is that bird flu kills `60% of those infected’. We seen it used a lot over the past month, particularly in cautionary media stories regarding the dangers of bird flu research.

 

It’s a simplistic view, of course, because we don’t know how many mild or even asymptomatic cases occur that are never reported.

 

This is something we’ve discussed often, including last December, in Study: Subclinical H5 & H9 Infections In Humans, where we saw a report out of China on the detection of antibodies to both H9 and H5 avian influenza viruses among a small number of villagers in and around Beijing, China.

 

Similarly, last September we saw a study that reported the results of serological testing conducted in a rural village in Thailand in 2008 (see Bangladesh To Share H9N2 Bird Flu Virus). 

 

Out of 800 villagers tested, the authors found 4.7% were seropositive for the Hong Kong H9N2 avian strain, 5.6% had antibodies to A/Thailand/676/2005 H5N1 bird flu, and 3.5% were shown to be seropositive to A/Thailand/384/2006 H5N1.

 

The implications of these studies are that human infection with these avian viruses – while still pretty rare – probably occur more often than current surveillance and reporting suggests.

 

And if true, that would dilute the 60% CFR number.

 

Perhaps considerably.

 

As Professor Racaniello explains, until we can get a good handle on how many `mild or asymptomatic’ infections occur, we really can’t determine the true fatality rate of the virus.

 

Follow the link below to read:

 

Should we fear avian H5N1 influenza?

3 January 2012

By Vincent Racaniello

»» Read More

The H5N1 Research Debate Goes On

 

BSL-4 Lab Worker - Photo Credit –USAMRIID

# 6038

 

 

As I’ve mentioned in two recent blogs (The Passing Parade Of 2011 and The Passing Parade Of 2011 – Pt. 2), the controversial tinkering with avian flu viruses in the laboratory to create a more transmissible strain is hardly unique.

 

Researchers all over the world, working mostly in BSL-3 labs, are creating new reassortant viruses to study.

 

Their hope is to identify the changes that nature would need to make in order to spark a pandemic, and in doing so, perhaps get a jumpstart on a vaccine.

 

And for the most part, until Ron Fouchier announced the creation of an airborne H5N1 strain last August (see Katherine Harmon’s Sci-Am article and in a follow up to this story in New Scientist: Five Easy Mutations), few in the media took notice.

 

Halfway across the world, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a highly respected virologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine announced the creation of a comparable H5N1 super flu at roughly the same time.

 

The debate, which encompasses extremely serious and complex issues, has unfortunately devolved in many media outlets to simplistic hyperbolic rants against irresponsible `mad scientists’ creating `Frankenflus’ that will be the death of us all.

 

Luckily, not all of the coverage has taken the low road. A few examples include:

 

Debate Persists on Deadly Flu Made Airborne

By DENISE GRADY and DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.

Published: December 26, 2011 – NY Times

 

 

Studies of deadly H5N1 bird flu mutations test scientific ethics

Dutch scientists have created a version of the deadly H5N1 bird flu that's easily transmitted. In an unprecedented move, a U.S. board asks that some details of the research not be published.

By Eryn Brown, Los Angeles Times

December 26, 2011, 10:21 p.m.

 

 

But one of the best debates is going on at Vincent Racaniello’s Virology Blog in his recent blog post A bad day for science and the 30+ comments (including from Ron Fouchier and Mike Imperiale, a member of the NSABB) that follow.

 

Highly recommended.

»» Read More

Referral: TWiV and the `Panic Virus’

 

 

 

# 5253

 

 

Regular readers of this blog are no doubt aware that while I accept there are some (mostly minor) risks to vaccines, that I am decidedly (and unapologetically) pro-vaccination.

 

Of course, I’m old enough to remember a time when American children were still being crippled by polio and miserable childhood diseases like measles, mumps, and chickenpox were practically rites of passage.

 

Thankfully, by the time I arrived on the scene - in the early 1950s - Pertussis, Diphtheria, and Tetanus (still common when my father was a boy) were no longer major disease players here in the United States. 

 

And the reason for the decline of all of these (and many more) diseases in developed countries has been largely due to the use of vaccines.

 

While I’ve taken the anti-vaccination crowd to task a number of times in these pages (for example, see The Monsters Are Due On Vaccine Street), I don’t do so every day because my readers are generally pretty well informed on these issues, and I’d be preaching to the choir.

 

But I’m always pleased when I find a rational discussion of vaccines on the Internet.

