Fragments of an abundant protein produced by the prostate form amyloid fibrils that enhance infection of cells by human immunodeficiency virus type 1. These fibrils, called semen-derived enhancer of virus infection (SEVI), have been found to boost infection of prostate cells by the retrovirus XMRV. Is this evidence that XMRV causes prostate cancer?
Because most HIV-1 infections are a consequence of genital exposure to semen of virus-infected men, seminal fluid was screened for peptides or proteins that enhance viral infectivity. Peptides (34 – 40 amino acids in length) derived from prostatic acidic phosphates, a common protein found in semen, were found to dramatically enhance HIV-1 infection of cultured cells. These peptide fragments form amyloid fibrils which bind both virions and …

Original post by virology blog and software by Elliott Back

Filed under: Prostate Cancer, Daily news, Celebrity newsAndrew Lloyd Webber, the West End musical impresario best-known for writing the score to the Phantom of the Opera, was given the “all clear” after being diagnosed with prostate cancer last year.
The disease was first diagnosed in its very early stages after the composer complained of a weak bladder. An existent E. coli infection made the pain more severe than normal. In November, Webber had his prostate gland removed at a London clinic.
“If that infection had been found and cured, I could have been blissfully unaware that I had a cancerous tumor that was on the verge of breaking loose around the rest of my body,” Webber told the Daily Mail. “I could have thought my frequent trips to the bathroom were due to a weak bladder. I have be…

Original post by The Cancer Blog and software by Elliott Back

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit
Vincent, Alan, and Rich discuss ten compelling virology stories of 2009.
Download TWiV #64 (68 MB .mp3, 94 minutes)
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Ten virology stories of 2009:
Pandemic influenza: Swine-origin H1N1 virus (TWiV 36)
XMRV, prostate cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome (TWiV 50, 55)
AIDS vaccine ’success’ (TWiV 51)
Colony collapse disorder (TWiV 46, 49)
AIDS-like disease in wild chimps (TWiV 45)
Diverse viral community in Antarctic lake (TWiV 58)
Polyomavirus seroepidemiology in humans (TWiV 26)
Poxvirus threatens UK red squirrels (TWiV 63)
Polio spreads from Nigeria (TWiV 29)
How mosquitoes survive Dengue virus infection (TWiV 21)
Picture book on …

Original post by virology blog and software by Elliott Back