Monday, December 26, 2011
Unraveling the Secrets of Viruses
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Podcast Episode Summary
John Connor of the Boston University School of Medicine explains how viruses are minimal structures, but many types, such as HIV and Ebola, can be lethal. Although genetically much simpler than the organisms they infect, viruses are able to pirate the machinery of cells to replicate themselves. Because of their ability to mutate rapidly, viruses often outpace the defenses of the organisms they attack. The Connor Lab studies the mechanisms that make viruses so successful, and they are applying the understanding of viral replication mechanisms to research that will lead to the development of new antiviral drugs and vaccines.
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