This Week in Virology

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TWiV 970: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 31, 2022

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses modelling the adjustment of COVID-19 response and exit from dynamic zero-COVID in China, canine real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the context of a mass screening event, two masks can be worse than one: N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask, airflow patterns in double-occupancy patient rooms may contribute to roommate-to-roommate transmission of severe SARS-CoV-2, clinical validation of a novel T-Cell receptor sequencing assay for identification of recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages is reduced in convalescent sera, regardless of the infecting variant, VV116 versus Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir for oral treatment of Covid-19, Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir for early COVID-19 in a U.S. health system, Molnupiravir plus usual care versus usual care alone as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 at increased risk of adverse outcomes, higher dose corticosteroids in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypoxia but not requiring ventilatory support, FDA approves Roche's Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults, structural brain changes in post-acute COVID-19 patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction, persistent post–COVID-19 smell loss is associated with immune cell infiltration and altered gene expression in olfactory epithelium, epidemiology of long COVID in US adults, persistent symptoms and sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospitalization, and outpatient treatment of Covid-19 with metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine and the development of Long Covid over 10-month follow-up.

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Links for this episode

Modeling the adjustment of COVID-19 response and exit in China (Nature)
Canine real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in mass screening events (BMJ)
N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask (ICHE)
Airflow in patient rooms may contribute to transmission of severe SARS-CoV-2 (CID)
Clinical validation of a T-Cell receptor for identification of recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (CID)
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (Cell)
VV116 vs. Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir for oral treatment of Covid-19 (NEJM)
Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir for early COVID-19 in a U.S. health system (ACP)
Molnupiravir as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 (The Lancet)
Higher dose corticosteroids in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypoxia but not requiring ventilatory support (medRxiv)
FDA approves Tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults (Roche)
Structural brain changes in post-acute COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction (Annals)
Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA)
Persistent post–COVID-19 smell loss association (Science)
Epidemiology of long COVID in US adults (CID)
Persistent symptoms & sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospitalization (OFID)
Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 with metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine & the development of long COVID (medRxiv)
Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
L etters read on TWiV 970
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 969: Carl Zimmer on COVID-19 Dec 28, 2022

Show notes

Carl Zimmer visits the Incubator to record a wide-ranging conversation about COVID-19, including origins, vaccines, public health responses, and impact on society.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Carl Zimmer

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

TWiV 968: A spillover waiting in the wings Dec 25, 2022

Show notes

TWiV reviews eukaryotic viruses recovered from ancient permafrost, a mistake made by scientists on Omicron origins, and close relatives of MERS-CoV from bats that bind ACE2 for entry into cells.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV
Positions with the Mosquito and Vector Control Division in Harris County Public Health (one and two)
Ancient eukaryotic viruses from permafrost (bioRxiv)
We made a mistake (Science)
Bat MERS-like CoV bind ACE2 (Nature)
Letters read on TWiV 968
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Alto Saxophone: Paul Desmond/Cannonball Adderley/Charlie Parker/Randal Despommier: Paul Desmond: Signature album: Paul Desmond:The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1961-1965). Signature song: Take Five (Dave Brubeck Quartet). Cannonball Adderley: Signature album: The Cannonball Adderley Quintet: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Signature song: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Charlie Parker (Bird): played in many groups: Signature album: Dizzy Gillespie and His Allstars. Signature song: A Night In Tunisia; Randal Despommier: Signature album: A Midsummer Odyssey. Signature song: I Hope It's Spring For You. Brianne – How a See-Through Frog Hides its Red Blood from Predators (also covered in The Atlantic) Rich – Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana Vincent – Unveiling skin macrophage dynamics explains both tattoo persistence and strenuous removal

Listener Picks

Rona – WKCR, FM 89.9 Columbia's radio station Alan – XKCD Proxy Variable

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

TWiV 967: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 24, 2022

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses how immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coinfection and clinical characteristics among children and adolescents aged Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

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Links for this episode

Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection (Nature)
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza coinfection and clinical characteristics (CDC)
WHO estimates of excess mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic (Nature)
Reconsideration of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibody as a marker of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OFID)
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on inpatient clinical outcome (CID)
Clinical features and burden of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (OFID)
Similar SARS-CoV-2 Ct value distributions in samples from symptomatic children (JPIDS)
Early estimates of bivalent mRNA vaccine effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 (CDC)
Effect of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir vs placebo on COVID-19─Related hospitalizations (OFID)
COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma outpatient therapy to prevent outpatient hospitalization (MedRxiv)
Bacterial co-infection and empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with COVID-19 (OFID)
Association of time to surgery after COVID-19 infection (JAMA)
Demonstration of stable clusters of symptoms in long COVID (OFID)
Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA)
Longitudinal analysis of T cells in COVID-19 survivors with post-acute sequelae (OFID)
Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 967
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 966: 1918 influenza with Jeffery Taubenberger Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

