April 20th, 2008
H3N2 flu virus (Courtesy www.primidi.com)
Each year, somewhere between five and 15 percent of the world’s population becomes infected during influenza A epidemics. These flu outbreaks are linked to as many as a half a million deaths annually, according to WHO. While vaccinations can be effective, influenza viruses often evolve so rapidly that creating effective vaccines […]
By Elaine -- 0 comments
April 5th, 2008
Scientists from Helicos BioSciences, Ohio University, and Stanford University have published a paper in Science describing the first single-molecule sequencing of a whole genome.
The researchers used a single-molecule sequencing, sequencing-by-synthesis method, developed by Helicos, to sequence the roughly 7,000-nucleotide genome of the M13 virus. In the company’s version of single-molecule sequencing, an approach first proposed in the […]
By Elaine -- 0 comments
March 10th, 2008
‘Clover structure’ of Transfer RNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA) is ancient. It is the most direct intermediary between genes and proteins. Like many other RNAs (ribonucleic acids), tRNA aids in translating genes into the chains of amino acids that make up proteins. The fact that tRNA is so central to the task of building proteins probably means […]
By Elaine -- 0 comments
March 3rd, 2008
(Photo credit: Flu viruses among cilia - National Geographic magazine http://www.nationalgeographic.com/)
US scientists have discovered a possible reason why the flu virus is seasonal and tends to infect people mostly in the winter. It has a jacket that melts in the summer causing the virus to die off, and stays hard in the winter, until it […]
By Elaine -- 0 comments
February 4th, 2008
Human Papilloma Virus
Further to my article on UK school girls being vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), there is mounting evidence that the HPV immunization program should be extended to males.
HPV is known to cause cervical cancer in women, and there are vaccination programs in many countries to immunize girls and young women against the […]
By Elaine -- 3 comments
January 20th, 2008
(Merkel Skin Cancer - courtesy of DermIS, www.dermis.net)
US researchers have recently discovered a new virus they believe may be linked to a rare but extremely lethal type of skin cancer. Merkel cell carcinoma mostly afflicts the elderly and people with weaker immune systems, including AIDS and transplant patients. The newly discovered virus belongs to the […]
By Elaine -- 0 comments
Recent Comments