This Week in Virology

Latest Episodes:

TWiV 989: Antibody cross-reactivity is metal Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

TWiV to explains a study on presence of COVID-19 vaccine mRNA in the blood, and the isolation of cross-protective monoclonal antibodies against common endemic respiratory viruses.

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Links for this episode

•Register for ASV 2023 •MicrobeTV Discord Server •Paul Berg obituary •Spike mRNA in blood (J Path Micro Imm) •Spike mRNA in blood (Biomedicine) •Cross-protective mAbs against respiratory viruses (Nat Comm) •RSV prefusion F protein vaccine in older adults (NEJM) •Ad26.RSV.preF–RSV preF protein vaccine (NEJM) •Letters read on TWiV 989 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Jazz Project: Drums: Sunny Payne (Count Basie Orchestra); Buddy Rich (Count Basie Orchestra); Rufus Jones (Maynard Ferguson Orchestra); Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck Quartet). Brianne – A Scientific Investigation of 'The Last of Us' Fungal Pandemic Kathy – "That's What They Say" podcast about pronunciation of "primer." Rich – Slow motion art: 1 and 2 Vincent – Grammarly

Listener Pick

Charles – Psychologist Daniel Levitin dissects Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon'

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 988: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses FDA authorizing the first over-the-counter at-home test to detect both influenza and COVID-19, monoclonal antibody for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants and children, epidemiologic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant variant XBB.1.5, COVID-19 vaccines vs pediatric hospitalization, maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infant protection against SARS-CoV-2 during the first six months of life, immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, fatal fulminant cerebral edema in six children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection in Taiwan, certifying deaths due to COVID-19, efficacy of first dose of COVID-19 vaccine vs no vaccination on symptoms of patients with long COVID, and the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID.

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Links for this episode

FDA authorizes over-the-counter at-home test to detect both Influenza and COVID-19 (FDA)
Monoclonal antibody for the prevention of RSV in infants and children (JAMA)
Epidemiologic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 variant XBB.1.5 (CDC)
COVID-19 vaccines vs pediatric hospitalization (Cell)
Maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infant protection during the first six months of life (Nature)
Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for MIS in children (The Lancet)
Fatal Fulminant Cerebral Edema in children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection (JPID)
Certifying deaths due to COVID-19 (CDC)
Efficacy of first dose of COVID-19 vaccine vs no vaccination on patients with Long COVID (BMJ)
Effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID (BMJ)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 988
Don't crush Paxlovid (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 987: Convalescing with Casadevall Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

Arturo Casadevall returns to TWiV to explain the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients, and the need to support virology at a time when more regulation of experiments is envisioned.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit

Guest: Arturo Casadevall

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Links for this episode

Register for ASV 2023
MicrobeTV Discord Server
Early treatment of COVID-19 with convalescent plasma (NEJM)
Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by convalescent plasma (Nat Comm)
Convalescent COVID-19 plasma for immunocompromised patients (JAMA Net Open)
Virology under the microscope (mSphere)
Virology in peril (mSphere)
Emil von Behring Nobel Lecture
Letters read on TWiV 987
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Rich - Flammarion engraving Alan - What Remains of Edith Finch Vincent - The CDC's Long-Covid Deception

Listener Pick

Bill - General Relativity For Babies

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 986: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Feb 25, 2023

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the efficacy and safety of two RSV vaccines in older adults, health care vaccine mandate remains as some push for an end, past SARS-CoV-2 infection protection against re-infection, a third vaccine dose equalizes the levels of effectiveness and immunogenicity of heterologous or homologous COVID-19 vaccine regimens, Sotrovimab retains activity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BQ.1.1 in a non-human primate model, effect of higher-dose Ivermectin for 6 Days vs placebo on time to sustained recovery in outpatients with COVID-19, viral burden rebound in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals in Hong Kong, serological response to vaccination in post-acute sequelae of COVID, sex differences in cardiovascular complications and mortality in hospital patients with COVID-19, association of COVID-19 vaccination with risk for incident diabetes after COVID-19, postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in university setting, the CDC's long-Covid deception, and podcast companies, once walking on air, feel the strain of gravity.

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Links for this episode

RSV prefusion F protein vaccine in older adults (NEJM)
Efficacy and safety of an Ad26.RSV.preF–RSV preF protein vaccine (NEJM)
Health care vaccine mandate remains as some push for an end (AP)
Past SARS-CoV-2 infection protection against re-infection (The Lancet)
A third vaccine dose equalizes the levels of effectiveness and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccine regimens (medRxiv)
Sotrovimab retains activity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in primate model (bioRxiv)
Effect of higher-dose Ivermectin for 6 days vs placebo in patients with COVID-19 (JAMA)
Viral burden rebound in patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals (The Lancet)
Serological response to vaccination in post-acute sequelae of COVID (BMC)
Sex differences in cardiovascular complications and mortality in patients with COVID-19 (BMI)
Association of COVID-19 vaccination with risk for incident diabetes after COVID-19 (JAMA)
Postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in university setting (CDC)
The CDC's Long-Covid deception (WSJ)
Podcast companies, once walking on air, feel the strain of gravity (NYT)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 986
Don't crush Paxlovid (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 985: Bambi's revenge Feb 19, 2023

Show notes

TWiV reviews an outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Equatorial Guinea, wild poliovirus type 3 shedding from a laboratory in the Netherlands, and white-tailed deer as a reservoir for previous SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Rich Condit

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Links for this episode

•Register for ASV 2023 •MicrobeTV Discord Server •Marburg virus disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea (WHO) •Wild-type poliovirus type 3 from laboratory (Eurosurveillance) •Extinct SARS-CoV-2 VOC in white-tailed deer (PNAS) •Letters read on TWiV 985 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Jazz Project: Vibraphone: Lionel Hampton/Gary Burton/Cal Jader. Lionel Hampton: Signature album: The Classics Album Collection, Signature song: Flying Home. Gary Burton: Signature album: A Genuine Tong Funeral. Signature song: General Mojo's Well Laid Plan. Cal Jader: Signature album: Latin Kick. Signature song: Soul Sauce (Wachi Wara). Milt Jackson (a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet). Signature song: Ice Skating in Central Park. Rich – The American Phage Group: Founders of Molecular Biology by William C. Summers Vincent – DJ Miss Monique aka Olesia Arkusha

Listener Pick

Megan – The Day The Music Stopped: How a 1942 recording ban changed America forever and The Weather Channel presents the best of smooth Jazz

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 984: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Feb 18, 2023

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the political polarization of COVID-19 treatments among physicians and laypeople in the United States, seven alternatives to evidence-based medicine, Malawi's cholera death toll crosses 1,300 in its deadliest outbreak on record, impact of coronavirus infections on pediatric patients at a tertiary pediatric hospital, maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and delta or omicron infection or hospital admission in infants, yes masks reduce the risk of spreading infection, despite a review saying they don't, COVID-19 and airborne transmission: science rejected, lives lost. can society do better, what were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, a randomized trial comparing Omicron-containing boosters with the original COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1273, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after bivalent vs. monovalent booster, the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose separation and targeting on the COVID-19 epidemic in England, intra-host evolution provides for the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, real-world use of Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir in outpatients with COVID-19 during the era of Omicron variants including BA.4 and BA.5 in Colorado, viral burden rebound in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals in Hong Kong, and guidance on the use of convalescent plasma to treat immunocompromised patients with COVID-19.

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Links for this episode

The political polarization of COVID-19 treatments in the United States (PNAS)
Seven alternatives to evidence-based medicine (BMJ)
Malawi's cholera death toll crosses 1,300 (CBC)
Impact of coronavirus infections on pediatric patients (JHI)
Maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy (BMJ)
Yes, masks reduce the risk of spreading COVID (TVO)
COVID-19 and airborne transmission (IDSA)
What were the reasons for resistance to recognizing airborne transmission (IJIE)
Comparing Omicron-containing boosters with COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1273 (medRxiv)
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after bivalent vs. monovalent booster (bioRxiv)
The impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose separation and targeting (Nature)
Intra-host evolution provides for the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants (ASM)
Real-world use of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in outpatients with COVID-19 (The Lancet)
Viral rebound in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals (The Lancet)
Guidance on the use of convalescent plasma to treat immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 (CID)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 984
Don't crush Paxlovid (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 983: One flu vaccine for them all with Scott Hensley Feb 12, 2023

Show notes

Scott returns to TWiV to explain the development of an experimental mRNA vaccine that encodes hemagglutinin antigens against all known influenza A virus subtypes and influenza B virus lineages, and why he is worried about avian H5N1 influenza virus.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker

Guest: Scott Hensley

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Links for this episode

•Research assistant position at FDA (pdf) •Register for ASV 2023 •MicrobeTV Discord Server •Multivalent influenza mRNA vaccine (Science) •Influenza virus mRNA vaccines circumvent egg adaptation problems (J Virol) •Letters read on TWiV 983 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Jazz Project: Guitar. Django Reinhardt; Pat Metheny. Signature album: Still Life Talking. Signature song: Last Train Home; Joe Pass (Ella Fitzgerald's favorite guitar accompanist). Signature album: Virtuoso. Signature song: Round Midnight. Brianne – HHMI Virus Explorer Vincent – Chris Luno

