This Show's About...This radio program is a weekly series of episodes that provide insights into a broad range of biomedical science topics. We hope these episodes stimulate you to think, question and appreciate how science impacts you and your world. 
Novel Antiviral King Tut Paternity
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This Week's Episode
Novel Antiviral That’s why the "magic bullet" idea is so intriguing. Nearly a century ago, scientists began looking at the idea of broad spectrum drugs that would be effective against a number of infectious agents. Today research here at UTMB and at UCLA has identified a molecule that’s effective against some of the world’s most deadly viruses, including Ebola, HIV, influenza and more. Here’s how it works. The viral world can be divided into two types — enveloped and non-enveloped. Enveloped viruses are surrounded by the membrane of the cell it infected. Non-enveloped viruses like polio emerge from an infected cell naked or without any membrane. Enveloped viruses, like HIV and hepatitis C, use their membrane coating to fuse with cells and infect them. This is where scientists have found a way to disrupt the virus by using a small molecule called LJ-double-O-one. In the lab, when scientists injected mice with this antiviral molecule, the molecules bound to the membranes of cells and viruses. While cells could repair their membranes from the damaging effects of LJ001, viruses could not. That’s because cells have the intercellular machinery they need to fix themselves — but viruses don’t. They’re simply virus particles tucked into a cell’s membrane, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That’s why the virus can’t fix the damage done by LJ-double-o-one which in turn destroys the virus’ ability to fuse with cells and infect them. So far, LJ-double-o-one is shown to be effective against more than 20 viruses representing 11 groups. If human trials are successful, this tiny molecule could prevent or limit many viral diseases. Click here to email this page to a friend.
Medical Discovery News mentioned in the UTMB magazine
Show must go on for UTMB professors
Dr. Norbert Herzog and Dr. David Niesel had to laugh when they recalled the first time they pitched their idea for a radio show devoted to biomedical science to a program manager at prominent radio station in Austin. Niesel's favorite episode is Invisible Weapons of War and Terror. | Listen here.
Medical Discovery News wins AAMC award
Medical Discovery News, UTMB’s two-minute weekly radio program that delves into a broad range of biomedical science topics, has received a 2009 Award of Excellence from the Association of American Medical Colleges. AAMC judges commended the work of UTMB Drs. David Niesel and Norbert Herzog with comments such as "Great use of resources" and "Well deserved." To learn more about Medical Discovery News, find a radio station broadcasting it near you, or test your knowledge of current biomedical topics.
UTMB’s Medical Discovery News wins media excellence award
UTMB’s "Medical Discovery News" has received another honor, this time being awarded a media excellence award by the Texas Public Health Association.
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In our 25 years in microbiology, Dave, we’ve seen a lot of progress against infectious diseases. At the same time, new pathogens have emerged and now, some are resistant to our most effective drugs. 
View the story about Medical Discovery News hosts Drs. Niesel and Herzog and the beginnings of the radio program at the link below: