This Week in Virology

TWiV reveals how viruses participate in the organomineralization of travertines, and how neutralizing antibodies evolve to exploit vulnerable sites in the hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E2 and mediate clearance of infection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, 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 MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) The New City by Dickson Despommier Global dengue cases rise markedly (WHO) Measles outbreak in Philadelphia (Phil Health Dept) Viruses and organomineralization of travertine (Sci Rep) Neutralizing antibodies and clearance of HCV infection (Immunity) Letters read on TWiV 1079 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Global climate highlights 2023 and 7 new songs you should hear Brianne – Stuff you should know episodes: METI and SETI Kathy – Oppenheimer "Science, Mission, Legacy" documentaries from Los Alamos Lab One Two Three and Los Alamos National Laboratory Summer 2023 National Security Science: The Oppenheimer Issue Rich – The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann Alan – Less is Morse, an educational game Vincent – Citing Misinformation, Florida Health Official Calls for Halt to Covid Vaccines Listener Picks Sonrisa – Microorganisms in Perspective Anonymous – Wow! Human Cells Vibrate With Resonant Frequency and It's Technically Audible Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent measles outbreaks, prequalification of nOPV2 by the WHO and most recent statistics on the circulation of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 virus in the US before discussing COVID-19 deaths linked to SNPs in C-reactive protein, spread of recent viral variants, how early vaccination reduced hospitalization of those infected with XBB.1.5, reviewed quarantine guidelines, how oral antivirals reduce hospitalizations, dissociation of antiviral treatment from infection rebound, and long COVID, deaths due to administration of hydroxychloroquine, muscle abnormalities and extreme fatigue in individuals with long COVID-19 and how the economics of where you live make long COVID-19 more severe. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode A national measles campaign (CDC) A nation of measles (CDC) The measles unvaccinated in NY (CNN) Philadelphia's measles story (Phila gov) January's measles outbreak (CNN) Prequalify of nOPV2 by WHO (GPEI) Did you prequalify for the novel poliovirus vaccine (CIDRAP) Respiratory disease surveillance (CDC) RSV surveillance (CDC) RSV national trend(CDC) Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC) Influenza/flu map (CDC) COVID-19 hospital admissions (CDC) COVID-19 national trend (CDC) COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot) Death rate and C-reactive protein SNPs and COVID-19 (Scientific Reports) Variant tracker (CDC) Tracking variant hospitalizations (CDC) Early vaccination against XBB.1.5 hospitalization (Eurosurveillance) Vaccination dashboard (Netherlands) Quarantine/isolation guidelines (CDC) Antiviral gap among the non-hospitalized high risk adults (CID) Oral antivirals prevent hospitalization (medRxiv) Rebound with and without oral antivirals (MMWR) Randomized rebound trials (MMWR) Know your COVID-19 tools (ESMED) The PASC-paxlovid relationship (JAMA) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma remmendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety) Fluvoxamine for COVID-19 outpatient (RMV) Death by hydroxychloroquine (Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy) Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Doxycycline for prevention of progression of COVID-19 (PLoS One) Muscle abnormalities in long COVID (Nat Comm) Discovery of persistent fatigue in long COVID-19 (Amsterdam Univ Med Crr) IMPACC study post-acute sequelae results (Nat Comm) Double course of long COVID in low income countries (Nat) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Letters read on TWiV 1078 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

Vincent travels to McGill University in Montreal, Canada to join Angela for a discussion of the careers and the research of two faculty members, Corinne Maurice and Jesse Shapiro, and their PhD trainees Anshul Sinha and Sana Naderi. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Angela Mingarelli Guests: Corinne Maurice, Jesse Shapiro, Anshul Sinha and Sana Naderi Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) The New City by Dickson Despommier Phage and colitis (Microbiome) Origins and evolution of Lassa virus (Cell) Phage replication in human gut microbiota (iScience) Phages in infant gut (ISME J) Early SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in Quebec (Genome Med) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin highlights global circulation of Mpox virus, reviews the most recent statistics on the circulation of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 virus in the US, and discusses the clinical outcome of hospitalized children under 5 years infected with SARS-CoV-2, the perinatal and neonatal outcomes including adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and virus transmission in Italy between early 2020 and 2022, the guidelines to improve home ventilation, the safety and efficacy of the oral anti-viral molnupiravir and the use of convalescent plasma as a long term treatment as well as treatment specifically for the immune compromised, the ineffectiveness of antibiotics for treating COVID-19, the association of olfactory dysfunction and the administration of corticosteroids and the safety of the RSV vaccines licensed last year. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Articles and graphs cited in TWIV CU 1076 Global mpox circulation (WHO) Mpox in the Americas and Europe (CIDRAP) Respiratory disease surveillance (CDC) RSV surveillance (CDC) RSV national trend (CDC) Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC) Influenza/flu map (CDC) COVID-19 hospital admissions (CDC) COVID-19 national trend (CDC) COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot) Vaccine-Eligible Children Under-5 Years (PIDJ) Pre-school cohort vaccination rate (CIDRAP) Perinatal transmission and neonatal outcomes (IJID) Adverse maternal and neonatal effect (dgalerts) Ventilation home improvements (CDC) Quarantine/isolation guidelines (CDC) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma remmendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety) Corticosteroids in SARS-CoV-2 Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Corticosteroids induced olfactory dysfunction (PLoS One) Convalescent Plasma Therapy: Long Term Implications (OFID) Preventing RSV infection by vaccination (MMWR) Antivirals and chronic kidney disease (CID) Early administraton of molnupiravir versus ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Lancet Infectious Diseases) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Letters read on TWiV 1076 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

For the last episode of 2023, TWiV describes how ancient chicken remains reveal the increase of fitness and virulence of Marek's disease virus, and the diversity and dissemination of Leishmania virus in the pathogenic protozoan Leishmania braziliensis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Kathy Spindler, Brianne Barker and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) The New City by Dickson Despommier Ancient chickens and Marek's disease virus (Science) Diversity and dissemination of Leishmania virus and L. braziliensis (Nat Comm) Letters read on TWiV 1074 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Addictive Mandelbrot video and Gore slams COP28 summit Angela – 10 top-trending health questions you had for Dr. Google in 2023 Brianne – Tomato lost in space has been found Kathy – Earthquakes of the 20th Century Vincent – Animator Chris Georgenes especially Tricycle animation study Listener Picks Jason – Spot-on, quick booster explainer and "Inverse" vaccine Slashdot's summary. the full article, primary research article Meika – Iceland earthquake site Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infection in pediatric communities under the age of 18 years, the treatment of infants with the human monoclonal anti-respiratory syncytial virus antibody to prevent hospitalizations, most recent statistics on the circulation of respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 virus in the US, how the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic affected school attendance and child healthcare, how exposure length influenced transmission of SARS-CoV-2, how the durability of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response to protect against virus re-infection, if administration of oral antiviral therapy affected viral rebound in either the unvaccinated or vaccinated populations, as well as a reminder of the ineffectiveness of antibiotics for treating COVID-19 and the effect of vaccination on post-COVID conditions in children between 5-17 years old. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Pediatric outcomes SARS-CoV-2, flu, RSV (JAMA Peds.) SARS-CoV-2 vs Flu (Wired) Anti-RSV antibody treatment for infants (NEJM) Respiratory disease surveillance (CDC) RSV surveillance (CDC) RSV national trend (CDC) Influenza/flu surveillance (CDC) COVID-19 hospital admissions (CDC) COVID-19 national trend (CDC) COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot) COVID-19 school attendance (JPEIDS) COVID-19 pandemic effects children health care (JPEIDS) Digitally measuring transmission (Nat) Antibody titers and re-infection (CMI) Oral antiviral and SARS-CoV-2 rebound (MMWR) Rebound after antiviral controlled trial (MMWR) Vaccination and antiviral therapy (OFID) Antivirals and hospitalization (JMV) Antivirals molnupiravir (JMV) Convalescent plasma and the immunocompromised guidelines (IDSOciety) Steroid and the cytokine storm (OFID) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Unnecessary antibiotics (NEJM) Vaccination and long COVID (OFID) RSV vaccination (MMWR) Antivirals and chronic kidney disease (CID) Early administraton of molnupiravir versus ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Lancet) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Letters read on TWiV 1074 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 explains a study showing that ost traits shape virome composition and virus transmission in wild bats, rodents, and shrews, and development of a gB nanoparticle vaccine that elicits a protective neutralizing antibody response against Epstein-Barr virus. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) The New City by Dickson Despommier Brett Lindenbach passes (Yale Medicine) Virome of small mammals (Cell) Epstein-Barr virus nanoparticle vaccine (Cell Host Micr) Letters read on TWiV 1073 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Summary of Global Climate Action at COP 28 and Notable Deaths 2023: Music Kathy – Two APODS Winter solstice, 183 Days in the Sun and the Same color illusion Vincent – The American Academy of Microbiology discusses gain-of-function research of concern (GOFROC) and enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPP) Listener Picks Gregory – Climate Change – A revised prediction – Steven Chu John – Detergent packs are kinda wishy-washy (Technology Connections) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the annual economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus in adults in the US, recombinant or standard-dose influenza vaccine in adults under 65 years of age, maternal vaccine effectiveness against influenza-associated hospitalizations and emergency department visits in iInfants, influenza positive tests reported to CDC by US clinical laboratories, update on COVID-19, risk of severe maternal morbidity associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests with self-collected vs health care worker–collected nasal and throat swab specimens, optimal timing of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment after COVID-19 symptom onset or diagnosis: target trial emulation, long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza: a cohort study, and risk of arrhythmias following COVID-19: nationwide self-controlled case series and matched cohort study. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode RSV economic burden, US (J Inf Dis) Recombinant or standard dose influenza vaccine (NEJM) Maternal vaccine effectiveness against influenza in Infants (JAMA Ped) Weekly influenza surveillance report (MMWR) COVID data tracker (hospital admissions, national trend) Risk of severe maternal morbidity associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (J Inf Dis) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests with nasal and throat swab specimens (JAMA Net Open) Optimal timing of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Nat Comm) Long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 vs influenza (Lancet) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Letters read on TWiV 1072 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

Vincent visits the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg, Germany to speak with Matthias Fischer about his career and his research on giant viruses, virophages, and their protist hosts. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guest: Matthias Fischer Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) C. roenbergensis giant virus (PNAS) Virophage at origin of large DNA transposons (Science) Host genome integration and giant virus-induced reactivation of virophage mavirus (Nature) Invasion of protist genomes by DNA viruses (PNAS) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses monkeypox and chickenpox co-infection in southern Nigeria, vaccine effectiveness against influenza A, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and breast milk, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests with self-collected vs health care worker–collected nasal and throat swab specimens, four methods for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A virus activity in schools, efficacy and safety of Baricitinib for the treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19, a synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in Hong Kong, consistent absence of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker abnormalities in patients with neurocognitive post-COVID complications, and risk of new-onset long COVID following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Monkeypox and chickenpox co-infection in southern Nigeria (JID) Vaccine effectiveness against influenza A (CID) SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers in maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and breast milk (JOP) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests with self-collected vs health care worker–collected nasal and throat swab specimens (JAMA) Four methods for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus activity in schools (JAMA) Efficacy and safety of Baricitinib for the treatment of hospitalized adults with COVID-19 (EJMR) A synbiotic preparation (SIM01) for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome in Hong Kong (The Lancet) Consistent absence of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker abnormalities in patients with neurocognitive post-COVID complications (JID) Risk of new-onset long COVID following reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 (OFID) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB 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