Overheard in Lab
This biochemist in the lab has always had an urge to pull the fire alarms, since they look so "pullable"
Who is Erin Kim? (Said at ASV 6/26/2024)
This person was the Li lab's first undergraduate student!
These kinds of viruses are transmitted by bugs--often mosquitoes, ticks, and flies!
What are arboviruses?
This standard practice involves lifting cells off using special enzymes and diluting your cells to a lower concentration to give them space to grow.
What is passaging? (or splitting)?
This virus has been frozen in Siberian permafrost for over 30,000 years and was successfully revived in the lab — but don’t worry, it only infects amoebas.
What is science? (Double if you know what the virus is called?)
While understating their tremendous qualifications, this previously aspiring veterinarian claimed they were only a "potato leaf".
Who is Dr. Zhenlan Yao? (Stated 10/31/2024)
The Li + Fregoso Lab's shared history goes way back, with their first outing together at this wild and exotic location.
Viruses have been defined as not generating its own version of this machinery.
What are ribosomes?
Often considered one of the most beautiful assays you can do in this lab, resulting in striking images you can even submit to contests for money!
What is immunofluorescence staining? (any variation is accepted)
A parasitic virus latches onto a bacteriophage and 'hijacks' its machinery to inject its own genome into a host — essentially a virus that infects another virus.
What is science? (Double if you know what they're called?)
Having this experience herself just ~3 years ago, this professor said publishing papers are like "giving birth".
Who is Professor Melody Li? (3/14/24)
Melody has been a virologist through and through, beginning her journey with this class of RNA viruses.
What are picornaviruses? (Double points if you know what institution it was at)
Hot debates have exploded regarding this virus' unique conical capsid shape and whether the capsid falls apart prior to or after it enters the nucleus.
What is HIV?
Traditionally, this process took multiple days, involving multiple long runs, making sandwiches, and some overnight incubations--but can now be done in just one day with the Li lab's machines (and some ambition/dedication!)
What is a western blot?
Researchers discovered a virus that lacks its own capsid genes and instead pirates the capsid of a co-infecting virus in order to package its genome
What is science? (Bonus if you know what kinds of viruses?)
A longtime snack lover (and amazing geneticist) of the lab once jumped out of the lab's break room to inform us that we had been "outsnacked again!"
Who is Dr. Serina Huang? (Stated sometime in 2023 after we hosted happy hour yet the Su lab still had more snacks)
We applaud Martin for his hard work on crushing the Li lab record on most plaque assays, but this person currently holds the title for most western blots done in a week!
Who is Emily Yang? (Will also take Zhenlan because honestly I think she did beat her but idk)
This virus name comes from the language of the Acholi people in East Africa, meaning "severe joint pain".
What is o'nyong'nyong virus?
This technique assembles up to 6 DNA fragments in a single isothermal reaction using enzymes that chew, copy, and paste (but no specific restriction enzymes needed!)
What is HiFi Assembly?
In 2023, a team reported engineering a virus that can survive multiple rounds of UV radiation by rapidly reassembling its genome using an internal circular DNA ‘backup copy.’
What is fiction!
This one needs some context but is my all time favorite moment. It was during a meeting with multiple people, and Melody mentioned that she met someone else's baby and was struck by how different that baby was from Liam when he was a baby. To which this person responded "Oh.. different babies are different?"
Who is Mehdi Bouhaddou?
BSRB is an ever changing lab space, with old and new labs coming and going--including the Li lab's original neighbor where the Lechner lab now lives.
What is the Miller lab?
This complex during alphavirus replication is responsible for generating the negative sense RNA that will later serve as a template for full length and subgenomic RNA.
What is P123+P4?
I take tiny pieces from a larger whole,
Send them flying through a narrow goal.
Each one moves in its own unique way,
Revealing its secrets as I make them obey.
By measuring the speed and power of collision,
I tell you what’s hidden using my vision.
What am I?
What is mass spec?
In this reported case, a virus that normally infects algae was later found integrated into human brain tissue, and its presence correlated with subtle cognitive changes — including decreased attention span and processing speed.
What is science!