Ron Fouchier explains why increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2-variants has not been demonstrated, and their ability to displace ancestral variants is due to greater fitness, much like influenza virus antigenic variation leads to better fitness and replacement of previously circulating variants.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

Guest: Ron Fouchier

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Ron Fouchier on TWiV 177, 291, 557
Mutations driving H5N1 airborne transmission in ferrets (Cell)
SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 transmission among ferrets (Nat Comm)
Avian influenza virus transmission among seals (Cell Host Micr)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

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TWiV 777: SARS-CoV-2 fitness with Ron Fouchier