This Week in Virology

Latest Episodes:

TWiV 1108: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Apr 27, 2024

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles, and H51 influenza infection of birds, poultry and cows before and SARS-CoV-2 circulation, before discussing if the original monovalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was effective in children and adolescents, how to use words to properly describe respiratory pathogens the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic, revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC, continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, if administration of remdesivir reduces mortality, long COVID, persistence of virus infection during long COVID and it prevalence. For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088.

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Links for this episode

Measles tracking (CDC)
Cows, chickens and birds H5N1….oh, my (USDA)
Evolution of circulating H5N1 (CIDRAP)
COVID-19 national trend (CDC)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Original monovalent mRNA vaccine effectiveness in children and adolescents (MMWR)
Updated terminology for pathogens transmitted through the air (WHO)
Are these really better definitions for pathogens transmitted through the air (NY Times)
Pharmaceuticals for diseases spread through the air (Reuters)
Older adult spring booster available (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices slides (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)
EUA for pemgarda (FDA)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (IDSociety)
WHO vs national guidelines for COVID-19 therapeutics (BMJ)
COVID-19 and the bay of pigs (UNC)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety)
Outpatient treatment with concomitant vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma (mBio)
Updated respiratory virus guidances (CDC)
What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Remdesivir associated with reduced mortality of hospitalized oxygenated patients (OFID)
Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088)
Long COVID prevalence among adults (MMWR)
Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Lancet Infectious Diseases)
More questions, new answers long COVID (Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Letters read on TWiV 1108
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1107: Uncoating some envelopes Apr 21, 2024

Show notes

It has been a long time since TWiV has released an all listener email episode, and if you have been waiting for one, then this episode is for you! (and everyone else of course).

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Become a member of ASV (asv.org)
The New City by Dickson Despommier (blog post)
International Conference on Pandemic Preparedness
Letters read on TWiV 1107
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – Cats Are Perfect. An Evolutionary Biologist Explains Why Alan – Bardcore music by Hildegard von Blingin' Vincent – A quote from Georgia O'Keefe: "I think it's so foolish for people to want to be happy. Happy is so momentary – you're happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous". From the dailyphilosopher

Listener Picks

Julia – Recent success in troubleshooting autoclave challenges Charmaine – Viruses, myelin, the evolution of complex life, and the Fermi paradox

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1106: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Apr 20, 2024

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles, potential risk factors for severe disease following influenza infection before and SARS-CoV-2 circulation, before discussing if SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts sperm fertility, the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC,continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and long COVID. For more information about this body of work, For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088.

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Measles tracking (CDC)
Influenza risk factors for potential severe outcomes (OFID)
COVID-19 national trend (CDC)
Does SARS-CoV-2 infection influence sperm quality (Scientific Reports)
Spring COVID-19 booster recommendations (CIDRAP)
Older adult spring booster available (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices slides (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)
Slide 19 (CDC)
EUA for pemgarda (FDA)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (IDSociety)
Nirmatrelvir for vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (NEJM)
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir vs. remdesivir for treatment of high risk outpatients (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety)
Outpatient treatment with concomitant vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma (mBio)
Updated respiratory virus guidances (CDC)
What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Letter s read on TWiV 1106
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1105: All the T and B in China Apr 14, 2024

Show notes

TWiV reviews influenza H5N1 in North American cows and in birds throughout New York City, polio health emergency extended, ChatGPT to control vaccine hesitancy, increasing viral hepatitis worldwide, dengue public health alert in Puerto Rico, cherry trees drowning in Washington DC, death of iron lung Paul, origin and dispersal history of hepatitis B virus in Eastern Eurasia, and antibody-independent protection against heterologous SARS-CoV-2 challenge.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Become a member of ASV (asv.org)
The New City by Dickson Despommier (blog post)
Navigating the U.S. Immigration System webinar
International Conferene on Pandemic Preparedness
Avian influenza in dairy cows North Carolina and South Dakota
H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4 Pathogenic flu throughout NYC
Polio from Afghanistan to Pakistan extending public health emergency
CHAT GPT to combat vaccine hesitancy
Viral hepatitis worldwide
Dengue public health alert in Puerto Rico
Cherry trees being drowned by water level rise in DC
Paul in iron lung dies (NPR)
Hepatitis B virus in Eastern Eurasia (Nat Comm)
Antibody-independent protection against heterologous SARS-CoV-2 (Nature)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – Do Other Planets Have Solar Eclipses? Kathy – Radcliffe Wave and Mt. Etna smoke rings with video Rich – Spongy Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Amphibolips confluenta) Life cycle; Gall formation Alan – Rogue attempt to clone giant sheep for captive hunting Vincent – The Scientists Rock. Literally.

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1104: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Apr 13, 2024

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles before addressing results of Pfizer's phase 3 RSV vaccine clinical trial for adults under 60, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 circulation, differences between rural and urban communities dealing with SARS-CoV-2 infections, the latest statistics on influenza and COVID-19 circulation, restates the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC, continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, how long COVID affects the brain and associates with an increase in allergic incidents as well as if post SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are unable to exercise or have functional limitations. For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088.

