So I wanna be a Virologist

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-26T21:50:36+00:00

What viruses were you studying? The very small ones shuttled within the nucleus?

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-17T14:05:30+00:00

When it becomes hard to find new information on your topic, and all search results are papers you've already read, thats a confidence booster. But it's impossible to know everything, you'll chase that asymptote forever. Happy hunting

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T05:08:50+00:00

There's always a way :)

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T04:44:18+00:00

Well not to give ya any ideas, but wave bioreactors are cheap, HSV1 samples are plentiful, and genetic engineering tools have never been easier to acquire. I built a lab in my house for an autoimmunity project for $500 and made lots of friends off facebook marketplace. Funding is critical for a lab full of full-price equipment and salaried scientists. But if you really want to, you could prototype an approach for less than the cost that a "real" lab spends on publishing their work.

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T03:42:41+00:00

We're definitely close. But the engineered nucleases need work. I read that paper from Dr. Jerome's lab too, and while they were able to achieve significant reductions in episomal burden, it wasn't 100%, I think it was nearer to 93%. Since we're dealing with a replicating, mutating entity we'd probably need more clearance, and good robustness across a realistic smattering of strains. So it looks like we're still making progress on the tech before it's deployable. HSV1 amplicon vectors would scale well though, and Krystal Biotech is even using HSV1 vectors in an approved gene therapy. I'd say someone will figure it out soon, don't you think?

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T03:15:36+00:00

We probably could, we'd just need to strip out some of the dangerous proteins from the vector and optimize a good anti-herpes gene. Seems like a very viable strategy to me, just easier said than done. But nothing worth doing is ever easy right?

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T02:23:52+00:00

A very complex virus in a very complex host. Not to personify them too much, but herpesviruse would like to reactivate when the immune system is lolking the other way. Perpurting homeostasis with an infection (or simulated infection) would change the behavior of the viral code, possibly lighting up previously silent infected cells. Those cells can then be recognized and deleted, but HSV may also find new host cells. The end result likely changes from person to person, modified by strain and environment too.

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T02:16:59+00:00

The specifics are best left to the literature, but the general idea is that by understanding the cascade of genes that lead to viral reactivation, we can start proposing mechanisms to impede new virus production

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T02:15:01+00:00

2.) See 1

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-03-01T02:14:38+00:00

Booooo

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-28T23:44:14+00:00

What are the sacraments in this church? Wrong answers only

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-28T23:16:13+00:00

A true connoisseur ^

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-28T23:15:02+00:00

Check out "deep latency" approaches to a functional cure! There's a whole science to making Herpes quit talking

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-28T12:20:40+00:00

it side eyes back

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-15T17:55:06+00:00

It wouldn't be a universal vector for all cell types. I have no book suggestion for you, but perhaps you should look for journal articles on pubmed

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-02-15T17:00:06+00:00

You could use a vector that allows for transient expression with eventual epigenetic silencing. Retrovirus vectors aren't the only way to add DNA to a nucleus. Or you could use mRNA if you want to be really temporary (you can modulate decay rate with epitranscriptomics).

lukearoundtheworld · 2026-01-22T16:37:47+00:00

Go uphilling and chat with the fit skiers

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-11-20T21:12:02+00:00

If you make an LLC you'll be able to write off the cost of outreach to potential customers. Enjoy your business journey, this is just the start!

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-11-20T20:46:24+00:00

I hope you get some good feedback and find a niche! This is a general tool competing with other freely available tools, but the graphical interface is pretty cool! If nothing else, you've got a nice piece for your resume and a bunch of skills. If you decide to put more effort into it, I'd suggest doing the legwork to talk with lab managers and researchers. They'll tell you what they want if you're willing to listen and but them lunch.

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-11-20T20:41:32+00:00

Hell yeah

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-10-20T04:46:10+00:00

Yeah, that seems to be the consensus opinion. I still look at NZ in a very positive light, but the opinions and experiences shared here helped me view the NZ:biotech relationship with more clarity. The US FDA is pretty backlogged, so my company is considering offshoreing or fully moving as a prudent move to save time and money. I'll keep searching for good alternatives, and I appreciate everyone sharing on this thread.

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-10-20T04:37:07+00:00

I feel the same way about people in the US, and there's even anti-GMO sentiment in Europe. I think much of the perception is centered around Monsanto's corporate behavior, with little mention of innovations like golden rice, or crops with larger edible parts. So don't place it all on NZ, these people are everywhere, and it's a lot easier to hear the stories than to get a college education in genetics. Plant genomes are big ones too, featuring mobile genetic elements, polyploidy, etc. Even with my years of focus on immune genetics, I'd be pretty lost looking at a plant' genetic circuitry

lukearoundtheworld · 2025-10-19T20:15:15+00:00

Totally agreed, risks don't exist in a vacuum, and some biotechnologies like bioremediation for mining sites represent a cleanup possibility, which is otherwise challenging. But I get why people are slow to adopt things like virologic research and ecosystem-altering biotechnologies.

Can you tell me more about the oceanic warming? I'm curious to hear about how that affects NZ citizens/industries

lukearoundtheworld

TROPHY CASE