This Week in Virology

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TWiV 843: COVID-19 clinical update #93 with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

In COVID-19 clinical update #93, Dr. Griffin summarizes Omicron fitness, S-gene target failure, monoclonal efficacy against Omicron, vaccination, monoclonals, and disease in children, persistence of memory B cells in the elderly, infection and vaccine induced immunity, protection against severe illness and death by a third mRNA vaccine dose, high flow oxygen versus intubation, and therapeutic anticoagulation.

Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello

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Links for this episode

Variant updates (CDC)
List of diagnostic kits (Global Fund, pdf)
B1.1.529 escapes most antibodies (bioRxiv)
mRNA vaccine third dose and Omicron (medRxiv)
Outpatient strategies children and adolescents (AAP)
Memory B cells persist in elderly (J Clin Invest)
mRNA booster effect against Delta (Clin Inf Dis)
Azithromycin meta-analysis (J Antimicrob Chemo)
High-flow oxygen vs intubation (JAMA)
Therapeutic anticoagulation (Ann Int Med)
Africa cases surge (CIDRAP)
Letters read on TWiV 843
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 842: The clot thickens Dec 16, 2021

Show notes

TWiV reviews the results of serum neutralization assays which show that a third vaccine dose restores neutralization of the Omicron variant, and interaction of platelet factor 4 with the adenovirus capsid, suggesting a mechanism for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

Third vaccine dose improves Omicron neutralization (medRxiv)
ChAdOX1 interacts with PF4 (Sci Adv)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – Vaccine Scientists: Time's 2021 Heroes of the Year Kathy – Snake dietary diversity Vincent – Alfred Wegener Institute on Instagram

Listener Picks

Niclas – Once upon a time… Life

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

TWiV 841: Unmasking immunity Dec 12, 2021

Show notes

TWiV provides an update on immunity to Omicron, results of a randomized controlled trial of face masks, and a study of correlates of protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection in the upper and lower respiratory tract of nonhuman primates.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Amy Rosenfeld

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Links for this episode

Omicron escape from serum antibodies (pdf)
Pfizer/BioNTech update on Omicron (Pfizer)
Randomized trial of masking for COVID-19 (Science)
Upper and lower respiratory tract correlates of protection for RS virus (Cell Host Micr)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Cities at Night Amy – I'm an E.R. Doctor in Michigan, Where Unvaccinated People Are Filling Hospital Beds Rich – International Dark Sky Association Vincent – SARS-CoV-2 variants

Listener Picks

Keith – Ventusky

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

TWiV 840: COVID-19 clinical update #92 with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 11, 2021

Show notes

In COVID-19 clinical update #92, Dr. Griffin reviews emerging data on the Omicron variant, much information about monoclonal antibody treatment, including expansion of EUA for Lilly's cocktail, FDA EUA for pre-exposure prophylaxis, outcomes after treatment, and investigation of subcutaneous or intramuscular administration; effect of adding immunomodulatory agents to usual care on thromboembolic events, and long COVID following infection in previously vaccinated individuals.

Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello

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Links for this episode

Risk associated with Omicron (medRxiv)
Expansion of monoclonal EUA (FDA)
Neutralization of Omicron by sera (medRxiv)
Third dose sera neutralize Omicron (Pfizer)
Monoclonals authorized for PreP (FDA)
Patient outcomes after monoclonals (Open Forum Inf Dis)
Subcutaneous or intramuscular monoclonals (medRxiv)
WHO does not recommend convalescent serum (WHO)
Immunomodulation and thromboembolic risk (J Clin Med)
Long COVID after infection of vaccinated (medRxiv)
Letters read on TWiV 840
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 839: The long and the short of it: get vaccinated Dec 09, 2021

Show notes

TWiV reviews the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2, the latest information on Omicron, West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation, and why a 16 week interval between doses of BNT162b2 vaccine is better than a shorter interval.

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

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Links for this episode

Coronavirus in the US (NY Times)
Omicron variant (NY Times)
West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation (Emerg Inf Dis)
Stronger antibody response after 16 week mRNA dose (Cell Host Micr)
Higher antibody response with 7 week dosing (Clin Inf Dis)
Immune response after recovery and 1 vaccine dose (Sci Transl Med)
Booster guidance in Canada (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Kathy – CDC U-M flu report (lay version, MMWR) Rich – Thagomizer Alan – Descent into Darkness by Edward Raymer Vincent – Funding: Blinding peer review

Listener Picks

Lynne – ACE2 in chewing gum

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

TWiV 838: The magic virus bus Dec 05, 2021

Show notes

The New York City Virus Hunters join TWiV to reveal how local students engage in safe virus surveillance and conduct science research right in their neighborhoods, followed by an update on variant of concern Omicron.

