TWiV 1329: How HIV-1 goes nuclear

Viral research and public health developments dominate the discussion, beginning with the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, exacerbated by limited diagnostic resources and reduced international funding. Scientific analysis shifts to the zoonotic potential of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in cervids, where experiments demonstrate that CWD prions persist and seed infection in non-human primates, even without overt symptoms. A paradigm shift in HIV-1 replication emerges: the virus’s cone-shaped capsid remains intact while traversing dilated nuclear pores to enter the nucleus, challenging long-held models of capsid disassembly. Listener inquiries address urinary tract viral infections, the immune amnesia hypothesis linked to measles, and the historical engineering behind Apollo 11’s core memory, highlighting the necessity of evidence-based discourse in maintaining public trust.