Learning Lab

Loving what you do is great; loving to share it is even better.  That’s why we’ve created a special section dedicated to sharing the science we love.  You’ll find overviews of each of the pathogens we test, explanations of the technology we use, references to useful articles and tutorials, along with our own ViraCor View newsletters, abstracts, and publications.   Launch into learning with our LAB.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Pneumocystis jiroveci is now classified as a fungus; before it was classified as a protozoa and called Pneumocystis carinii.
• Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a major cause of respiratory tract illness in young children and immunocompromised patients, was first discovered in 2001 from children in the Netherlands with respiratory tract illness similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.  Poor growth in cell culture is the main factor for the virus’ delayed discovery.
• Both influenza A and B undergo antigenic drift, a gradual evolution that occurs through point mutations in surface antigens, a common cause of seasonal epidemics.  Only influenza A undergoes antigenic shift, a sudden, major change that produces an entirely novel subtype of virus previously not in circulation, which can cause pandemics.