TWiV #51 - ALVAC-HIV and AIDSVAX BE

27/09/2009 1h 23min
TWiV #51 - ALVAC-HIV and AIDSVAX BE

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Episode Synopsis

Vincent, Dick, and Alan (with a cameo appearance by Rich Condit) review the world’s largest Phase III study of a complex HIV vaccine candidate in Thailand, immunization of salmon against infectious salmon anemia virus, and an outbreak of blueberry shock virus in Michigan.
Links for this episode:

HIV vaccine shows promise for the first time - description of the program, FDA background document (pdf), NEJM review on why AIDS vaccine is difficult (pdf), and arguments for the trial
Chile immunizes salmon (USGS article on the virus, pdf)
Blueberry virus strikes Michigan research center (information on the disease and the virus)
Rotavirus seasonality (thanks Didier!)
Viruses and the tree of life at virology blog
Big brains have evolved twice (thanks Arsen!)

Weekly Science Picks
Alan Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus InfectionsDick Boosting Vaccines: The Power of Adjuvants (Scientific American; subscription required)Vincent The Ig Nobel Prizes by Marc Abrahams