viral infection

Two Pathways to Viral Recognition

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Structure of MHC class I displaying a SARS-CoV-2 peptide to a T cell receptor

T cells are a major component of the adaptive immune system. The video shows the intracellular events that let T cells learn about and recognize virus-infected cells. Infected cells can use the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I or MHC II pathway to signal to T cells that they are infected. Both pathways rely on the … Read more

Prevent the Pain, Get the Shingles Vaccine

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chicken_pox_shingles_rash

As someone who recently had the distinctly unpleasurable experience of shingles, I decided to research the vaccines available for this viral disease. Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), which also causes chicken pox (Figure 1). VZV is a type of herpes virus. Presently, in the US, most children are vaccinated against chicken pox. … Read more