Listener Picks

John – White-tail deer density and SARS-CoV-2 in white-tail deer Jessica – Classic cases revisited: Oscar the cat and predicting death

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 982: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the consistency of COVID-19 trial preprints with published reports and impact for decision making, the negative effect of preexisting immunity on Influenza vaccine responses transcends the impact of vaccine formulation type and vaccination history, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in farmed minks in Spain, Peru confirms H5N1 avian flu in marine mammals, prior vaccination enhances immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection with early activation of memory T cells followed by production of potent neutralizing antibodies, bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections in older adults with comorbidities, incidence of chronic spontaneous urticaria following receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine booster in Switzerland, relationship between immune response to SARS-CoV2 vaccines and development of breakthrough infection in solid organ transplant recipients, early treatment with pegylated interferon lambda for COVID-19, and how long-term high-dose immunoglobulin successfully treats long COVID patients with pulmonary, neurologic, and cardiologic symptoms.

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Links for this episode

Consistency of COVID-19 trial preprints with published reports (BMI)
Negative effect of preexisting immunity on Influenza vaccine (JID)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza infection in farmed minks (Eurosurveillance)
Peru confirms H5N1 avian flu in marine mammals (CIDRAP)
Prior vaccination enhances immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection (bioRxiv)
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 and respiratory infections (CMI)
Incidence of spontaneous Urticaria following COVID-19 vaccine booster (JAMA)
Relationship between immune response to SARS-CoV2 vaccines and breakthrough infection in transplant recipients (CID)
Early treatment with Pegylated Interferon Lambda for COVID-19 (NEJM)
Long-term high-dose immunoglobulin successfully treats Long COVID patients (Frontiers)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 982
Don't crush Paxlovid (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 981: Tastes like chikungunya Feb 05, 2023

Show notes

TWiV explains the recent meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) where stricter guidelines for research involving human, animal, and plant pathogens were considered, and how the consumption of viruses by small protists returns energy to food chains.

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

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Links for this episode

•Research assistant position at FDA (pdf) •Register for ASV 2023 •MicrobeTV Discord Server •NSABB proposed oversight framework (pdf) •Stricter US guidelines for research (Nature) •Information on NSABB (NIH) •Consumption of viruses by protists (PNAS) •Letters read on TWiV 981 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Jazz Project: Trombone: Steve Turre/Conrad Herwig; Steve Turre; Curtis Fuller; J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding. Steve Turre: Signature album: Sanctified Shells. Signature song: Sanctified Shells. Conrad Herwig. Signature album: A Jones For Bones Tones. Signature song: Slide's Routine; Curtis Fuller: Signature album: BLUES ette. Signature song: Bluesette. J.J. Johnson (with Kai Winding). Signature album: The Great Kai and J.J. : Signature song: Monk's Blues. Kathy – Measles virus 'cooperates' with itself to cause fatal encephalitis. Primary research article: Shirogane et al. Rich – Firm hatches plan to bring back dodo (Colossal Biosciences – Dodo) Alan – Mt. Washington Observatory webcam Vincent – Ask the Experts

Listener Picks

Roberto – The Contagion of Liberty: The Politics of Smallpox in the American Revolution

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 908: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Feb 04, 2023

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses prevalence and clinical outcomes of respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza virus in adults hospitalized with acute respiratory Illness, reconsideration of antinucleocapsid IgG antibody as a marker of SARS-CoV-2 infection postvaccination for mild COVID-19 patients, assessment of COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death among children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US, information for persons who are immunocompromised regarding prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the context of currently circulating Omicron sublineages, association of culturable-virus detection and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, effectiveness of bivalent boosters against severe Omicron infection, Covid vaccines and playing the long game, efficacy and safety of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and severe fatigue and persistent symptoms at three months following SARS-CoV-2 Infections during the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron time periods.

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Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of RSV vs influenza in adults (CID)
Reconsideration of antinucleocapsid IgG antibody as a marker of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OFID)
Assessment of COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death among children and young people (JAMA)
Information for persons who are immunocompromised regarding prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (CDC)
Association of culturable-virus detection and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (JID)
Effectiveness of bivalent boosters against severe Omicron infection (NEJM)
Covid vaccines and playing the long game (NEJM)
Efficacy and safety of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback in COVID-19 patients (The Lancet)
Severe fatigue and persistent symptoms at three months following SARS-CoV-2 Infection (CID)
Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 980
Don't crush Paxlovid (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

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