Virology Journal
Encyclopedia
The Virology Journal is an open-access peer-reviewed
scientific journal
published by BioMed Central
. It publishes research related to virus
es and the prevention of viral infection
(including vaccination
, the use of antiviral agents
, and gene therapy
). The journal was founded in 2004 and is edited by Robert F. Garry. The journal specifically aims to cover rapid communications amongst virologists.
"lay sick" with a febrile illness. Jesus
then took her by the hand and the fever immediately left. This is also described in . The authors rule out that the woman was possessed by demons, and conclude that she was struck with influenza
as "the fever retreated instantaneously. This implies that the disease was probably not a severe acute bacterial infection (such as septicemia
) or subacute endocarditis that would not resolved instantaneously" .
This article created controversy amongst scientists, who decried the article from anywhere from "truly bizarre" to "garbage", as well as expressed puzzlement over how the article got published in the first place. The editor-in-chief of Virology Journal originally commented that the submission underwent standard peer review, and was recommended for acceptance after modification by both reviewers, but later apologized for the publication of the article and announced that it would be retracted. The article was retracted on 13 August 2010.
Ellis Hon, the paper's lead author, told RetractionWatch that he agreed to the retraction after the amount of negative publicity generated by the paper.
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
published by BioMed Central
BioMed Central
BioMed Central is a UK-based, for-profit scientific publisher specialising in open access journal publication. BMC, and its sister companies Chemistry Central and PhysMath Central, publish over 200 scientific journals. Most BMC journals are now published only online. BMC describes itself as the...
. It publishes research related to virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
es and the prevention of viral infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
(including vaccination
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
, the use of antiviral agents
Antiviral drug
Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections. Like antibiotics for bacteria, specific antivirals are used for specific viruses...
, and gene therapy
Gene therapy
Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
). The journal was founded in 2004 and is edited by Robert F. Garry. The journal specifically aims to cover rapid communications amongst virologists.
Bible influenza controversy
On 21 July 2010, Virology Journal published an article entitled "Influenza or not influenza: Analysis of a case of high fever that happened 2000 years ago in Biblical time". According to and , the mother-in-law of Simon PeterSaint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
"lay sick" with a febrile illness. Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
then took her by the hand and the fever immediately left. This is also described in . The authors rule out that the woman was possessed by demons, and conclude that she was struck with influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
as "the fever retreated instantaneously. This implies that the disease was probably not a severe acute bacterial infection (such as septicemia
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
) or subacute endocarditis that would not resolved instantaneously" .
This article created controversy amongst scientists, who decried the article from anywhere from "truly bizarre" to "garbage", as well as expressed puzzlement over how the article got published in the first place. The editor-in-chief of Virology Journal originally commented that the submission underwent standard peer review, and was recommended for acceptance after modification by both reviewers, but later apologized for the publication of the article and announced that it would be retracted. The article was retracted on 13 August 2010.
Ellis Hon, the paper's lead author, told RetractionWatch that he agreed to the retraction after the amount of negative publicity generated by the paper.