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blondgecko
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Aug 11, 2009, 12:44 PM
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Thousands of virologists are kicking themselves right now
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... and asking themselves why they didn't think of this first. Very cool new approach to tackling viruses
In reply to: "If you look at the viruses that are the biggest threats of modern times, most of them were unknown through human history: HIV, SARS, Ebola (see A spotter's guide to human viruses). You don't know where the next one is coming from. How do you develop therapeutics for the unknown and unknowable, given that you won't have time to develop a vaccine for a new agent after it appears?" he asks. Goldblatt and a few other researchers think they have the answer. They are working on an entirely new class of antiviral drugs that should do something seemingly impossible: work against a wide range of existing viruses and also be effective against viruses that have not even evolved yet. What's more, it should be extremely difficult for any virus to become resistant to these drugs. ... Back in the late 1990s, when Goldblatt was at DARPA, he began to wonder whether there was another strategy, one that exploits the key weakness of all viruses: their utter dependence on their hosts. By themselves, viruses are more helpless than newborn babies. They can replicate only by tricking their host cells into making more copies of them, a process that can involve hundreds of host proteins. What if, Goldblatt wondered, some host proteins are essential for viral replication but not for the survival of the host? If so, disabling these proteins should block viral replication without killing healthy cells. After moving to Functional Genetics, Goldblatt began putting his idea to the test. He and his colleagues disabled one gene at a time in human cells before exposing them to viruses such as flu. This fishing expedition worked beautifully: they identified more than 100 different human proteins that flu viruses need to replicate but which cells can survive without. Only four were previously known to be involved in viral replication. One especially promising target is TSG101, a protein involved in the transport of materials within cells that many viruses co-opt to break out of cells. Functional Genetics has developed a small-molecule drug that appears to block the interaction between viruses and TSG101. Dubbed FGI-104, the drug inhibits a wide range of viruses in cell culture, including hepatitis C and HIV, and has also been shown to protect mice against Ebola (American Journal of Translational Research, vol 1, p 87). There's a long road ahead, and it's not yet certain that it'll work, but holy shit that's a good idea.
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bill413
Aug 11, 2009, 1:09 PM
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Very cool. Wonder what the function of those proteins are for the host, since it invests energy in making them.
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traddad
Aug 11, 2009, 1:10 PM
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As an ecologist, I'm worried about the immutable law of unintended consequences here.
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wjca
Aug 11, 2009, 2:27 PM
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Cool, yes. But I too wonder about the unintended consequences. You've got to think those other proteins are there for a reason or else they wouldn't be there. They may not have an immediately noticeable purpose, but it's hard to believe they are completely superfluous. Afterall, God put them there for reasons only he knows.
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wideguy
Aug 11, 2009, 2:56 PM
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Three cheers for thinking outside the box and for an article written in terms even i could understand. Who knows if it will work, or if it would cause other problems but sounds cool as hell.
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 2:56 PM
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traddad wrote: As an ecologist, I'm worried about the immutable law of unintended consequences here. Me too but I wonder what happens to those proteins that got hijacked into thinking they were doing the body good? If they get killed anyway what's the big deal. Even better though.... Since we know the specific proteins it is feasible that we create new proteins that replace the problem proteins in function but are engineered to be virally resistant. I bet they have thought of your concern and that's why the road still has some bumps to work out.
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 2:57 PM
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Good stuff man! Your sources are baffling. I may have to come kidnapp you and make you tell me.
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rogue10186
Aug 11, 2009, 5:32 PM
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Hey, as long as we don't all turn into zombie/vampire things like in I am Legend, this sounds like a cool idea. On second thought... maybe having some zombies around could be fun
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Gmburns2000
Aug 11, 2009, 5:42 PM
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wow, your pic is a spitting image of the old codefrog. i wish the old photo was up.
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 5:50 PM
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You know... my first time here didn't go so well. I got really frustrated. This time around I'm actually not getting stupid and agitated. So if people can let someone start over then I'd like that. If not then well... I don't know. I like to climb. The people here are great people and I messed up. I want to make a lot of excuses and say this or that but that would be kind of lame wouldn't it. As rockreaver I'm myself. As codefrog 4 people had the ability to sign in as him and they did. I've tried to get codefrog unbanned because I think that a person should be able to say "I messed up. Sorry about that." and start over. A few people here have known all along who rockreaver was and it hasn't really bothered them. I debated loading that picture but then I thought about more and realized that if you have to live a lie to be accepted by people then it ain't worth it. Codefrog is still banned. I'm the only person who is/was rockreaver and I'm not giving that sign-in to anyone. Codefrog was a guy from france, a guy from India and 2 guys from Australia. Rockreaver is just me. I just want to climb, learn, be humble and not have to duck or hide my face. So is that okay? {EDIT} Your comments are a bit depressing though. I've lost 30 pounds between photos and you didn't notice. I'm not in the Navy. I'm not a SEAL. I'm not any of that military stuff either. I have some friends who are and that's about it. When I gave up the profile information the 4 guys decided to be 4 faces and it rolled from there. BLONDGECKO stopped it all and I think I took a bit of time off here. Now I'm back. {/EDIT}
(This post was edited by rockreaver on Aug 11, 2009, 5:55 PM)
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Gmburns2000
Aug 11, 2009, 6:01 PM
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well - welcome back
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 6:08 PM
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I feel like I'm walking into dickheads anonymous: "I'm codefrog and I'm a dickhead." There I've said it. I'm just a normal guy now. Well mostly normal. I climb and I guess some people don't think that's normal. Thanks for the "welcome".