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

Guests: Teresa Bautista, Isabel Francisco, Jesus Gonzales, Joel Gonzalez, Florian Krammer, and Christine Marizzi,

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Links for this episode

Biobus
Wild Bird Fund
FluLab
B1.1.529 (COVID-19-lineages)
Report on Omicron spike changes (virological)
Omicron (Wikipedia)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Plant Habitat-04 Brianne – The Coronavirus in a Tiny Drop Rich – Prophet in Purgatory by Jon Cohen Vincent – " '—All You Zombies—' " by Robert A. Heinlein (pdf)

Listener Picks

Mike – The Coronavirus in a Tiny Drop

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

TWiV 837: COVID-19 clinical update #91 with Dr. Daniel Griffin Dec 04, 2021

Show notes

In COVID-19 clinical update #91, Dr. Griffin discusses final results of molnupiravir trial, Omicron variant of concern, outcomes in B-cell depleted patients, recovery in T-cell depleted macaques, peptide for induction of T cell immunity, high respiratory viral RNA loads in infants, IgA and T cells transferred to breast milk after vaccination, sensitivity and specificity of ID NOW, post-acute sequelae at 12 months, disease in low and middle income countries.

Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello

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Links for this episode

Update on Molnupiravir results (Merck)
Omicron (Wikipedia)
P681H and IFN resistance (bioRxiv)
Synthetic DMARDS and disease severity (Ann Rheum Dis)
Recovery in T cell depleted macaques (mBio)
T-cell inducing peptide (Nature)
Respiratory viral RNA load in infants (J Inf Dis)
IgA and T cells in breast milk (Cell Rep)
ID NOW specificity and sensitivity (J Clinical Viral)
Risk prediction algorithm (Thorax)
PASC in adults at 12 months (Front Med)
Letters read on TWiV 837
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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

TWiV 836: OMG, Omicron! Dec 02, 2021

Show notes

TWiV reveals all that we know so far about the variant of concern B.1.1.529, also called Omicron, and describes a study on the ability of the alpha, beta, and delta variants to reproduce in cells in culture and induce membrane fusion.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

Omicron genome changes (Covariants)
Omicron shared changes with other variants (Covariants)
Update on Omicron (WHO)
Spike polymutant PMS20 (bioRxiv)
Syncytium formation of variants of concern (EMBO J)
Variants as super cell fusers (EMBO J)
Letters read on TWiV 836
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – Immune Kathy – Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown, discoverers of nystatin oneand two Alan – Four Lost Cities by Analee Newitz Vincent – Deadly Choices by Paul Offit

Listener Picks

Ryan – Ronny Jackson (one and two)

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

TWiV 835: Giving thanks for antibodies Nov 28, 2021

Show notes

TWiV reviews why children should be vaccinated against COVID-19, increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 Beta, Gamma, and Delta variant compared to Alpha variant in vaccinated but not recovered individuals, and immune correlates of protection from the mRNA-1273 vaccine efficacy trial.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

COVID-19 vaccines for children (Science)
Risk of infection with variants (medRxiv)
Immune correlates of mRNA-1273 (Science)
Letters read on TWiV 835
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Pee Wee Herman aka Paul Rubens Brianne – APOD: Pleiades Vincent – A History of Poliomyelitis by JR Paul

Listener Picks

Richard – Let's talk about a familiar problem and a new tactic…. Sherri – Have the New Jab

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

TWiV 834: COVID-19 clinical update #90 with Dr. Daniel Griffin Nov 27, 2021

Show notes

In COVID-19 clinical update #90, Dr. Griffin covers FDA expansion for booster doses, 3 more at home antigen tests approved by FDA, immune correlates analysis of mRNA-1273 vaccine, risk for stillbirth, PROVENT prophylaxis trial results, fluvoxamine recommendations, advice on molnupiravir, automated text messaging service for monitoring illness, and long COVID-19 after vaccination and infection.

Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello

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

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Links for this episode