This Week in Virology

Stanley Plotkin joins TWiV to recount his career as a vaccinologist, having participated in the development of vaccines for polio, rabies, and rubella, and his thoughts on the current anti-science, anti-public health, and anti-vaccine climate. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Stanley A. Plotkin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Stanley Plotkin (History of Vaccines) Talking about vaccines with Dr. Plotkin (CHOP) Path to eradication of rubella (Vaccine) Status of cytomegalovirus vaccine (J Inf Dis) Human diploid cell vaccines (Dev Biol Stand) IPV an essential part of polio eradication (Clin Inf Dis) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus and Legionnaire’s disease in Harlem, the role of the American Association of Pediatrics defining immunization practices, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, effective of the high and low does influenza vaccines, association Gullian-Barre syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vaccines, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, vascular aging after COVID-19 and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Department of Public Health alerts public to rare Vibrio vulnificus bacteria in coastal waters (Mass.gov) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) Ivermectin to Control Malaria (NEJM) AAP has been leading voice on childhood vaccine recommendations since 1930s (American Academy of Pediatrics) The American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Its Own Evidence-Based Immunization Schedule (American Academy of Pediatrics) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Health Ministry says unvaccinated 18-month-old dies of measles (Times of Israel) Ten countries in the Americas report measles outbreaks in 2025 (PAHO: Pan American Health Organization) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) Relative effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccine against hospitalizations and mortality according to frailty score (JID) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) Evaluation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Among Adults 65 Years and Older (FDA) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) Evidence to Recommendations Framework (EtR): RSV Vaccination in Adults Aged 50–59 years (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biRxiV) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Paxlovid (Pfizer) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study (European Heart Journal) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1246 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV reviews fradulent science becoming an industry, FDA may not authorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids, Kennedy won’t push strict pesticide regulations conserved betacoronavirus sequences recognized by human T cells, and Bispecific antibodies protect against herpes recurrent disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Frontiers in Comparative Systems Virology Fradulent science becomes an industry (Science) FDA may not authorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids (CIDRAP) Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations (NY Times) Conserved betacoronavirus sequences recognized by human T cells (Cell) Bispecific antibodies protect against herpes recurrent disease (Cell Rep) Letters read on TWiV 1245 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – New Study Suggests Using AI Made Doctors Less Skilled at Spotting Cancer Alan – Save the Microbes effort gets off the ground Vincent – Dr. Vinay Prasad’s Catch-22: The Only Way He Can Truly Succeed at His Job is to Get Fired Again Listener Picks Chaim – “Virus Hunters” by Greer Williams Bridget – Wave Life Sciences and their potential treatment for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses Vijay Prasad’s return to the FDA, revoking of COVID vaccine authorization for young children, the Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem, the new labeling requirements for Ixchiq, the infectious attenuated Chikungunya vaccine and the importation of H5 influenza virus in Antarctica, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, guidelines for treating COVID-19, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the association of “virus rebound” and post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients, how virus infection particularly influenza and SARS-CoV-2 may ‘re-activate’ dormant cancer cells and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Prasad returns to the FDA (Washington Post) Pfizer Covid vaccine for young children may not be renewed by FDA (The Guardian) Report suggests FDA may not reauthorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids (CIDRAP) Factors Associated With Pediatric COVID-19 Mortality: A Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC) Study (Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) Recommended Pause in Use of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older While Postmarketing Safety Reports are Investigated (FDA) FDA Removes Recommended Pause in Use and Approves Required Updated Labeling (FDA) Chikungunya Vaccines (CDC: Chikungunya virus) Chikungunya in China (CDC: Travelers’ Health) Travelers’ health notices (CDC: Travelers’ Health) Areas at Risk for Chikungunya (CDC: Chikungunya virus) Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine is effective against herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and is associated with lower risk of acute myocardial infarction and stroke in adults aged ≥50 years (CID) Tracking HPAIV H5 through a geographic survey of Antarctic seabird populations (Scientific Reports) Report details first suspected H5 avian flu detections in seabirds in Antarctica(CIDRAP) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Pemivibart for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, Vilobelimab for Critical Illness, and Abatacept or Infliximab for Severe or Critical Illness (CID) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Paxlovid (Pfizer) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID and Cancer (MicrobeTV) Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs(Nature) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1244 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