 

Today, as an example, I’m listening to Vincent Racaniello’s latest TWiV (This Week In Virology) podcast, with co-host Rich Condit  and special guest Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus, which deals with the anti-vaccine movement, autism, and the media’s coverage of science.

 

TWiV 117: The Panic Virus with Seth Mnookin

23 January 2011

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Seth Mnookin

On episode #117 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent and Rich converse with Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus, about vaccines, autism, thimerosal, and a contagion of human unreason run wild.

 

Right click to download TWiV #117 (69 MB .mp3, 96  minutes).

 

Well worth 96 minutes of your time.

 

And if you aren’t a regular listening to TWiV (and the newer TWiP - This Week in Parasitism) you should give them a shot.

»» Read More

Referral: TWiV - Dengue In Florida

 

 

 

# 5137

 

 

 

Vincent_Racaniello’s Virology Blog is a favorite of mine, as are his TWiV (This week in Virology) and TWiP (This Week in Parasitism) podcasts. While some of his blogs, shows, and lectures may occasionally wander into some fairly advanced topics, for the most part, I’m able to keep up.

 

This week, Vincent and the TWiV gang (Alan Dove, Rich Condit) are joined by Ed Fussell, Andrea Leal, and Amy Sargent of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District at Florida Gulf Coast University (Ft. Myers) for a 105 minute show on Dengue in Florida and Mosquito control in the Florida Keys.

 

I’m multi-tasking this morning, listening to the podcast as I search for something else to blog on, and so I’ve not heard the whole show yet.  But  I’m certain you’ll find it entertaining and informative.

 

 

TWiV 111: Live at Florida Gulf Coast University

13 December 2010

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Ed Fussell, Andrea Leal, and Amy Sargent

On episode #111 of the podcast This Week in Virology, the TWiV crew meets with members of the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District at Florida Gulf Coast University to discuss dengue in Florida and how to control it.

 

Download TWiV #111 (76 MB .mp3, 105 minutes). To download, right-click or control-click on the link, then select save as.

 

 

For more on Florida’s Dengue and mosquito borne disease issues, you can check out the recent blogs.

 

Florida: Locally Acquired Malaria Case Suspected

ASTMH: Dengue and Insect-Borne EIDs In The US

MMWR: Dengue Fever In Key West

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

»» Read More

TWiV Referral: Does A Virus Shift In The Woods?

 

 

 

# 4814

 

 

One of my weekly pleasures is listening to Professor Vincent Racaniello’s (and company) TWiV This Week In Virology podcast.  

 

Vincent also pens the terrific Virology Blog, which ought to be part of your daily rounds.

 

This week’s broadcast features Professor Racaniello brainstorming along with Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit.  

 

Together they discuss the end of the H1N1 pandemic, Dengue in Key West, yellow fever, mosquito vectors, vaccinia virus infection in monkeys, and viruses in the faecal microbiota.

 

Fascinating stuff, and presented as an informal and entertaining chat between knowledgeable individuals. 

 

I’d have mentioned this terrific podcast, even without the clever title.  So set aside 95 minutes of your time this week to listen to:

 

TWiV 95: Does a virus shift in the woods?

TWiV #95 (68 MB .mp3, 94 minutes)

You can also subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio.

»» Read More

Two Referrals For the Price Of One

 

 

# 4528

 

 

I confess that I am a bit of a science geek, although in truth, my level of understanding of most of these subjects is about a yard wide and only a half an inch deep.  Still, I enjoy reading selected articles from science journals and the works of a number of science bloggers.

 

Two of my favorites are Professor Vincent Racaniello’s Virology Blog and Ian York’s Mystery Rays blog.

 

Today both are dealing with viral mysteries, and if your reading tastes run in that direction, you may find them as fascinating as I did.

 

First, Vincent Racaniello brings us the story of a plant virus that would rather switch than fight, in: 

 

A plant virus that switched to vertebrates

by Vincent Racaniello on 26 April 2010

 

 

And then Ian York delves into a question I’ve had for some time; how many variants (mutations) of a flu virus are produced when a host becomes infected? 

 

Influenza variations

By iayork

 

 

Interesting reading to satisfy the inner science geek in all of us.

»» Read More

Congratulations In Order

 

 

# 4461

 

 

 

It is always a pleasure to see excellence in blogging acknowledged, and so I’m happy to report that Professor Vincent Racaniello’s terrific Virology Blog has been selected by the Seed Media Group for an award for best clinical research blog.

 

Here’s a link to all of the Winners.   Congratulations to all of the nominees, and to the winners.

 

And here’s Vincent’s announcement on his blog.

 

 

Virology blog receives award at researchblogging.org

 

Those of us who follow Racaniello’s blog, and his TWiV and TWiP podcasts, know that this is a well deserved honor.

»» Read More

Referral: TWiV on Influenza

 

 

# 4452

 

 

Vincent Racaniello has a special one-on-one interview with Adolfo Garcia-Sastre on the origin and pathogenesis novel H1N1 virus on this week’s TWiV podcast.

 

Dr. García-Sastre is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

 

While a great many topics are covered, the significance of the D225G mutation is discussed at length.  This week’s TWiV podcast runs about 45 minutes.

 

If you aren’t a regular listener to TWiV (This Week In Virology), and a regular visitor to Racaniello’s Virology Blog,  you really should be. 

 

TWiV #74: Influenza with Professor Adolfo Garcia-Sastre

»» Read More

Referral: Virology Blog On D225G Mutation

 

 

# 4447

 

 

There has been a lot of speculation regarding the D225G mutation first announced in Norway last November, suggesting that it may increase the virulence of the novel H1N1 virus.

 

This mutation, sometimes called D222G (or D225G in influenza H3 numbering) had actually been detected months earlier, and in many other countries.  Norway was simply the first country to announce a possible connection between that mutation and greater virulence.

 

 

This mutation involves a single amino acid change in the HA1 gene at position 222 from aspartic acid (D) to glycine (G).

 

The World Health Organization’s take on this mutation has been pretty consistent.  It is worth following, and studying, but there is no evidence (as yet) that it poses a substantial public health hazard.

 

In January, in a blog entitled WER Review: D222G Mutation In H1N1, I quoted the latest WHO report that stated:

 

`Based on currently available virological, epidemiological and clinical information, the D222G substitution does not appear to pose a major public health issue.’

 

This view is not universally held, however.  There are some who have maintained that that the WHO is underestimating the impact of this mutation.

 

Not being a virologist (or scientist of any flavor), I don’t have a pathogen in this fight. Therefore, I’m not offering any theories of my own.

 

The best I can do is offer up the opinions of scientists and agencies that I view as credible (admittedly a subjective evaluation), along with the caveat that we are still learning about such things.

 

Nothing is writ in stone.

 

That said, today I’ll refer you to Vincent Racaniello’s excellent Virology Blog, where he takes us on a tour of some of the possibilities that surround this D225G mutation.  

 

A bit technical at times, granted.  But well worth reading, even if you don’t get every reference.   

 

The upshot here being that the interaction between pathogen and host is very complex, incompletely understood, and that simplistic models are likely to fall short of the mark.

 

Read Vincent Racaniello’s:

 

The D225G change in 2009 H1N1 influenza virus

»» Read More

Online Virology Course

 

 

# 4285

 

 

Vincent Racaniello, who pens the excellent virology blog and hosts the This Week In Virology (TWiV) podcast, is a professor of virology at Columbia University.   

 

This Spring he is taping his Virology lectures and posting them online so that a wider audience can benefit from his instruction.

 

In an announcement on his blog site last week, Racaniello explained:

 

Each lecture will be recorded, and a video screencast will be posted at the course website. I’ve previously posted a screencast of my vaccine lecture. The screencasts will also be posted at iTunes University; I’ll update this page with the link when it’s available.

 

The first 70 minute lecture is now up, and available both on the virology blog and on the course website.

 

Virology lecture #1: What is a virus?

by Vincent Racaniello on 21 January 2010

I’ve just watched the first lecture (and have saved it to my iPod to watch again).  While some of this is –of necessity – a bit technical (hence the prerequisites), I was able to glean a good deal from my first viewing of the video.

The video download links, along with a course description, are available at the course website.

 

Virology - Biology W3310.001

This is a new virology course offered for the first time in the Spring of 2010.

Prerequisite: Two semesters of a rigorous, molecularly-oriented Introductory Biology course (such as C2005), or the Instructor's permission (vrr1@columbia.edu).

Course Name: Virology

Sessions: M, W 4:10 - 5:25 PM

Start date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Points: 3

Location: Hamilton Hall 603

Course #: Biology W3310.001

Instructors: Prof. V. Racaniello, Prof. S. Silverstein

 

 

Highly recommended for disease and science geeks everywhere.

