This Week in Virology

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.

Charlie Rice, a distinguished virologist and 2020 Nobel Laureate, shares his remarkable journey in hepatitis C research. He discusses the challenges of replicating the virus in the lab, highlighting innovative techniques and breakthroughs in understanding viral pathogenesis. The conversation dives into the evolution of research strategies, the importance of public advocacy for scientific funding, and how the pandemic reshaped Nobel Prize celebrations. Rice's insights bring to light the collaborative spirit and perseverance in the field of virology.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello have a morning chat about the measles epidemic and H5N1 in cows before Dr. Griffin discusses how vaccination associates with reduced dementia risk before deep diving into recent statistics on measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, a potential new influenza antiviral drug, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 variant should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, immunization recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, 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, associaton of remesdivir administration and long-term sequelae 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 Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 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) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) The impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus infection on dairy cows (Nature) Avian flu exacts heavy financial toll on dairy industry, report says(CIDRAP) Inherited IFNAR1 deficiency in otherwise healthy patients with adverse reaction to measles and yellow fever live vaccines (Journal of Experimental Medicine) 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) Systematic review and expert consensus on the use of long-acting monoclonal antibodies for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus disease: ARMADA (Advancing RSV Management And Disease Awareness) Taskforce (OFID) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) COVID cases likely rising in half of states, CDC estimates(CBS News) Estimated COVID-19 Periodicity and Correlation with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 Antigenic Diversity, United States (Emerging Infectious Diseases) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) Estimated COVID-19 Periodicity and Correlation with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein S1 Antigenic Diversity, United States (Emerging Infectious Diseases) 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) This CDC Resignation Should Scare You (Substack: Beyond the Noise) ACIP: COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations — COVID-NET, April 2025 Update (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases)) 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 treatments for mild or moderate covid-19: systematic review and network meta-analysis (BMJ) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Paxlovid (Pfizer) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Extended nirmatrelvir–ritonavir treatment durations for immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 (EPIC-IC) (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) 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 Invivyd and Leading Researchers Form SPEAR (Spike Protein Elimination and Recovery) Study Group to Assess the Effects of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Long COVID and COVID-19 Post-Vaccination Syndrome (INVIVYD) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1236 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.

David Barton, Brian Kemp, and Olve Peersen join TWiV to discuss RNA recombination among enteroviruses and its role in foiling poliovirus eradication. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Guests: David Barton, Brian Kempf, and Olve Peersen Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Enterovirus C recombination groups (J Virol) Poliovirus polymerase L420 facilitates RNA recombination (J Virol) Picornavirus RNA recombination counteracts error catastrophe (J Virol) Extended primer grip and picornavirus RNA recombination (J Virol) 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.

Dr. Griffin tackles contentious COVID-19 vaccination debates, emphasizing myocarditis risks and evolving safety perceptions. He uncovers surprising links between vaccination and reduced dementia risk while reviewing alarming statistics on measles, RSV, and influenza. The podcast dives into new antiviral treatments and the ongoing challenges posed by emerging COVID-19 variants. Additionally, it highlights the importance of vaccination for mitigating long-term health issues and discusses crucial community health initiatives.

The hosts dive into the controversy of FDA directives on COVID vaccine safety, sparking concerns about public health. They discuss the push for open access to NIH-funded research, with implications for academic publishing. The interplay between Epstein-Barr virus and long COVID is explored, revealing genetic and immune response insights. Bats' unique antiviral responses are examined, shedding light on their immunity against zoonotic viruses. The discussion rounds off with historical vaccine ads and the evolving role of AI in scientific literature.

Dr. Daniel Griffin, a physician and infectious disease researcher, joins to share fascinating insights on vaccine safety controversies, particularly concerning thimerosal. He discusses shocking political decisions impacting COVID vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. Recent statistics on measles, RSV, and flu outbreaks are covered, along with the potential inclusion of the NB.1.8.1 variant in future vaccines. Dr. Griffin also highlights the association between long COVID and cognitive decline, emphasizing the importance of sound science in public health.