The conversation dives into the implications of a controversial executive order impacting scientific funding, raising alarms about oversight and bias. mRNA vaccines are defended as lifesavers, countering misinformation surrounding their efficacy. Innovative HIV treatment lenacapavir is discussed, showcasing its potential in patient care. The podcast also reveals how COVID-19 may reactivate dormant cancer cells, posing risks for survivors. Humorous segments blend with serious discussions, making for an engaging exploration of science and health.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello re-address the dangers of drinking raw milk, the Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem and results of a vaccine knowledge survey done by emergency departments before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, reports of influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy or neuropsychiatric events in children, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the effectiveness of Pfizer and MODERNA vaccines against the JN.1 variant, risk of children developing severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the association of “virus rebound” and post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients, effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against long COVID, predictors for distinct COVID-19 sequelae including immune disturbances and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Florida Department of Health Provides Update on Raw Milk(Florida Health) Raw milk linked to 21 E coli, Campylobacter infections in Florida (CIDRAP) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) NYC health officials report Harlem Legionnaires’ outbreak(CIDRAP) Emergency Department Survey of Vaccination Knowledge, Vaccination Coverage, and Willingness to Receive Vaccines in an Emergency Department Among Underserved Populations  (CDC: MMWR) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in US Children (JAMA) Influenza With and Without Oseltamivir Treatment and Neuropsychiatric Events Among Children and Adolescents(JAMA Neurology) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV) Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 JN.1-adapted vaccines against COVID-19-associated hospitalisation and death: a Danish, nationwide, register-based, cohort study (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) Hospitalization for COVID-19 and Risk Factors for Severe Disease Among Children: 2022–2024 (Pediatrics) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Metformin and Time to Sustained Recovery in Adults With COVID-19 (JAMA Internal Medicine) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Paxlovid (Pfizer) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 rebound and post-acute mortality and hospitalization among patients admitted with COVID-19(Nature Communications) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against post COVID-19 condition/long COVID (CMI: Clinical Microbiology and Infection) Precision Symptom Phenotyping Identifies Early Clinical and Proteomic Predictors of Distinct COVID-19 Sequelae (JID) Systemic and SARS-CoV-2 specific Immune Disturbances in Individuals With Post–COVID Syndrome (JID) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1242 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

The discussion kicks off with concerns about NIH funding and its effects on health research. A classic experiment on DNA replication using heavy isotopes showcases the elegance of scientific discovery. The hosts dive into the fascinating world of jumbo phages, revealing their unique DNA delivery mechanisms. Insights into microscopy techniques highlight how cellular components can be visualized in 3D. The psychological benefits of nature and its impact on science communication add an inspiring touch to the conversation.

In a clinical update, recent Salmonella typhimurium outbreaks linked to raw milk raise food safety concerns, especially for children. Dr. Griffin discusses vaccine trust issues amid political changes, including the appointment of a new CDC director. The podcast also dives into important stats about RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 infections. Notably, it explores long COVID challenges, highlighting cardiac issues linked to previous infections and the role of vaccines in public health advocacy. This episode is packed with vital insights on health, safety, and biomedical research.

The discussion dives into a robust Danish study revealing no link between aluminum in vaccines and chronic diseases in children. It further unpacks the complexities of antibody responses from COVID-19 vaccines, emphasizing the differentiation between mRNA and protein-based designs. The hosts explore immunodominance and the need to enhance vaccine responses while tackling public skepticism fueled by misinformation. In a lighter segment, they reflect on finding their podcast on IMDB and share engaging educational tools from recent conferences.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about how flies and milk-snatching might contribute to influenza virus H5N1 among dairy cattle, the recent pertussis oubreak and measles epidemic before Dr. Griffin discusses monoclonal antibody therapy can enrich for RSV variants before deep diving into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the effectiveness of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, how mast cell activation can enhance long COVID and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Flies, ‘milk snatching’ among H5N1 transmission contributors in dairy cattle(CIDRAP) H5N1 virus invades the mammary glands of dairy cattle through “mouth-to-teat” transmission (NSR: National Science Review) Mississippi warns of steep increase in pertussis cases (CIDRAP) MSDH Issues Pertussis Alert (Mississippi State Department of Health) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Respiratory Syncytial virus Strain Evolution and Mutations in Western Australia in the Context of Nirsevimab Prophylaxis (OFID) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biRxiV) Real-world Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine Against Symptomatic COVID-19 in an Omicron-Dominant Setting in Mozambique (CID) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Paxlovid (Pfizer) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Mast cell activation symptoms are prevalent in Long-COVID (International Journal of Infectious Diseases) Using the Right Criteria for MCAS (Current Allergy and Asthma Reports) Utility of glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor agonists in mast cell activation syndrome (The American Journal of the Medical Sciences) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1238 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.