Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

The TWiV team describes aphid control by using a viral capsid protein to deliver a spider toxin to plants, and a human endogenous retrovirus that enhances expression of a neuronal gene.

Links for this episode

• Toxin delivery to plants by viral capsid protein (Nat Biotech)
• Pea enation mosaic virus (ViralZone)
• Image credit: Aphid membrane feeding chamber (Sci Rep)
• Aphid feeding chamber (YouTube)
• Parafilm (Wikipedia)
• Human endogenous retrovirus enhances neural gene (PNAS)
• Flu, common cold, alternative medicine (NCCAM)
• Cold vs flu (CDC)
• Phage hunters
• Bed bugs and infectious disease (PLoS Path)
• Letters read on TWiV 272

Weekly Science Picks

Alan - Statistical error (Nature)Rich - 12 oldest animal speciesDickson - When liquids collideVincent - HIV denial and just asking questionsKathy - Sun's canyon of fire

Listener Pick of the Week

Sandra - Women physicists keep female students psychedJudi - HHMI's BiointeractiveJacob - Influenza virus HA

Send your virology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to [email protected]