Kristin has officially allowed me to make my own posts on our family blog (I receive privileges with good behavior, not unlike our kids). Even after several years of marriage, my wife still has no idea what I do in the lab. Thus, she has encouraged me to put something on the blog that is an example of my work (share a little piece of Matt if you will). Well, it's close to midnight, the family is in bed, and I'm in the lab doing work. Now is as good a time as any.
I study viruses that infect your nervous system, and move around when they feel the need. See movie below. These are fluorescent virus particles that are moving in living neurons in a culture dish. Neurons have a round cell body, and then axons emanating out from them (in this movie you see 5 axons shooting out from the cell body). The little green dots are actual virus particles moving away from the cell so they can go on to infect another nearby neuron. Imaging technology allows us to watch this happen in "real-time", and we can figure out what controls this process. Okay, there it is in a nutshell. Thank you for letting me share.
By the way, please don't call me if you have a "raging infection" and need advice on a topical ointment. Your MD knows best, not a research scientist :).
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6 comments:
nice to know you are still out there somewhere. thanks for the movie. I haven't been to the movies in ages...
My main question is...
Have you ever heard of Herpes?
Just wonderin, probably haven't though.
No, I don't know much about herpes. Did you flare up again?
Jigga what?!?!
So do you think viruses (aka virii)could be working on spreading from neuron to neuron via axons and dendrites in this kids foot from his shoes???
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2841695
Yikes, that is a disgusting story Wendi. I guess everybody needs to excel at something! My high school basketball shoes may take a runner-up to this kid.
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