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bill413
Aug 11, 2009, 6:31 PM
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rockreaver wrote: As rockreaver I'm myself. As codefrog 4 people had the ability to sign in as him and they did. I've tried to get codefrog unbanned because I think that a person should be able to say " I messed up. Sorry about that." and start over. Can't resist. If how would codefrog be able to say "I (as a single person) messed up" when in fact codefrog was a creation of multiple people? [sysadmin hat] As you've experienced, bad things can happen when internet accounts are shared. [/sysadmin hat]
(This post was edited by bill413 on Aug 11, 2009, 6:31 PM)
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imnotclever
Aug 11, 2009, 6:34 PM
Post #14 of 92
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rockreaver wrote: You know... my first time here didn't go so well. I got really frustrated. This time around I'm actually not getting stupid and agitated. So if people can let someone start over then I'd like that. If not then well... I don't know. I like to climb. The people here are great people and I messed up. I want to make a lot of excuses and say this or that but that would be kind of lame wouldn't it. As rockreaver I'm myself. As codefrog 4 people had the ability to sign in as him and they did. I've tried to get codefrog unbanned because I think that a person should be able to say "I messed up. Sorry about that." and start over. A few people here have known all along who rockreaver was and it hasn't really bothered them. I debated loading that picture but then I thought about more and realized that if you have to live a lie to be accepted by people then it ain't worth it. Codefrog is still banned. I'm the only person who is/was rockreaver and I'm not giving that sign-in to anyone. Codefrog was a guy from france, a guy from India and 2 guys from Australia. Rockreaver is just me. I just want to climb, learn, be humble and not have to duck or hide my face. So is that okay? {EDIT} Your comments are a bit depressing though. I've lost 30 pounds between photos and you didn't notice. I'm not in the Navy. I'm not a SEAL. I'm not any of that military stuff either. I have some friends who are and that's about it. When I gave up the profile information the 4 guys decided to be 4 faces and it rolled from there. BLONDGECKO stopped it all and I think I took a bit of time off here. Now I'm back. {/EDIT} I'm not reading that^
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 7:10 PM
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I changed it to a more common picture. Having this conversation 1000 more times doesn't appeal. Also someone older and wiser said, "Why'd you do that? Who cares about codefrog?" and I thought about it and they are right. Who cares? So... viruses? Stem cells?
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Toast_in_the_Machine
Aug 11, 2009, 7:11 PM
Post #16 of 92
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rockreaver wrote: I feel like I'm walking into dickheads anonymous: "I'm codefrog and I'm a dickhead." There I've said it. I'm just a normal guy now. Well mostly normal. I climb and I guess some people don't think that's normal. Thanks for the "welcome". Hi codefrog. And yes RC.com = dickheads anonymous.
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wjca
Aug 11, 2009, 7:30 PM
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Who the fuck is codefrog?
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 7:35 PM
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A seriously stupid profile I had. It got banned. I've been rockreaver a long time. I thought just by changing my profile pic that nobody would remember. Somebody did. So I'm back into obscurity. I'm not a troll though. I'm just a normal guy that had a few days of bad judgment in which he gave his user/pass here to friends. They had too much fun. Anyway, move along folks nothing to see here. I shouldn't have touched my profile picture.
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 7:36 PM
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Oh boy. I had nothing to do with that.
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macherry
Aug 11, 2009, 7:48 PM
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rockreaver wrote: A seriously stupid profile I had. It got banned. I've been rockreaver a long time. I thought just by changing my profile pic that nobody would remember. Somebody did. So I'm back into obscurity. I'm not a troll though. I'm just a normal guy that had a few days of bad judgment in which he gave his user/pass here to friends. They had too much fun. Anyway, move along folks nothing to see here. I shouldn't have touched my profile picture. are you serious? you just outed yourself
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rockreaver
Aug 11, 2009, 7:53 PM
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Read GMBURNS conversation with me. Who cares anyway. It wasn't me. I guess I outed them. They are gone. Not even climbers. Codefrog is gone and I guess that's fine too. Rockreaver is here but you can read every post I've made here. I'm not the 4 cheesheads that were codefrog. Someone got outed but not sure who... Does it matter? It's the internet right. Out on rocks I'm safe. I'm an okay climber but I'm safe. I'm a taxpaying father, husband, etc... I own a car but only drive it to climb. The 4 guys are the odd ones. 2 of them like vegemite.
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macherry
Aug 11, 2009, 7:56 PM
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here's a fact rockreaver has only been around since june 15th, 2009, just after codefrog was banned. you didn't out anyone except yourself don't even get me started about the explanations you send fellow mods
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clausti
Aug 11, 2009, 7:57 PM
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rockreaver wrote: Read GMBURNS conversation with me. Who cares anyway. It wasn't me. I guess I outed them. They are gone. Not even climbers. Codefrog is gone and I guess that's fine too. Rockreaver is here but you can read every post I've made here. I'm not the 4 cheesheads that were codefrog. Someone got outed but not sure who... Does it matter? It's the internet right. Out on rocks I'm safe. I'm an okay climber but I'm safe. I'm a taxpaying father, husband, etc... I own a car but only drive it to climb. The 4 guys are the odd ones. 2 of them like vegemite. why the hell would you let your friends goof around with a username that is tied to your business? you know that you can pull up such varied and interesting information as your home phone number and your father's retirement party announcement on the internet, starting with the name "codefrog"?
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bill413
Aug 11, 2009, 7:57 PM
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macherry wrote: rockreaver wrote: A seriously stupid profile I had. It got banned. I've been rockreaver a long time. I thought just by changing my profile pic that nobody would remember. Somebody did. So I'm back into obscurity. I'm not a troll though. I'm just a normal guy that had a few days of bad judgment in which he gave his user/pass here to friends. They had too much fun. Anyway, move along folks nothing to see here. I shouldn't have touched my profile picture. are you serious? you just outed yourself Ah, but which one?
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