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Measles tracking (CDC)
Measles just this year (MMWR)
ABRYSVO phase 3 results (Pfizer)
RSV surveillance (CDC)
Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC)
Provisional deaths due to COVID-19 (CDC)
COVID-19 national trend (CDC)
COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot)
Variant tracker (CDC)
Rural-urban differences in COVID-19 mortality and hospitalizations (OFID)
Spring COVID-19 booster recommendations (CIDRAP)
Older adult spring booster available (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)
EUA for pemgarda (FDA)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Nirmatrelvir for vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (NEJM)
Assessment for clinical usefulness (NEJM)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety)
Updated respiratory virus guidances (CDC)
What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088)
Brian and cognitive changes in long COVID patients (BRAIN)
Allergic disease incidents after COVID-19 (Nat Comm)
Can post COVID patients exercise or do they have functional limitations (JAMA Network Open)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB 37:06
Letters read on TWiV 1102 37:56
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1103: Jason 'Spike' McLellan Apr 07, 2024

Show notes

Vincent travels to the University of Texas in Austin to speak with speak with Jason McLellan about his career and his research on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, including the effect of adding two proline residues, its effect on other viral spike glycoproteins, and general approaches to vaccine design.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit

Guest: Jason McLellan

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Become a member of ASV (asv.org)
The New City by Dickson Despommier
Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spikes (Science)
Structure-based vaccine design (Curr Opin Immunol)
Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S2-only antigen (Nat Comm)
Stabilized coronavirus spike stem elicits broadly protective antibody (Cell Rep)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1102: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Apr 06, 2024

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles and influenza before addressing Vincent's comment on measles inclusion in the clinical respiratory PCR panel, the latest statistics on influenza and COVID-19 circulation, if inflammatory cytokines and anti-viral antibody function synergistically, if administration of peptide agonists of the glucagon-like or sodium-glucose pump can reduce disease severity, restates the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC, continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, if remdesivir or paxlovid can reduce cardiovascular adverse events and the first finding of the two-year longitudinal study on long COVID. For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088.

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Measles tracking (CDC)
What happens when measles is included in commercial syndromic PCR panels (MMWR)
Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC)
Influenza on the Texas ranch (Statnews)
Sequence analysis of highly pathogenic avian influenza from Texas (CDC)
Influenza/flu map (CDC)
COVID-19 hospital admissions (CDC)
COVID-19 national trend (CDC)
COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot)
Variant tracker (CDC)
Variant hospital admissions (CDC)
Can inflammatory cytokines and antibodies play nicely to prevent COVID-19 mortality (IJID)
Association of GLP-1RA and SGLT-2i to modulate COVID-19 severity (Diabetes Therapy)
Spring COVID-19 booster recommendations (CIDRAP)
Older adult spring booster available (CDC)
Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)
EUA for pemgarda (FDA)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Remdesivir and cardiac adverse events in hospitalized patients (CID)
Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088)
Longitudinal study reveals long COVID symptom peaks and nadirs (OFID)
Paxlovid lowers risk of cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 patients with autoimmune disease (BMC Medicine)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Letter s read on TWiV 1102
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1101: It's not over 'til it's Offit Mar 31, 2024

Show notes

Paul Offit joins TWiV to discuss his latest book, "Tell Me When It's Over", an insider's guide to deciphering COVID myths and navigating our post-pandemic world.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker

Guest: Paul Offit

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Become a member of ASV (asv.org)
The New City by Dickson Despommier
Tell Me When It's Over by Paul Offit
Navigating the U.S. Immigration System (webinar)
Classifying Viral Subspecies (Workshop)
Options XII for the Control of Influenza (Meeting)
Letters read on TWiV 1101
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Astronomers Unveil Strong Magnetic Fields Spiraling at the Edge of Milky Way's Central Black Hole Brianne – Inside the AI Competition That Decoded an Ancient Herculaneum Scroll Vincent – biotech.symposium on Instagram

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1100: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Mar 30, 2024

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles influenza and SARS-CoV-2, before discussing the development of new monoclonal antibody therapy, if vaccines and antivial drugs can used effectively together. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC, continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound including that after administration of the "oral remdesivir", revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, if one can predict the loss infectivity of healthcare workers with mild COVID-19 disease and the dynamics of household transmission of the virus in children.

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Measles tracking (CDC)
Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC)
Influenza/flu map (CDC)
COVID-19 hospital admissions (CDC)
COVID-19 national trend (CDC)
COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot)
Variant tracker (CDC)
Variant hospital admissions (CDC)
What new monoclonal antibody therapy? (FDA)
A New pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19? (Invivyd)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Really COVID-19 rebound after Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment? (JAMA Network Open)
Can vaccines and antiviral be effective for COVID-19 together (International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Can loss of infectivity among healthcare works with mild and recurrent COVID-19 be predicted (CID)
Household transmission dynamics in children with asymptomatic infection (CID)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Letter s read on TWiV 1098
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1099: Volker Lohmann, as persistent as his viruses Mar 24, 2024

Show notes

Vincent travels to the University of Heidelberg to speak with Volker Lohmann about his career and the research of his laboratory on hepatitis C virus, hepatitis A virus, and norovirus.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guests: Volker Lohmann

Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode