Category Archives: Viruses

WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS! Norovirus and Food Handling

Posted on January 7, 2013 by

Because I haven’t beaten that drum in a while. Carl Zimmer, drawing on this CDC report, gives us several tips on how to lessen your chances of getting norovirus (aka winter vomiting disease–trust me, it’s as fun as it sounds): … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, Food, Microbiology, Public Health, Viruses, Vomit | 6 Comments

How Not to Isolate E. coli

Posted on June 30, 2012 by

If you’re interested in studying what ‘real’ bacteria do–that is, not the microbiological equivalent of anemic inbred lab rats–you have to isolate them from natural samples. Yogi Berra-esque statements notwithstanding, how you isolate bacteria is critical. Methodological details do matter. … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics, E. coli, Microbiology, Viruses | 2 Comments

Wash Your Damn Hands: The SARS Outbreak Edition

Posted on May 19, 2012 by

There’s an interesting interview with virologist Ian Lipkin which, in part, discusses his experience an advisor to the Chinese government (boldface mine): What happened when you arrived?
 Chen Zhu, now China’s minister of health, was waiting at the airport with … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Health, Viruses

The Reality of a Serious HPV Infection

Posted on September 24, 2011 by

Usually, I would put something like this in a list of links, but it’s too important not to call attention to it. Stephanie Zvan in “And Then You Wait“: Nothing about this appointment has been good news. Much of it … Continue reading →

Posted in Vaccination, Viruses

Misunderstanding Poop and Sewage

Posted on September 8, 2011 by

Well, sewage to be more precise. One of the harmful, but often unmentioned consequences of flooding is that our sewage systems, often decades old, are completely overwhelmed. This exposes people to sewage: Flooding appears to be the worst problem left … Continue reading →

Posted in E. coli, Microbiology, Viruses | 4 Comments

Are Shiga-Toxin Phages E. coli Diseases? (File Under Speculative Hypotheses)

Posted on June 9, 2011 by

Or maybe wild-ass speculation.
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Posted in E. coli, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics, Viruses | 4 Comments

Lula in the Laboratory: How a Phage Has Contaminated Many E. coli Lab Strains

Posted on June 23, 2010 by

“Hi, my name is Lula. I’ll be your laboratory contaminant.”
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Posted in E. coli, Microbiology, Viruses, WhatEVAH! | 4 Comments

Nonoptimality in Viral Evolution and Economics

Posted on February 11, 2010 by

Assuming optimality isn’t a bad thing as a theoretical exercise. But when you’re either trying to predict the likelihood that something specific will happen or explain why something did happen, assumptions are very important.
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Posted in Economics, Evolution, Influenza, Mathematics, Viruses | 1 Comment

What the 1,000 Foot Ban Means for Needle Exchange

Posted on December 7, 2009 by

What a de facto ban on federal funding for needle exchanges means.
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Posted in Drugs, HIV, Public Health, Viruses | 2 Comments

The Great Viral Filter Shortage

Posted on November 12, 2009 by

It’s not as bad as the Great Brooklyn Tampon Shortage, but it’s just become a lot harder to study viruses. Thank GE.
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Posted in The War on Science, Viruses | 4 Comments