medical, science

Sputnik Virus, A Viral Parasite

The following is from ProMED, an officially run mailing list for those interested in emerging infectious diseases. I’m posting it here because it is an interesting and unexpected piece of science — and because it arrived as an email I can’t add it to the “shared” list on the right.

A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 6 Aug 2008
Source: The Scientist, NewsBlog [edited] <>

A virus’s virus
Researchers have discovered the 1st virus to infect another virus, according to a study appearing tomorrow in Nature. The new virus was found living inside a new strain of the viral giant, mimivirus. “This is one parasite living on another parasite, which is really fascinating,” Michael Rossman, microbiologist at Purdue University, who was not involved in the study, told The Scientist.

Didier Raoult and colleagues at the Universitee de la Mediterranee in Marseilles, France, discovered mimivirus in 2003 from a water-cooling tower in the UK [see ProMED-mail reference below]. It primarily infects amoeba, although antibodies have been found to the virus in some human pneumonia cases. It measures in diameter about 400 nanometers (nm), while medium-sized viruses such as adenovirus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) measure closer to 100-200 nm.

In this study, Raoult’s team found a new strain of mimivirus in water from a cooling tower in Paris. This new strain was even larger than [the UK] mimivirus, so the researchers named it mamavirus. To their surprise, while examining the new strain by electron microscopy they saw a smaller virus attached to mamavirus. This small virus comprises only 20 genes (mimivirus has more than 900 protein-coding genes) and the researchers named it Sputnik.

The team quickly set to work to see what effect Sputnik was having on the mamavirus. They found that Sputnik infects the replication machinery in mamavirus and causes it to produce deformed viral structures and abnormal capsids, where viral genetic information is stored. It had a similar effect on mimivirus. Because Sputnik’s behavior so closely resembles what bacteriophage do to bacteria, the researchers called the new type of virus a virophage, and suspect it may represent a new virus family.

The researchers found that Sputnik’s genes shared homology with genes from all 3 domains of life: archaea, bacteria, and eukarya. Some of the genes were homologous to novel sequences that scientists previously detected in a metagenomic study of ocean water. This supports the idea that Sputnik is part of a larger family of viruses, Bernard La Scola, researcher at the Universite de la Mediterranee (University of the Mediterranean) and 1st author on the paper, told The Scientist.

The size of a virus may dictate whether it can be infected by smaller viruses such as Sputnik, he added. For this reason, viruses that affect humans — like HIV and influenza — are likely too small to be infected by Sputnik-like viruses, said Rossman.

La Scola added he is sure that there are other giant viruses yet to be identified in the world, but they won’t necessarily be infected by smaller viruses. “We need to be lucky to find another Sputnik.”

[Byline: Andrea Gawrylewski]
—
Communicated by: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

memes, photography, topographical

Diptych for 08/08/08


Diptych for 08/08/08, originally uploaded by kcm76.

This week’s self-portrait: 52 Weeks 24/52 (2008 week 32).

Looking upwards from our lawn thru’ my ultra-wide lens: at left this lunchtime on a grey day and at right late this evening after nightfall when the sky was slightly clearer. Notice the horrid orange background of London street lamps in the night shot. Thought this might make an interesting comparison for a Flickr888 contribution as well as for my 52 Weeks self-portrait (bottom left).

amusements, beliefs, books, current affairs, memes, personal, pleasures, sexuality, thoughts

Finish this Sentence Meme

I stole this meme from Girl with a One-Track Mind and Troubled Diva because I liked it’s zen mischief potential. My objective is just to complete each of the following sentences. Your objective is to work out which are serious and which aren’t.

  1. My uncle once: sailed the ocean blue
  2. Never in my life: have I taken illegal drugs
  3. When I was five: I looked like Prince Charles
  4. High school was: much better than I realised at the time
  5. I will never forget: and that isn’t the only resemblance I have to an elephant
  6. Once I met: a man in a kilt
  7. There’s this girl I know: who is unattainable
  8. Once, at a bar: I met a Colonel with a dog
  9. By noon, I’m usually: in need of lunch
  10. Last night: I didn’t have sex on the beach
  11. If only I had: the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen
  12. Next time I go to church: I’ll be taking photographs
  13. What worries me most: is politicians
  14. When I turn my head left I see: something sinister
  15. When I turn my head right I see: a right tit
  16. You know I’m lying when: I keep quiet
  17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: not very much
  18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: a lion whelping in the street (Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene ii)
  19. By this time next year: I might be retired
  20. A better name for me would be: Zanzibar
  21. I have a hard time understanding: why people need religion
  22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: be in a time machine (’cos neither of my schools exists any more)
  23. You know I like you if: I kiss you
  24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: grateful
  25. Take my advice, never: admit that you know
  26. My ideal breakfast is: a full English
  27. A song I love but do not have is: a John Mayall mouth-music track from the ’60s that I can’t now identify or find
  28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: search out its history
  29. Why won’t people: think
  30. If you spend a night at my house: you’ll be solicited by a pussy (or two)
  31. I’d stop my wedding for: a KitKat
  32. The world could do without: religion and politicians
  33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: do a bungee jump
  34. My favourite blonde is: Michaela Strachan
  35. Paper clips are more useful than: a grapefruit and Marmite sandwich
  36. If I do anything well it’s: only to lull you into a false sense of security
  37. I can’t help but: be a perfectionist
  38. I usually cry: inwardly
  39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: if it harm none, do as you will
  40. And by the way: there’s always toast at the end of the dragon

I’m not tagging anyone for this, but feel free to borrow (or steal) it if you like it. If you do use it, it would be nice if you left a comment here.

amusements, memes, quotes, science, topographical

Zen Mischievous Moments #142

Connioseurs of 1970s UK police soap operas will remember the refrain “Let’s be ’avin’ you” when an arrest was about to be made. Our attention has been drawn to an example not of nominative determinism, but of locational determinism – the existence of a police facility on Letsby Avenue in the Yorkshire town of Sheffield (it’s right next to Sheffiled City Ariport). Sadly there is as yet no news of an “Onyer Way” or “Evenin Hall” in the vicinity.

[HT Feedback @ New Scientist]

amusements, medical, memes, personal, photography, pleasures, science, thoughts

Getting to Know You Meme

1 Comment

Getting to Know You Meme, originally uploaded by kcm76.

1. A perfect weekend watching Tom & Jerry on tv and laughing…, 2. Amur Leopard, 3. A TRIBUTE TO A DEAR FRIEND. (KILKENNY, IRELAND), 4. Untitled, 5. ₪ Rhizomatic in-between typewriter ₪, 6. “Timemachines”, 7. 14th August 2007 / Day 226, 8. The cake i Made for my mother’s birthday, 9. Embracing the sun … {}, 10. day 151 Caught with crabs in my merkin! , 11. Walking in the rain 1_2499, 12. Smiles of Tibet in Exile

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste the html into your blog or Flickr stream (the easiest way is to copy the URLs and then head over to the fd’s flickr toys link above and use the mosaic maker).

The Questions & Answers:
1. What makes you laugh? Cats
2. What makes you cry? Animal suffering
3. Who is the one person you trust the most in the world? My Mother
4. Who broke your heart? Jill (no, not you Mistress Weekes; long before that!)
5. Where was your first kiss? I really don’t remember
6. What body part do you love most (your body)? My mind
7. What body part do you love least (your body)? My fat
8. What candy fits your personality? Coffee creme chocolate
9. What color would you paint your room if you could pick any color? Magnolia
10. A word that makes you laugh? Merkin
11. What emotion do you express most often? Depression
12. Who inspires you? The Dalai Lama

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys. for the Flickr My Meme group.

current affairs, personal, sexuality, thoughts

The Tipping Point

Gulp! For some unknown reason, lunchtime conversation turn to how long we’ve been married. Yes it’s a long time: 29 years come early September! And Noreen commented that we must be close to the tipping point where we’ve been married for longer than we haven’t. I said I thought we should both have passed that point — having done a quick order of magnitude guestimate in my head. And so it turns out on doing a proper calculation using a spreadsheet. Noreen (being slightly the younger) passed the tipping point in the middle of August 2007. Whereas I didn’t get there until 5 May this year. That, plus the prospect of our 30th wedding anniversary in September 2009 and that I am rapidly approaching 60, suddenly seems quite scary. Oh and I passed the tipping point with my employer back in December 2002! Eeekkkkk!!!!!!!

food+drink, thoughts

Recipe: Zen Meat Loaf

Another in the occasional series.

Over the years I’ve made this on numerous occasions and did so again yesterday for the first time for quite a while. Some of the result has just been eaten for lunch.

