This Week in Virology

TWiV reviews continuing expansion of poliovirus type 2, removal of influenza B/Yamagata from the vaccine, Nobel Prize for miRNAs, protective immune response with a adenovirus-associated virus vector expressing a computationally designed hemagglutinin, and viral gene drive during herpes simplex 1 infection in mice. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Continued expansion of type 2 poliovirus (reliefweb) No more polio case map at polioeradication.org B/Yamagata removed from flu vaccine (NPR) Nobel Prizes for miRNA (ScienceInsider) AAV-vectored influenza vaccine (J Virol) Herpesvirus type 1 gene drive in mice (Nat Commun) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Virus and Vaccines Information Page from NIH All of Us Research Program Kathy – For a Pivotal Vaccine: Trial, Error and Two Young Lives Rich – October 17 2024 APOD: The Clipper and the Comet Alan – Opening a deep-sea vent with a crowbar Vincent – The expanding world of neuroscience Listener Pick Jason – Solar eclipse on Mars and Polaris Program and their Harmony of Resilience Ryan – New York’s childhood vaccine coverage remains high 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. Daniel Griffin, an expert in infectious diseases, shares crucial insights on the mpox outbreak, reporting over 1,100 deaths this year, especially affecting young girls. He discusses the alarming Marburg virus situation in Rwanda and updates on CDC vaccine recommendations for RSV and pneumonia. As influenza season approaches, Griffin highlights COVID-19 transmission risks indoors and the importance of vaccines for older adults. He also connects the dots between Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and long COVID symptoms, urging attention to overlapping health issues.

Vincent travels to the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm to meet up with Niklas Björkström and Joakim Dillner to review their research on the endometrial immune system, and the plan to eliminate cervical cancer in Sweden. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Niklas Björkström and Joakim Dillner Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Endometrial immune system variation (Sci Immunol) Immune defense in the womb (News from Karolinska) HPV vaccination and screening for elimination (Nat Comm) Cervical cancer elimination strategies (Int J Cancer) Timestamps by Jolene. 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 informs us about mpox circulation and new vaccine approval, the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, and the largest outbreak of whooping cough in a decade before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, immunity among those over 65th following the 3rd dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, how well the SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test performed, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the effect of remdesivir on survival and readmission of hospitalized patients, if cognitive impairment following virus infection impairs one’s driving and how long COVID affects Chinese society. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Undiagnosed MPXV infections are high in men who have sex with men (BMC Infectious Diseases) WHO, now a vaccine approval agency, Jynneos for teens  (CIDRAP) Mpox outbreak global trends (WHO) How to stop Marburg virus (Rwanda Biomedical Centre) Marburg virus fact sheet (Rwanda Biomedical Centre) Largest whooping cough outbreak in US in a decade (NPR) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Insurance relates to effectiveness and waning of immunity following 3rd dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine? (JID) New preventive COVID-19 agent (ISDA) IDSA Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19 (IDSA) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) How well do you test: performance of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid detection test (eBioMedicine) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) When your healthcare provider is infected/exposed with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Remdesivir-associated survival outcomes among immunocompromised patients (CID) Remdesivir Effectiveness in Reducing the Risk of 30-day Readmission in Vulnerable Patients (CID) Measurement of circulating viral antigens post-SARS-CoV-2 infection (CMI: Clinical Microbiology and Infection) DUCI: driving under cognitive influence of COVID-19 (Neurology) Long COVID facts and findings: (LANCET: Regional Health Western Pacific) Letters read on TWiV 1158 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, cryo-EM based discovery of a parvovirus causing black wasting disease in farmed beetles, and a mosaic nanoparticle experimental vaccine that elicits cross-reactive sarbecovirus responses in pre-vaccinated animals. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Marburg virus disease, Rwanda (WHO) Suspected German Marburg case tests negative (Politico) Cryo-EM discovery of insect parvovirus (Cell) Mosaic sarbecovirus nanoparticle experimental vaccine (Cell) Letters read on TWiV 1157 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – ASM Lesson Plans Alan – A City on Mars, and this blog by a ham radio operator hit by Hurricane Helene Vincent – How to Win A Nobel Prize Listener Pick Laura – Science of Public Communication (original article) 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. Daniel Griffin, an expert in infectious diseases, shares vital clinical updates on several viral threats. He discusses the ongoing polio vaccination campaign in Gaza and the promising results from GSK’s RSV vaccine trials. The conversation covers the urgent situations concerning mpox infections in Ugandan jails and the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda. Additionally, Griffin reviews COVID-19 statistics, including risks associated with heart attacks and strokes, and the efficacy of different vaccine platforms.

