This Week in Virology

In this lively discussion, Aaron Schmidt, head of Harvard's virology program, shares his insights on using protein engineering to modulate immune responses against viruses like influenza. Tatum Sass reflects on her CAR T cell advancements, while Ben Gewurz unpacks the complexities of Epstein-Barr virus and its ties to health issues. They emphasize resilience in research and the need for clear science communication, all set against the backdrop of the Harvard virology retreat, which celebrates collaboration and the importance of mentorship in shaping future scientists.

This week, Dr. Griffin dives into a Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem and the emergence of the invasive longhorned tick. The discussion also touches on a potential Ebola outbreak in the Congo. Florida's decision to end childhood vaccine mandates raises eyebrows amid rising measles cases. The conversation then shifts to COVID-19, highlighting effective treatments like Paxlovid and the importance of vaccination. Long COVID research is gaining traction, with new clinical studies underway and a push for answers and support for affected individuals.

TWiV re-issues our 100th episode which featured a discussion of viruses with David Baltimore, an exemplary scientist and Vincent’s exemplary mentor, who passed on 6 September 2025. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Guest: David Baltimore Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV David’s early papers on poliovirus and mengovirus RNA synthesis Reverse transcriptase found by Baltimore and Temin (pdfs) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1975 The David Baltimore asteroid belt 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.

TWiV reviews a study showing that the 2009 influenza pandemic virus disrupted biennial respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in northern Stockholm, and development of broad-spectrum synthetic carbohydrate receptors that inhibit viral entry of coronaviruses, filoviruses, and paramyxoviruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Florida will end all state vaccine mandates (Reuters) New West Coast Health Alliance (Gov Newsome) COVID vaccines to be more accessible in NY State (CBSNews) Colorado makes COVID vaccines accessible (Denver Post) Massachusetts makes COVID vaccines accessible (Boston dot com) Viral interference disrupts RSV biennial pattern (Nat Comm) Broad-spectrum antiviral carbohydrate receptors (Science Adv) Pedantry about ‘in cellulo‘ (Protocol Online) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Angela – Revolutionary Bee “Superfood” Could Save Collapsing Colonies (U Oxford) Kathy – Margaret W. Rossiter, Who Discovered Women of Science, Dies at 81 Rich – Scientists track humpback whale migration with help from AI (Happywhale) Alan – You’re probably using the wrong dictionary (Alan’s first work of fiction) Vincent – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in a Child with No Known Exposure 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 is shocked by COVID vaccine restrictions and uncertainties such as pharmacy stock, the ACIP meeting roster and whether it guidance is legal, 3 new ACIP members all anti-vaccine, ending of childhood vaccine mandates in Florida, the continued Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem, 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, cardia benefits of the influenza vaccine, presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk following vaccination, the use of antiviral nasal sprays to treat 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, 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 Can You Still Get the Covid Shot? (NY Times) Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Federal Register) Cassidy Calls for Vaccine Committee Meeting to be Postponed Following CDC Departures(US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Catherine Stein (Brownstone Institute) CIP to review COVID, hep B, and MMRV vaccine recommendations at September meeting (CIDRAP) Kennedy plans to add new members to an influential vaccine advisory panel. (NY Times) Patricia Mazzei (NY Times) The Steep Cost of Ron DeSantis’s Vaccine Turnabout (NY Times) Florida Moves to End Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren(NY Times) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem(NYC 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)) 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) Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2025–26 Influenza Season (CDC: MMWR) ACIP Recommendations Summary (CDC: Influenza (Flu)) Flu vaccines show benefits for the heart in new studies (CIDRAP) Risk of Myocarditis or Pericarditis With High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine (JAMA: OPEN) High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older Adults (JAMA: Cardiology) Influenza vaccination to improve outcomes for patients with acute heart failure (PANDA II) (LANCET) Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immunization Coverage Among Infants Through Receipt of Nirsevimab Monoclonal Antibody or Maternal Vaccination (CDC: MMWR) 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) 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) SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Elicited Antibody Responses in Human Milk (Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society) Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial (CID) Azelastine Nasal Spray for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infections (JAMA Internal Medicine) 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) Effect of Metformin on the Risk of Post-coronavirus Disease 2019 Condition Among Individuals With Overweight or Obese (CID) 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 Reaching out to US house representative Florida moves to kill vaccine mandates; state surgeon general slams them as ‘slavery’ (Herald-Tribune) Letters read on TWiV 1250 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 the major shakeup in CDC leadership, herpes simplex virus infection doubles the risk of dementia, and the prototypic crAssphage is a linear phage-plasmid. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Brianne Barker, and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV CDC director ousted? (CNN) Herpes simplex infection doubles risk of dementia (J Alzheimers Res) Fishing for viruses in senile (TWiV 519) Epstein-Barr virus and MS (TWiV 869) Taking a shot at dementia (TWiV 1207) crAssphage is linear phage-plasmid (Cell Host Microbe) Crassvirales (MDPI) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Research posts on Bluesky are more original — and get better engagement Rich – Rabbits With Hornlike Growths Are Hopping Around Colorado. Are They OK? (Wiki on Shope papilloma virus) Jolene – Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM Vincent – What Makes This Song Great? “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana Listener Picks Lori – Tolga bat hospital Emmett – An author recommendation: Peter Watts 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 are dismayed about the recent attack on public health the firing of the director of the CDC as well as resignation of 3 others members of the agency’s leadership, the continued Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem, suspension of Ixchiq the Chikungunya virus attenuated infectious vaccine, the first US case of New World screwworm 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, association Guillian-Barré 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, the American College Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations for the COVID, RSV and influenza vaccines, FDA approval letters for Pfizer, moderna and Novagax COVID vaccines including label changes for use in those between 5 through 64 years, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, 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 White House Says New C.D.C. Director Is Fired, but She Refuses to Leave (NY Times) CDC director refuses to leave after White House order (BBC) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem(NYC Health) New York City Health Department Provides Update on Community Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease in Central Harlem(NYC Health: Promoting and protecting the City’s health) FDA Update on the Safety of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) (FDA) Vimkunya (Bavarian Nordiac) U.S. and Panama for the control of the Screwworm pest (COPEG) Rare human case of flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm identified in US(CNN) USDA Announces Sweeping Plans to Protect the United States from New World Screwworm (USDA) HHS details New World screwworm response after human case(CIDRAP) 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 (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) 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 (bioRxiV) Veering from CDC, ACOG recommends maternal vaccination against COVID-19 (CIDRAP) ACOG Releases Updated Maternal Immunization Guidance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV (American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists) COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric–Gynecologic Care (American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists) Pfizer and BioNTech’s COMIRNATY® Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Adults 65 and Older and Individuals Ages 5 through 64 at Increased Risk for Severe COVID-19 (Pfizer)  COMIRNATY approval letter (FDA) Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Targeting LP.8.1 Variant of SARS-CoV-2 (FEEDS) SPIKEVAX approval letter (FDA) Novavax’s Nuvaxovid 2025-2026 Formula COVID-19 Vaccine Approved in the U.S (Novavax) NUVAXOVID approval letter (FDA) 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 Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1248 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.

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.