Vincent travels to the NIH campus to speak with Jeffery Taubenberger about his career, the 1918 influenza pandemic, deciphering the genome sequence of the virus from tissues of disease victims and using it to rescue infectious virus.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Jeffery Taubenberger

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Links for this episode

Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV
Influenza 1918 pandemic questions answered (Sci Transl Med)
Reconstructed 1918 influenza virus (Science)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 965: Asking Esper Kallas for some I.D. Dec 18, 2022

Show notes

Brazilian infectious diseases physician Esper Kallas returns to TWiV to discuss the state of viral diseases in his country, including those cause by Zika, dengue, and yellow fever viruses, MPOX, and SARS-CoV-2.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Alan Dove

Guest: Esper Kallas

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Links for this episode

Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV
International Scientific Coordinator Position (agajewski at icsnicaragua.org for more info)
Viral kinetics in sylvatic yellow fever (J Inf Dis)
Safety and efficacy of Butanan-DV (Lancet Inf Dis)
Immune responses to CoronaVac (Front Immunol)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Alan – A Voyage for Madmen Vincent – Some favorite holiday cookies: pignoli cookies and pfeffernusse

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

TWiV 964: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses Dr. Griffin discusses progress toward poliomyelitis eradication in Afghanistan, reduced risk for Mpox after receipt of 1 or 2 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine compared with risk among unvaccinated persons, reduced airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 Omicron virus in Syrian hamsters, authorized updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age, low neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine or a BA.5-bivalent booster, efficacy of antiviral agents against omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB, incidence of viral rebound after treatment with Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Molnupiravir, and the effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the prevention of post–COVID-19 conditions.

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Links for this episode

Progress toward Poliomyelitis eradication in Afghanistan (CDC)
Reduced risk for Mpox after receipt of 1 or 2 Doses of JYNNEOS vaccine (CDC)
Reduced airborne transmission of BA.1 Omicron virus in Syrian hamsters (PLOS)
Authorized bivalent vaccines for children down to 6 months of age (FDA)
Low neutralization of BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine (Nature)
Efficacy of antiviral agents against Omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB (NEJM)
Viral rebound after treatment with Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Molnupiravir (JAMA)
Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA)
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in prevention of post–infection conditions (ASHE)
Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB
Dr. Griffin's treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 964
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 963: Feline coronavirus with Gary Whittaker Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Vincent travels to Cornell University to speak with Gary Whittaker about regulation by proteolytic processing of the fusion activity of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, and feline coronavirus transmission, replication and disease.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Gary Whittaker

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Links for this episode

SARS-CoV-2 spike and its furin cleavage site (Lancet Microbe)
TMPRSS2 inhibitor blocks SARS-CoV-2 reproduction (Nature)
Distinct spike proteins of feline coronaviruses (Viruses)
Feline coronavirus and feline infectious peritonitis (J Zoo Wild Med)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV Special: Bivalent boosters with Paul Offit Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

Paul Offit returns to TWiV to discuss why the bivalent booster dosing story should be a cautionary tale of how not to move forward in this pandemic.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit

Guest: Paul Offit

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Links for this episode

Antibody responses to bivalent booster (bioRxiv)
Immunogenicity of bivalent vaccine (bioRxiv)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 962: Chiara Mingarelli takes the pulse of the universe Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

Astrophysicist Chiara Mingarelli joins TWiV to discuss her career and her work using pulse timing arrays to study the gravitational wave background, ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are caused by events such as the merging of black holes.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Angela Mingarelli

Guest: Chirara Mingarelli

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

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV
International Scientific Coordinator Position (agajewski at icsnicaragua.org for more info)
Seeing the gravitational wave universe (Science)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Angela – OpenAI Playground and Nature Milestones: T cells Chiara – The Biggest Ideas in the Universe by Sean Carroll Kathy – Recycling PVC and here and here Rich – Brome Bird Care Squirrel Buster Plus (Bonus pick: 1971 Volvo 142 Commercial – With John Cameron Swayze) Vincent – Journey to the Microcosmos

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