This Week in Virology

Discover how SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines may enhance cancer treatment outcomes and prolong survival for patients receiving immunotherapy. The discussion delves into the mechanism of immune checkpoint inhibitors and the promising findings from recent studies. Learn how mRNA vaccines can reactivate cold tumors, offering new hope for treatment strategies. Additionally, explore how antigenic cartography could shape future influenza vaccines and pandemic preparedness while featuring unique listener anecdotes and valuable health insights.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are distressed by the continuing government shutdown, first locally acquired chikungunya virus infection, President Trump’s suggestion for removing aluminum from vaccines, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and turkey farms, and the suggestion of establishing an alternative to the CDC’s MMWR and asymptomatic measles infections before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the quarantining in the US due to measles, access to anti-influenza antiviral, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, can you be retreated with Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, if colchicine is effective for 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 New York health officials confirm state’s first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus (AP News) Trump Rattles Vaccine Experts Over Aluminum (NY Times) Aluminum-Adsorbed Vaccines and Chronic Diseases in Childhood (Annals of Internal Medicine) Three large turkey farms in Minnesota hit with H5N1 avian flu (CIDRAP) Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Jeffrey Lee McLean (California.No) California mpox cases raise concerns. But health officials say the risk remains low (AP News) ‘Alternative’ to CDC’s Flagship Journal in the Works (MEDPAGE TODAY) Measles without rash during acute febrile illness surveillance in Tanzania, 2023-2024 (CID) Frustration grows amid measles outbreak quarantines across several states (NBC News) More Than 100 Cases of Measles Reported in Utah and Arizona (NY Times) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) 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 recommendations from NYP (jpg) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) 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) ACIP Recommendations Summary (CDC: Influenza) American Academy of Pediatrics Flu and Children (CDC: Influenza (flu)) Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA) Roche to sell flu pill for $50 to cash-paying US patients (Reuters) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) 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) Efficacy and safety of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines (Cochrane Library) Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness for Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Related Acute Respiratory Illness in Older Adults (CID) 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) 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) Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro) Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS) 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) 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 Colchicine for the Treatment of Long COVID(JAMA Internal Medicine) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1264 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 ongoing measles outbreak in the US raises public health concerns, fueled by vaccination gaps. Experts discuss the need for a hepatitis C vaccine and delve into how genetic variations impact antibody responses. A study links varicella zoster reactivation to increased dementia risk, suggesting that vaccination can significantly reduce this risk, especially in older adults and women. Hosts highlight innovative uses of AI in bioinformatics and share fun recommendations, including a live reef camera and neck pain relief exercises.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are dismayed by the government shutdown, the firings at the CDC including EIS agents, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and its stability in raw milk and cheese, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the quarantining of college students in the US due to measles, Japan’s declaration of a national influenza outbreak, effectiveness of the influenza and COVID vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, can you be retreated with Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, results from PLATCOV studies- still no antiviral activity attributed to ivermectin, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, long COVID in pediatrics, patient reported outcomes from the STOP-PASC clinical trial, contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research and the listener reminder that measles vaccine in those with interferonopathy may result in severe adverse affects. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials (NY Times) CDC walks back hundreds of firings as US shutdown persists (Yahoo News/ Reuters) CDC battered by government shutdown firings, while some are rescinded (STAT 10) Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Flurry of H5N1 activity noted in commercial poultry, wild birds(CIDRAP) H5N1 influenza virus stability and transmission risk in raw milk and cheese(Nature Medicine) Hundreds of U.S. students quarantined amid measles outbreaks (NBC News) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) 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) Japan sees early flu activity, with school closures(CIDRAP) Japan Declares Nationwide Flu Outbreak Following Early Surge in Cases (insightscare) ACIP Recommendations Summary (CDC: Influenza) American Academy of Pediatrics Flu and Children (CDC: Influenza (flu)) Effectiveness of influenza vaccination to prevent severe disease (CMI: Clinical Microbiology and Infection) Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) 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) Efficacy and safety of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines (Cochrane Library) 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 NVX-CoV2373 and BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccination in South Korean Adolescents (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal) Trump gets Covid vaccine and flu shot during second checkup of the year (NBC News) 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) Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro) Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS) Pharmacometrics of high-dose ivermectin in early COVID-19 from an open label, randomized, controlled adaptive platform trial (PLATCOV)(eLife) Antiviral efficacy of oral ensitrelvir versus oral ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in COVID-19 (PLATCOV) (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) 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) 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 Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Symptoms in Adults With Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (JAMA Internal Medicine) Longitudinal patient-reported outcome trajectories in Long COVID: Findings from the STOP-PASC Clinical Trial (OFID) Reaching out to US house representative Severe Adverse Reaction to Measles Vaccine Due to Homozygous Mutation in the IFNAR2 Gene: A Case Report and Literature Review (Journal of Clinical Immunology) Letters read on TWiV 1262 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.