TWiV reviews mask effectiveness against respiratory infections, EEE death in NY State, viruses with zoonotic potential in farmed fur animals, and genetic tracing of market wild life and viruses at the Huanan Seafood Market, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Review confirms mask effectiveness (original article) EEE death in Ulster County NY (CBS News) EEE on TWiV 1145 Viruses of farmed fur animals (Nature) Tracing of wildlife and viruses at COVID-19 epicenter (Cell) Letters read on TWiV 1155 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Rich – Immunize.org, Vaccineinformation.org, National Network of Immunization Coalitions Alan – Birdcast Vincent – A universal framework for inclusive 15-minute cities 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 discusses the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, the lack of immune durability following pertussis vaccination, recommendations for maternal vaccination and antibody therapy to protect against infant RSV, vaccine security for Mpox, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how to put on and take off PPE to avoid contamination, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the lack of immune durability elicited by mRNA vaccine and the finding of how SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts memory, cognition and reduces grey matter volume. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Rwanda: Marburg virus disease (WHO) Passport required?…..Marburg virus commutes to Germany (CIDRAP) Outbreak of whooping cough/pertussis…..no lifelong immunity following vaccination? (Bloomberg Protection of infants by maternal antibodies against RSV by either vaccination or nirsevimab (MMWR) WHO recommendations for RSV: maternal vaccination and antibody shot  (Reuters) Ziresovir for RSV hospitalized infants (NEJM) Crawling to effective anti-RSV countermeasures (NEJM) The $800 million pledge for African mpox response (Reuters) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Doffing your PPE– contact precautions (CID) mRNA vaccination does not elicit durable immune response (Nature Medicine) IDSA Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19 (IDSA) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) When your healthcare provider is infected/exposed with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Mechanisms of long COVID and therapeutics (Cell) Post hospitalization cognitive deficits and grey matter reduction 1 year after COVID-19 (Nature Medicine) Letters read on TWiV 1154 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

In this conversation, Krystyna Dabrowska and Rob Lavigne, experts in bacteriophage research, delve into innovative therapies for bacterial infections. They share personal journeys that led to their passion for phage therapy. The duo discusses how phages interact with the immune system and the challenges of clinical trials in personalized medicine. They also highlight exciting agricultural applications of phage therapy and the potential to enhance efficacy against bacterial pathogens, offering a glimpse into the future of infection treatment.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin deep dives into the durability of the antibody response following mpox vaccination, vaccine security, global mpox circulation, the origins of SARS-CoV-2, including a list TWiV episodes and combatting scientific misinformation, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, if remdesivir + dexamethasone lowers mortality of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the finding of how SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts memory and cognition. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Waning vaccine protection against mpox…..isn’t this the way the humoral immune response works? (CIDRAP) 1:46 Uncontrollable mpox outbreak in Africa  (Reuters) 4:10 Antibodies elicited by the Jynneos vaccine against mpox contract after 6-9 months….can you believe? (medrxiv) 4:45 Mpox vaccine for adolescents approved (Pharmaceutical Technology) 14:05 Clade 1b mpox visiting India (CIDRAP) 15:05 Mpox clade 1b in Kerala (ANI South Asia’s Leading Multimedia News Agency) 15:13 US government orders $63M worth of small pox/mpox vaccine (Reuters) 15:34 Mpox donations boosting global supply (US Department of Health and Human Services) 1 million mpox vaccine doses for Africa….with love from US government (CIDRAP) 15:55 Speed doses of mpox vaccine (CIDRAP) Mpox vaccine donations (UNICEF) 17:35 Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine (Yahoo finances) Early epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic Huanan seafood market (Science) 23:07 Wildlife trade likely source of SARS-CoV-2 (Science) 23:16 Zoonotic origins of SARS-CoV-2 (Science) 23:20 Surveillance at the Huanan Seafood market (Europe PMC) 25:03 TWiV shout outs…..all for the SARS-CoV-2 spill over from nature 25:31 TWiV 1019: Eddie Holmes on SARS-CoV-2 origins TWiV 1017: From Nature, not a lab TWiV 995: Viral origin stories TWiV 940: Eddie Holmes in on viral origins TWiV 876: Spillover market with Michael Worobey TWiV 762: SARS-CoV-2 origins with Robert Garry TWiV 760: SARS-CoV-2 origins with Peter Daszak, Thea Kølsen Fischer, Marion Koopmans TWiV 774: Kristian Andersen, Robert Garry, and the deleted SARS-CoV-2 sequences Genetic tracing of market wildlife and viruses at Huanan Market (Cell) 18:56 Combatting scientific misinformation (microbeTV: TWiV) 34:14 COVID-19 deaths (CDC) 35:20 COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Suggestion for the use of a new preventive COVID-19 agent (IDSA) IDSA Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients with COVID-19 (IDSA) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Molnupiravir outcomes 3 and 6 months after treatment (LANCET Infectious Diseases) Antivirals and post-COVID-19 conditions (LANCET Infectious Disease) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) When your healthcare provider is infected/exposed with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Lower mortality risk associated with remdesivir + dexamethasone versus dexamethasone for hospitalized COVID-19 patients (CID) 39:17 Changes in memory and cognition during the SARS-CoV-2 human challenge study (eClinical Medicine) 42:25 Letters read on TWiV 1152 48:18 Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv