Network Enabled Virtual Reality Simulation of Reovirus

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| Background Information on the Reovirus | Reovirus VR Simulation |
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ORGANIZATIONS
University of Calgary
| Advanced Media for Learning | Netera | MACI |


BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE REOVIRUS

What is the reovirus?

The reovirus (reo is an acronym for respiratory enteric orphan) - is a naturally occurring virus that is believed to cause mild infections of the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract of humans.

Viruses normally cause disease. Why is this one significant in cancer research?

In November 1998, researchers in the Cancer Biology Research Group in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary found that the reovirus is a potent killer of cancer cells whose growth signal has gone awry.

They discovered that the reovirus selectively kills cells with an activated Ras pathway. Infection of a single cancer cell by a single reovirus particle can generate a thousand progeny reovirus particles,which in turn infect neighbouring cancer cells. This cycle continues until all cancer cells are eliminated. Normal cells are spared.

Who discovered its effect on cancer cells?

The University of Calgary cancer research team includes virologist and cancer biologist Patrick Lee, graduate student Matthew Coffey, and Lee's colleagues James Strong and Peter Forsyth

REOVIRUS VR SIMULATION

To illustrate the research work and educate the public about the biological process of the reovirus and the elimination of cancer cells, an interactive animation has been developed for delivery over a high-speed network. This can be used for telelearning among medical professionals, information briefings for the media, and public demonstrations.

How was the VR environment developed?

The cellular world was developed using Softimage Extreme 3D for the initial modelling and animation. Virtual and immersive behaviours were then added using Sense 8 World Up and Quicktime 3. Network Delivery is planned through Wnet II in Alberta, Canada, through CA*net II to StarTap to points in the US and elsewhere. MPEG 2 Compression is planned.

Who has helped to make this networked VR simulation possible?

The simulation of the reovirus acting on cancer cells is network-enabled and uses the advanced computing and networking resources developed in Alberta through the joint efforts of Netera Alliance for advanced computing and networking in Alberta and MACI (Multimedia Advanced Computational Infrastructure).

NETWORKED VR SIMULATION TEAM

Dr. Patrick Lee,
Biomedical Research Department,
University of Calgary

David Goulden
Multimedia Designer, Netera Alliance Inc.
Email: dwgoulde@ucalgary.ca
Telephone: (403) 220-2593
Fax: (403) 282-0730

David Rittenhouse
Multimedia Developer,
Advanced Media for Learning
Email: drritten@ucalgary.ca
Telephone: (403) 220-2676
Fax: (403) 282-0730

Douglas Bowman,
Advanced Applications Specialist,
Netera Alliance Inc.
Email: bowman@ucalgary.ca
Telephone: (403) 220-8169

Prof. Denis Gadbois
Faculty of Environmental Design
Email: dgadbois@ucalgary.ca

Dr. Mark Green (Interactive VR component/ VizRoom)
University of Alberta
Email: mark@cs.ualberta.ca
Web: http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~rims/
Telephone: 403-492-4584

Lloyd White (Interactive VR component/ VizRoom)
University of Alberta
Email: lloyd@cs.ualberta.ca
Web: http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~rims/
Telephone: (780) 492-7418

Mary Anne Moser
Public Relations Manager, Netera Alliance
Email: moser@netera.ca
Tel (403) 949-3306

IMAGE GALLERY

  • Unencumbered VR environment - "The Cyberport"
    U of C location for visualization of the reovirus VR simulation

  • MACI Resource Diagram
    Alberta's advanced computational resources supporting the reovirus VR simulation

    Reovirus Animation Images

  • Flying inside cell I
  • Flying inside cell II
  • Fly along cell surface
  • Cancer cell
  • Reovirus disassembly
  • Virus replication

    • quicktime gallery

  • Flying inside cell / introduction
  • Cancer cell surface
  • Virus disassembly
  • The RAS pathway
  • The mutated RAS pathway

  • Streaming Quicktime 4.0 Reovirus Movie
    The Quicktime 4.0 Plugin is required to view this streaming video. You can download the plugin from Apple Quicktime.

    • streaming MPEG video

  • MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Delivered from SGI Origin 200 Video Server
    To view the MPEG-1 video, the CompCore MPEG-1 Player must be installed. Click here to download the player. To view the MPEG-2 file, however, you must be using a computer with a video card capable of decoding a MPEG-2 file (typically newer desktop machines with DVD players).

    • The Reovirus Animation was demonstrated at the Internet 2 (April, 1999) Members Meeting in Washington, D.C., at the CANARIE Annual General Meeting (June, 1999) in Ottawa, Ontario, at the New Media Centres conference in Los Angeles (July, 1999) and to the University of Calgary President's Circle (March, 1999). The animation has also be featured at Siggraph 99 in the Computer Animation Festival, on the Softimage website in Visualize This, on the Discovery Channel in Summer@Discovery, on the AVID Technology Inc. demo reel, and in Computer Graphics World magazine (August, 1999).

    MENU
    | Background Information on the Reovirus | Reovirus VR Simulation |
    | VR Simulation Team | Image Gallery | News Clippings |

    ORGANIZATIONS
    Universiyity of Calgary
    | Advanced Media for Learning | Netera | MACI |