TWiV 1119: Gene editing latent herpes

Introduction to the virology podcast discussing viruses and their impact on health. The podcast is hosted by Vincent Racaniello.

Description of the weather conditions during the podcast recording, including temperature and sky conditions in different locations.

Discussion about a meeting in Stockholm and the weather conditions there.

Introduction of participants joining the podcast from various locations like Austin, Texas, and Finland.

Information about an upcoming International Hepatitis B virus meeting in Chicago, Illinois, with details on registration and abstract submission.

Announcement of special events and workshops at the meeting, including a workshop on speaking like a pro and other educational workshops.

Discussion of research papers on monkeypox virus, including characteristics of infection and immune responses in patients.

Summary of research papers published in Nature Communications on virus infection dynamics and antibody conversion in individuals infected with monkeypox virus.

Overview of a study on gene editing in herpes simplex virus infections, targeting viral genes to reduce viral loads and shedding in mouse models.

Discussion on the toxicity observed in experiments involving animals receiving AAV at different doses, leading to liver damage and neuronal issues.

Exploration of the effectiveness of mega nucleases in reducing viral shedding and its impact on vaginally infected mice, with a trend towards a substantial reduction.

Analysis of the use of neurotropic vectors in treating mice with high doses, showing a decrease in ganglionic viral loads and addressing the hepatotoxicity issue.

Discussion on the ability of mega nucleases to edit herpes genomes and reduce shedding, impacting the transmission of the virus.

Exploration of the challenges and considerations related to using the rabies vaccine for wolf dogs, highlighting the need for specific research into wolf immune systems.

Fascinating insights into the unique mating behavior of anglerfish, where males become parasites to females, leading to the disintegration of males over time.

Questions regarding self-replicating mRNA vaccines and their interaction with viral illnesses, exploring the potential impact on spike protein expression and virus maturation.

Sharing of interesting scientific findings, including a study on sea urchin mortality, a Facebook page on sunspot regions, and a discussion on unproductive meetings in organizations.