»» Read More

Radio Interviews Available For Download

 

 

# 4245

 

 

Yesterday’s Radio Sandy Springs interview of Revere from Effect Measure, and last week’s interview of Professor Vincent Racaniello of the Virology Blog are now archived and available for download or listening to.

 

These interviews, conducted by Sharon Sanders of FluTrackers, each run an hour and are both entertaining and informative. 

 

01/11/10 Guest Revere of Effect Measure

Sharon Sander interviews one of the Reveres of the Effect Measure Blog

01/04/10 Guest Vincent Racaniello, PhD

Sharon Sander interviews Vincent Racaniello, PhD

 

You’ll also find these older interviews archived and available as well.

 

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

»» Read More

Vincent Racaniello Interview Today

 

 

# 4218

 

 

Later today Dr. Vincent Racaniello will be interviewed on Radio Sandy Springs by Sharon Sanders of Flutrackers.

 

The show will air at 4pm EST, on Atlanta's 1620 AM, and will be simulcast on the Internet on Radio Sandy Springs.

 

If you are unable to listen at 4pm, the show is generally repeated at 6pm, and is archived for downloading within a couple of days. 

 

Vincent Racaniello, a professor of Virology at Columbia University, pens the excellent Virology Blog and hosts the TWiV and TWiP  podcasts on the Internet.

 

This should be a fascinating interview, and I look forward to hearing it.

 

This the latest in series of high profile interviews conducted by Sharon on Radio Sandy Springs.  Over the past year she has had Dr. David Fedson,  Dr. Michael Osterholm,  Dr William Schaffner, and writer and historian John Barry as her guests, among others.

 

If you missed these shows, the follow links will take you to the archive, where you can listen online or download the MP3 files.

 

11/02/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

08/17/09 Guest William Schaffner, MD

08/10/09 Guest Author John Barry

06/29/09 Guest Gregory Härtl of the WHO

05/26/09 Guest Dr. Michael Osterholm

05/18/09 Guest Dr. David Fedson

 

 

      *       *       *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

 

Radio Sandy Springs 1620 AM, is a low-powered Atlanta based talk radio station that simulcasts on the Internet.   An archive of recent Infectious Disease Hour shows may be accessed here.

»» Read More

PBS MediaShift Looks At Flu Bloggers

 

 

# 4132

 

 

A number of weeks ago I was contacted by Simon Owens who writes for, among other venues,  PBS’s Mediashift website.   He told me he was doing a piece on Flu Bloggers, and asked if I’d consent to an interview.  

 

We spoke for about 20 minutes on the phone later that day.

Today that a bit of that interview, along with terrific interviews with Crof at Crofsblog and Vince Racaniello at the Virology Blog, appears on the Mediashift website.

 

Can H1N1 Flu Bloggers Help Battle Pandemic Misinformation?

 

by Simon Owens

Vincent Racaniello, a professor of microbiology at Columbia University Medical Center, remembers the last flu pandemic, which occurred in 1968. "It's a great contrast [with today], because back then you had to wait weeks for information, and the only way you got it was through newspapers and scientific journals, and now of course we have instant dissemination of everything," Racaniello... more »

»» Read More

Referrals: TWiV and Visualizing The Flu Vaccine

 

 

# 4130

 

 

I’ve just finished listening to the latest TWiV podcast, this week featuring Professors Vincent Racaneillo and Dickson Despommier.  As always, these are fascinating and entertaining excursions into the world of viruses, with influenza often being a part of the discussion.

 

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier

On episode 61 of the podcast “This Week in Virology”, Vincent and Dick muse about the symbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia, that protects flies from viral infection, the origin of 2009 influenza H1N1 virus, and the lure of original antigenic sin.

 

Download TWiV #61 (45 MB .mp3, 62 minutes)

 

You’ll find the lastest TWiV episodes posted on Vincent’s excellent Virology Blog each weekend. 

 

The discussion on the origins (lab or nature) of the novel H1N1 virus, and of the possibility of original antigenic sin with flu vaccines, are of particular interest to Flublogia. 

 

At the end of each podcast, the host and guests all make weekly science picks.    This week I found Vincent’s pick on visualizing the use and safety of the flu vaccine particularly interesting.

 

Information is Beautiful – is swine flu vaccine safe? by David McCandless, a London-based author, writer and designer

 

Below is just a snippet.  Follow the link to view the entire visualization.

 

(More data visualizations . . . )

»» Read More