# STUPID VIRUS! Time to squick the NIH HIV repository! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261 "2003-01-22T18:03:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/41 "2003-01-23T00:32:17Z")
Wow… I’m more or less understanding what people are talking about. This is cool! Though it must be real annoying having to continuously do all that work cuz some numbwit fucked up. ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/42 "2003-01-23T00:34:53Z")
If I never smell that broth crap again, it will be too soon. Of course, the lab will be full of it tomorrow. And the day after. And next Monday. And my work buddy will smell of it after a long day of subcloning proteins. Thank god I have my own little lab area with a door, and nothing except the purified DNA and proteins make it through that door. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/43 "2003-01-23T01:00:28Z")
Can’t - get - HIV strain to grow… :eek: STOP! Now take whatever it is you’re doing to the HIV strain and _do it to a patient!_ You’ll win the Nobel prize!! ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/44 "2003-01-23T02:56:32Z")
I dunno, I think I’m most amused by the fact that CRorex managed a double post BUT in between that doublepost he had a different post. Or maybe I’m just easily amused… ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/45 "2003-01-23T03:40:33Z")
Envisioning a little jar, with a cork stopper, and a label: “Powdered Cow”. AmbushBug [sub]i can dream, can’t i[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/46 "2003-01-23T06:03:38Z")
This is a great OP because it makes my work with HIV (psychology) look downright easy! ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/47 "2003-01-23T07:19:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CRorex \* > \*\* I can do a little bit of everything except for westerns. \*\* [Gary Larson] Adios Amoebas[/Gary Larson] Sorry, it seemed funny to me… I’ll probably be the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/48 "2003-01-23T09:29:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AmbushBug \* > \*\*Envisioning a little jar, with a cork stopper, and a label: “Powdered Cow”. > \*\* And below it, in tiny lettering: (just add water) Noooo! You fool!! Not over the sink!!! _smash_ Moo… **Moo** …moo Moo …moo…Mooo Moo…_Moo_ …Moo…Moo Moo …Moo… **MOO** ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/49 "2003-01-23T11:35:36Z")
I really enjoy a good microbiology work rant. I hope your plasmids take, CRorex. Or that you can get some in a compatible strain of bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/50 "2003-01-23T14:06:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CRorex \* > …LB-AMP (It’s basically beef extract + yeast extract + salt + antibiotic selection). That sounds like it’s just Bovril mixed with Marmite. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/51 "2003-01-23T14:22:10Z")
Hey my ex-wife works at NIH, and she used to work on HIV, maybe still does. Personally I’d just blame her. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/52 "2003-01-23T16:06:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*Can’t - get - HIV strain to grow… > > :eek: > > STOP! > > Now take whatever it is you’re doing to the HIV strain and _do it to a patient!_ > > You’ll win the Nobel prize!! \*\* Somehow I don’t think many people would like to be ground down to individual cells and grown in LB broth. Ugh, the LB smells bad enough as it is I can’t imagine being fed it. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/53 "2003-01-23T16:49:29Z")
Ah, LB. I remember it well from my undergrad days… Man, that stuff stinks. I’d go home from the lab smelling so very, very foul… It was not until I visited Australia that I realized people actually EAT something that smells very similar. Vegemite, you are the devil. Best of luck with your work, **CRorex** - hope it stops being so frustrating! ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/54 "2003-01-23T22:51:27Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Tapioca Dextrin** _ > > Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow! Damn you! _{shakes tiny fist}_ Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/55 "2003-01-24T00:11:28Z")
Your work rants scare the crap out of me, **CRorex** but amuse me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![CRorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CRorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CRorex)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/56 "2003-01-24T16:03:28Z")
Ok, here’s an update. I restreaked the glycerol stock and last night I innoculated 2 250ml cultures. \>.\< AAAAARRRRRRGGGGG I now have 4 grossly undersized pellets of bacteria, which might but probably don’t, contain the plasmid I need. (2 pellets are from wed’s run) Looks like I’ll combine them all into 2 slightly _snicker_ larger pellets and try to extract something. ---
**Author:** ![tsarina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@tsarina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsarina)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2003, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261/57 "2003-01-24T20:47:10Z")
When I was a lab monkey practically all I did was mix LB, and I always thought it smelled more like sweet, moldy bread. It wasn’t all that bad until it got under my fingernails and into my cuticles and my hands smelled like it for days! Have any of you ever smelled campylobacter incubated on blood agar plates? Imagine the smell of rotting tomatoes and rotting flesh mixed together (you wouldn’t think they’d ever be found together, but blood agar sure as hell makes the magic happen). It was so bad that it made the pregnant woman in our lab run to the bathroom to throw up after smelling it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-virus-time-to-squick-the-nih-hiv-repository/150261.md?page=2)