This week delves into groundbreaking science, starting with Jason McLellan's prestigious MacArthur Award. Discover the latest in Huntington's disease treatment, showcasing promising gene therapy trials. The hosts unpack the intricate structure of an archaeal virus, uncovering its potential evolutionary links. Additionally, a newly identified Legionella phage reveals fascinating insights into human disease. They also touch on light-hearted listener emails and share intriguing picks of the week, including the last female Great Auk specimen.

Dr. Daniel Griffin, an infectious diseases clinician and regular contributor, dives into pressing health topics. He discusses Jane Goodall’s legacy, the Nobel Prize discoveries on immune regulation, and the current measles epidemic affecting pregnant women. Griffin also highlights recent findings on COVID-19's impact on pregnancies and vascular dementia risk. In addition, he delves into the effectiveness of a two-dose influenza vaccine for young children and addresses long COVID in pediatrics, calling for urgent support for medical research.

Explore the intriguing world of avian H5N1 influenza as hosts discuss its transmission in goats and the implications for public health. Discover the cellular receptor identified for tick-borne encephalitis virus, revealing new insights into viral entry mechanisms. The show also touches on public trust in science and the recent culling of H5N1-infected ostriches in Canada. Plus, listen to unique listener letters addressing vaccine policy, measles outbreaks, and study picks about cosmic discoveries!

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC, increases in screwworm diagnoses, a pertussis death in Mississippi before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, monoclonal antibody therapy against RSV, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, olfactory dysfunction following SARS-CoV-2 infection 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 Ebola Disease (WHO: African Region) Mexico sees 32% jump in flesh-eating screwworm cases since August as cases move north (Reuters) Pediatric Pertussis Death Reported (Mississippi State Department of Health) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) 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)) 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: cliff notes (CDC FluView) Influenza-Associated Pediatric Deaths — United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season (CDC: MMWR) ACIP Recommendations Summary (CDC: Influenza) Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Nirsevimab Administration and RSV Hospitalization in the 2024-2025 Season (JAMA: Open Network) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) 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) Efficacy and safety of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines (Cochrane Library) 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) 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) 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) 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 Olfactory Dysfunction After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the RECOVER Adult Cohort (JAMA: Open Network) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1258 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.

Elke Wollants, a lab manager at KU Leuven with expertise in wastewater surveillance, discusses her innovative study on analyzing airplane toilet waste for viruses. She details the logistics of collecting samples from high-risk flights, particularly from Beijing to Brussels, and reveals that about 60% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Beyond COVID-19, they explored other pathogens, including norovirus and bacteria. Looking ahead, Elke shares plans for enhanced surveillance techniques and the potential to detect various serious viruses, contributing significantly to public health.

Explore groundbreaking experiments creating genetically modified chickens that resist avian influenza using CRISPR technology. The hosts discuss how these edits impact viral shedding and the risks of viral escape mutations. Transitioning to HTLV-1, they unveil innovative therapies that show promise in eradicating the virus in humanized mice. The risks and history of emerging pathogens meet the excitement of scientific advancement in this engaging and informative discussion.