You will need:
2lb (1kg) Minced Beef
½lb (250gm) Bacon or Ham scraps, roughly chopped (optional)
1 pint (550ml) Breadcrumbs
2 medium Onions, finely chopped
Lots of Garlic, roughly chopped
Large bunch fresh herbs (optional; use whatever is available and you like)
Cooked Spinach (optional)
15-20 Olives, roughly chopped (optional)
2 Eggs
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Tomato Puree (optional)
1 tbsp Garlic Puree (optional)
1 tsp Dried Chilli Flakes (optional)
2-3 soft Tomatoes
A slug of Brandy, Whisky or Calvados (optional)
Salt & Pepper

What you do:

  1. Butter a large, preferably cast iron, casserole (use one with a good lid, or make a lid from foil).
  2. Blend together the eggs, olive oil, tomato puree, garlic puree, tomatoes and alcohol.
  3. Mix all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl; use your hands, it’s much the easiest way.
  4. Tip the mixture into the casserole, press it down well and put on the lid.
  5. Cook near the bottom of a pre-heated oven at about 200C for 30-45 minutes. It’s done when the meat loaf is bubbling well and a knife stuck in the centre comes out hot.
  6. Leave to cool with the lid on; then refrigerate. If you can put weights on the top to press the resultant paté then so much the better.
  7. Eat with crusty bread & butter and a glass of wine or beer.

Notes:

  1. Essentially you can throw into this more or less anything you like and have to hand.
  2. Bacon, ham or other cooked meats will add to the flavour and variety. Chopped chicken livers added also work well.
  3. If you can get good, low fat content, minced beef then this works well in a low fat version. Alternatively you can make a high-fat version by adding some fat belly pork to the mix.
  4. Spinach, similar leaves or bunches of fresh herbs add a different dimension (you can even make a layer of spinach in the middle if you like).
  5. Don’t overdo the alcohol otherwise the resulting paté is too wet.
  6. Don’t over cook this, although it must be cooked through properly. Apart from that it is generally fairly forgiving and you can vary the ingredients and quantities to suit your tastes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with it.
history, memes, words

Today's Word: Glaive

The first in an occasional series bringing you unusual and interesting words.

Glaive. A polearm consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole.

One of those fearsome pieces of medieval weaponry along with things like pikes and halberds. The word is sometimes (wrongly) used to refer to a broadsword. Glaives also appear in a number of video games and animated adventure films.

There’s a bit more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glaive.
Illustration from Wikipedia Commons.

arts, memes, photography

Playing with Mosaics


Playing with Mosaics, originally uploaded by kcm76.

1. autumn leaves, 2. week 31/52. 28 days; 4 weeks; 1 month., 3. The Mood O Meter, Independent Subarus, Victor Idaho, AKA Gallagher’s, AKA Sue’s Roos, 4. green veined white
5. red cabbage, 6. Tomb plate, Standish, 7. summerishere, 8. Looking landwards across Slapton Ley
9. Bloom, 10. Red Arrows Lowestoft 08, 11. The Drunken Ducks, 12. Untitled

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

I was just playing with the Mosaic Maker tool at Big Huge Labs and created this from the most recent 12 of my Flickr favourites. Thought it was worth keeping. It’s a super sample of some of the brilliant photography on Flickr: follow the links to each one; they’re well worth it.

amusements, arts, beliefs, books, memes, nudism, thoughts, topographical

Friday Five: Wishes

OK so here, a bit late, is this week’s Friday Five …

1. Name one movie you wish everybody could watch.

  • None of them. I dislike movies and wouldn’t cry if they sunk without trace. Doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t watch them, just don’t expect me to or to share your enthusiasm.

2. Name two books you wish everybody could read.

  • Anthony Powell, A Dance to the Music of Time. Well it’s one novel in 12 volumes, so I’ll count it as one. Read it if only as a social history of England from 1914 to 1970. Oh come on, you expected me to say that, didn’t you?
  • Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland (by which I mean the two works Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass). Read them and think about the logical conundrums presented; now apply them and change the way you look at the world!

3. Name three goals you wish everybody could achieve.

  • True inner peace and happiness.
  • Reconciliation and friendship with their parents.
  • To always treat others as you would like to be treated yourself (it’s part of what the Dalai Lama calls “compassion”).

4. Name four people you wish everybody could know.
I am going to assume the people don’t have to be alive now, but could come from any era. So I’ll nominate:

  • Richard Feynman; for his logic, his insights, his humour and his determination to overcome obstacles.
  • Galileo Galilei; a profound scientist who wasn’t afraid of standing up and being counted.
  • Leonardo da Vinci; another way out mind as well as a superb artist.
  • The present Dalai Lama; for his profound thinking, his happiness and his compassion.

That was hard! Four people I wish I knew would be easy, but to translate that into something for everyone is much, much harder.

5. Name five places you wish everybody could visit.

  • Rural England
  • Japan
  • A nudist community; to see just how it isn’t like everyone seems to think it is and to experience the freedom of life without clothes.
  • A small town in medieval England (or Europe at least) to see just what life really was like 600+ years ago and how far we have come.
  • Their special place. I believe we all have at least one place which is special and energises us (just as we have people who do this for us). It may be a town somewhere, or a country, or just a building (I know Stonehenge does it for some people, though not for me). Finding it is a whole different matter though.

[Brought to you courtesy of Friday Five.]