<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>For the first week, I will talk about this paper:</div><div><br></div><div>Herpes simplex virus-1 induces expression of a novel MxA isoform that enhances viral replication.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.nature.com/icb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/icb201083a.html">http://www.nature.com/icb/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/icb201083a.html</a></div><div><br></div><div>Note:</div><div>MxA is an antiviral protein that inhibit the replication of many RNA viruses.</div><div>However, Taiwanese scientists have shown that HSV-1 virus can induce the expression of MxA isoform (varMxA) that facilitate its replication.</div><div>The antagonistic function of two isoforms of the same gene is very interesting. </div><div>This finding supports my hypothesis that alternative splicing of host mRNA can be induced by pathogens and it plays a crucial role in the immune response to viruses.</div><div><br></div><div>See you at noon.</div></body></html>