

This Week in Virology
Vincent Racaniello
TWiV is a weekly netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick. Brought to you by four university professors and a science writer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 8, 2023 • 1h 48min
TWiV 973: Crouching virus, hidden triggers with Felicia Goodrum
Felicia joins TWiV to discuss her career and her research on human cytomegalovirus, which infects most of us for our entire lives yet mainly causes disease in the immunosuppressed. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker Guest: Felicia Goodrum Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode •Research assistant position at FDA (pdf) •The loss of binary (Curr Clin Micro Rep) •Virology in Peril (mBio) •Letters read on TWiV 973 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – “Leukocyte” immunology video parody Alan – West Point Removing Confederate Monuments, and Ty Seidule’s book on that subject Vincent – The works of Haruki Murakami – South of the Border, West of the Sun; also short stories (First Person Singular, particularly Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey; and Men Without Women, particularly Drive My Car) Listener Picks Karen – On All Fours: Transient Laborers, the Threat of Movement, and the Aftermath of Disease Kevin – James Hoffmann and Bald and Bankrupt Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Jan 7, 2023 • 42min
TWiV 972: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and reinfections during the Omicron wave, virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB variant derived from recombination of two Omicron subvariants, antibody evasion properties of rising SARS-CoV-2 BQ and XBB subvariants, comparative effectiveness of third doses of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines in US veterans, time to negative PCR conversion among high-risk patients with mild-to-moderate Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 COVID-19 treated by Sotrovimab or Nirmatrelvir, COVID drug Paxlovid was hailed as a game-changer, what happened?, the Fc-effector function of COVID-19 convalescent plasma contributes to SARS-CoV-2 treatment efficacy in mice, SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy, long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19, and how heart-disease risk soars after COVID — even with a mild case. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Infectiousness of breakthrough infections & reinfections during Omicron wave (Nature) Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB variant (bioRxiv) Antibody evasion properties of BQ and XBB subvariants (Cell) Comparative effectiveness of third doses of mRNA vaccines in US veterans (Nature) Time to negative PCR conversion among high-risk patients treated by Sotrovimab or Nirmatrelvir (CMI) Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA) COVID drug Paxlovid was hailed as a game-changer. What happened? (Nature) Fc-effector function of COVID-19 convalescent plasma contributes to treatment efficacy (Cell) SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy (Nature) Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19 (Nature) Heart-disease risk soars after COVID (Nature) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf) Letters read on TWiV 972 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Jan 1, 2023 • 1h 54min
TWiV 971: Another year is viral
In the first epitope of 2023, TWiV reviews our coverage of virology in 2022, including favorite story arcs, episodes, show titles, and much more. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Our favorite 2022 virology stories: •Vincent: Paul Offit on bivalent boosters (TWiV 917, 942, Special) •Dickson: Interviews with Paul Offit and Andy Slavitt •Rich: TWiV 948: Breathless with David Quammen •Kathy: TWiV 915: Mouse mouth to mouse mom •Brianne: Spillovers (TWiV 923 and 876) •Vincent: Giant viruses (TWiV 873, 906, 968) •Dickson: TWiV 960 – Getting Funky with Dan Wilson •Rich: TWiV 927: Merchlinsky vs monkeypox •Kathy: TWiV 958: Pass the RNA and have some venison pi •Brianne: TWiV 869: Epstein-Barr virus and MS, a perfect storm •Twiverse •Letters read on TWiV 968 •Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Jazz Project: Tenor saxophone: John Coltrane/Dexter Gordon/Stan Getz: John Coltrane: Signature album: Giant Steps: Signature song: Blue Train; Dexter Gordon: Signature album: The Other Side Of Round Midnight. Signature song: Round Midnight; Stan Getz (with Charlie Byrd on guitar): Signature Album: Jazz Samba; Signature song: Desafinado Brianne – A Full Circle Rainbow over Norway Kathy – Frozen soap bubbles Rich – It’s Turtles All the Way Down in the Fossil Record by Asher Elbein Vincent – Vincent’s Top Ten Music Listener Picks Charles – Wayne Bergeron and Vince DiMartino MacArthur Park Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Dec 31, 2022 • 52min
TWiV 970: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses modelling the adjustment of COVID-19 response and exit from dynamic zero-COVID in China, canine real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the context of a mass screening event, two masks can be worse than one: N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask, airflow patterns in double-occupancy patient rooms may contribute to roommate-to-roommate transmission of severe SARS-CoV-2, clinical validation of a novel T-Cell receptor sequencing assay for identification of recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages is reduced in convalescent sera, regardless of the infecting variant, VV116 versus Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir for oral treatment of Covid-19, Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir for early COVID-19 in a U.S. health system, Molnupiravir plus usual care versus usual care alone as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 at increased risk of adverse outcomes, higher dose corticosteroids in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypoxia but not requiring ventilatory support, FDA approves Roche’s Actemra (tocilizumab) for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults, structural brain changes in post-acute COVID-19 patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction, persistent post–COVID-19 smell loss is associated with immune cell infiltration and altered gene expression in olfactory epithelium, epidemiology of long COVID in US adults, persistent symptoms and sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospitalization, and outpatient treatment of Covid-19 with metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine and the development of Long Covid over 10-month follow-up. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Modeling the adjustment of COVID-19 response and exit in China (Nature) Canine real-time detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in mass screening events (BMJ) N95 respirator failure caused by an overlying face mask (ICHE) Airflow in patient rooms may contribute to transmission of severe SARS-CoV-2 (CID) Clinical validation of a T-Cell receptor for identification of recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (CID) Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (Cell) VV116 vs. Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir for oral treatment of Covid-19 (NEJM) Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir for early COVID-19 in a U.S. health system (ACP) Molnupiravir as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 (The Lancet) Higher dose corticosteroids in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with hypoxia but not requiring ventilatory support (medRxiv) FDA approves Tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized adults (Roche) Structural brain changes in post-acute COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction (Annals) Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA) Persistent post–COVID-19 smell loss association (Science) Epidemiology of long COVID in US adults (CID) Persistent symptoms & sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospitalization (OFID) Outpatient treatment of COVID-19 with metformin, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine & the development of long COVID (medRxiv) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf) Letters read on TWiV 970 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Dec 28, 2022 • 48min
TWiV 969: Carl Zimmer on COVID-19
Carl Zimmer visits the Incubator to record a wide-ranging conversation about COVID-19, including origins, vaccines, public health responses, and impact on society. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guest: Carl Zimmer Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Dec 25, 2022 • 1h 49min
TWiV 968: A spillover waiting in the wings
TWiV reviews eukaryotic viruses recovered from ancient permafrost, a mistake made by scientists on Omicron origins, and close relatives of MERS-CoV from bats that bind ACE2 for entry into cells. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV Positions with the Mosquito and Vector Control Division in Harris County Public Health (one and two) Ancient eukaryotic viruses from permafrost (bioRxiv) We made a mistake (Science) Bat MERS-like CoV bind ACE2 (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 968 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Alto Saxophone: Paul Desmond/Cannonball Adderley/Charlie Parker/Randal Despommier: Paul Desmond: Signature album: Paul Desmond:The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1961-1965). Signature song: Take Five (Dave Brubeck Quartet). Cannonball Adderley: Signature album: The Cannonball Adderley Quintet: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Signature song: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. Charlie Parker (Bird): played in many groups: Signature album: Dizzy Gillespie and His Allstars. Signature song: A Night In Tunisia; Randal Despommier: Signature album: A Midsummer Odyssey. Signature song: I Hope It’s Spring For You. Brianne – How a See-Through Frog Hides its Red Blood from Predators (also covered in The Atlantic) Rich – Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana Vincent – Unveiling skin macrophage dynamics explains both tattoo persistence and strenuous removal Listener Picks Rona – WKCR, FM 89.9 Columbia‘s radio station Alan – XKCD Proxy Variable Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Dec 24, 2022 • 51min
TWiV 967: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses how immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection, prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza coinfection and clinical characteristics among children and adolescents aged

Dec 23, 2022 • 1h 52min
TWiV 966: 1918 influenza with Jeffery Taubenberger
Vincent travels to the NIH campus to speak with Jeffery Taubenberger about his career, the 1918 influenza pandemic, deciphering the genome sequence of the virus from tissues of disease victims and using it to rescue infectious virus. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guest: Jeffery Taubenberger Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV Influenza 1918 pandemic questions answered (Sci Transl Med) Reconstructed 1918 influenza virus (Science) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Dec 18, 2022 • 1h 35min
TWiV 965: Asking Esper Kallas for some I.D.
Brazilian infectious diseases physician Esper Kallas returns to TWiV to discuss the state of viral diseases in his country, including those cause by Zika, dengue, and yellow fever viruses, MPOX, and SARS-CoV-2. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Alan Dove Guest: Esper Kallas Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support MicrobeTV with a Spike t-shirt (Vaccinated.us) with promo code MicrobeTV International Scientific Coordinator Position (agajewski at icsnicaragua.org for more info) Viral kinetics in sylvatic yellow fever (J Inf Dis) Safety and efficacy of Butanan-DV (Lancet Inf Dis) Immune responses to CoronaVac (Front Immunol) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Alan – A Voyage for Madmen Vincent – Some favorite holiday cookies: pignoli cookies and pfeffernusse Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Dec 17, 2022 • 42min
TWiV 964: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses Dr. Griffin discusses progress toward poliomyelitis eradication in Afghanistan, reduced risk for Mpox after receipt of 1 or 2 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine compared with risk among unvaccinated persons, reduced airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 Omicron virus in Syrian hamsters, authorized updated (Bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines for children down to 6 months of age, low neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine or a BA.5-bivalent booster, efficacy of antiviral agents against omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB, incidence of viral rebound after treatment with Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Molnupiravir, and the effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in the prevention of post–COVID-19 conditions. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Progress toward Poliomyelitis eradication in Afghanistan (CDC) Reduced risk for Mpox after receipt of 1 or 2 Doses of JYNNEOS vaccine (CDC) Reduced airborne transmission of BA.1 Omicron virus in Syrian hamsters (PLOS) Authorized bivalent vaccines for children down to 6 months of age (FDA) Low neutralization of BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine (Nature) Efficacy of antiviral agents against Omicron subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB (NEJM) Viral rebound after treatment with Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and Molnupiravir (JAMA) Paxlovid patient eligbiliity screening checklist (FDA) Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in prevention of post–infection conditions (ASHE) Contribute to our MicrobeTV fundraiser at PWB Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf) Letters read on TWiV 964 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv