This Week in Virology

TWiV reviews the results of serum neutralization assays which show that a third vaccine dose restores neutralization of the Omicron variant, and interaction of platelet factor 4 with the adenovirus capsid, suggesting a mechanism for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Third vaccine dose improves Omicron neutralization (medRxiv) ChAdOX1 interacts with PF4 (Sci Adv) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Vaccine Scientists: Time's 2021 Heroes of the Year Kathy – Snake dietary diversity Vincent – Alfred Wegener Institute on Instagram Listener Picks Niclas – Once upon a time… Life Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV provides an update on immunity to Omicron, results of a randomized controlled trial of face masks, and a study of correlates of protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection in the upper and lower respiratory tract of nonhuman primates. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Amy Rosenfeld Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Omicron escape from serum antibodies (pdf) Pfizer/BioNTech update on Omicron (Pfizer) Randomized trial of masking for COVID-19 (Science) Upper and lower respiratory tract correlates of protection for RS virus (Cell Host Micr) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Cities at Night Amy – I'm an E.R. Doctor in Michigan, Where Unvaccinated People Are Filling Hospital Beds Rich – International Dark Sky Association Vincent – SARS-CoV-2 variants Listener Picks Keith – Ventusky Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #92, Dr. Griffin reviews emerging data on the Omicron variant, much information about monoclonal antibody treatment, including expansion of EUA for Lilly's cocktail, FDA EUA for pre-exposure prophylaxis, outcomes after treatment, and investigation of subcutaneous or intramuscular administration; effect of adding immunomodulatory agents to usual care on thromboembolic events, and long COVID following infection in previously vaccinated individuals. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Risk associated with Omicron (medRxiv) Expansion of monoclonal EUA (FDA) Neutralization of Omicron by sera (medRxiv) Third dose sera neutralize Omicron (Pfizer) Monoclonals authorized for PreP (FDA) Patient outcomes after monoclonals (Open Forum Inf Dis) Subcutaneous or intramuscular monoclonals (medRxiv) WHO does not recommend convalescent serum (WHO) Immunomodulation and thromboembolic risk (J Clin Med) Long COVID after infection of vaccinated (medRxiv) Letters read on TWiV 840 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2, the latest information on Omicron, West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation, and why a 16 week interval between doses of BNT162b2 vaccine is better than a shorter interval. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Coronavirus in the US (NY Times) Omicron variant (NY Times) West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation (Emerg Inf Dis) Stronger antibody response after 16 week mRNA dose (Cell Host Micr) Higher antibody response with 7 week dosing (Clin Inf Dis) Immune response after recovery and 1 vaccine dose (Sci Transl Med) Booster guidance in Canada (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Kathy – CDC U-M flu report (lay version, MMWR) Rich – Thagomizer Alan – Descent into Darkness by Edward Raymer Vincent – Funding: Blinding peer review Listener Picks Lynne – ACE2 in chewing gum Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

The New York City Virus Hunters join TWiV to reveal how local students engage in safe virus surveillance and conduct science research right in their neighborhoods, followed by an update on variant of concern Omicron. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Guests: Teresa Bautista, Isabel Francisco, Jesus Gonzales, Joel Gonzalez, Florian Krammer, and Christine Marizzi, Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Biobus Wild Bird Fund FluLab B1.1.529 (COVID-19-lineages) Report on Omicron spike changes (virological) Omicron (Wikipedia) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Plant Habitat-04 Brianne – The Coronavirus in a Tiny Drop Rich – Prophet in Purgatory by Jon Cohen Vincent – " '—All You Zombies—' " by Robert A. Heinlein (pdf) Listener Picks Mike – The Coronavirus in a Tiny Drop Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #91, Dr. Griffin discusses final results of molnupiravir trial, Omicron variant of concern, outcomes in B-cell depleted patients, recovery in T-cell depleted macaques, peptide for induction of T cell immunity, high respiratory viral RNA loads in infants, IgA and T cells transferred to breast milk after vaccination, sensitivity and specificity of ID NOW, post-acute sequelae at 12 months, disease in low and middle income countries. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Update on Molnupiravir results (Merck) Omicron (Wikipedia) P681H and IFN resistance (bioRxiv) Synthetic DMARDS and disease severity (Ann Rheum Dis) Recovery in T cell depleted macaques (mBio) T-cell inducing peptide (Nature) Respiratory viral RNA load in infants (J Inf Dis) IgA and T cells in breast milk (Cell Rep) ID NOW specificity and sensitivity (J Clinical Viral) Risk prediction algorithm (Thorax) PASC in adults at 12 months (Front Med) Letters read on TWiV 837 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reveals all that we know so far about the variant of concern B.1.1.529, also called Omicron, and describes a study on the ability of the alpha, beta, and delta variants to reproduce in cells in culture and induce membrane fusion. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Omicron genome changes (Covariants) Omicron shared changes with other variants (Covariants) Update on Omicron (WHO) Spike polymutant PMS20 (bioRxiv) Syncytium formation of variants of concern (EMBO J) Variants as super cell fusers (EMBO J) Letters read on TWiV 836 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Immune Kathy – Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown, discoverers of nystatin oneand two Alan – Four Lost Cities by Analee Newitz Vincent – Deadly Choices by Paul Offit Listener Picks Ryan – Ronny Jackson (one and two) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews why children should be vaccinated against COVID-19, increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 Beta, Gamma, and Delta variant compared to Alpha variant in vaccinated but not recovered individuals, and immune correlates of protection from the mRNA-1273 vaccine efficacy trial. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode COVID-19 vaccines for children (Science) Risk of infection with variants (medRxiv) Immune correlates of mRNA-1273 (Science) Letters read on TWiV 835 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Pee Wee Herman aka Paul Rubens Brianne – APOD: Pleiades Vincent – A History of Poliomyelitis by JR Paul Listener Picks Richard – Let's talk about a familiar problem and a new tactic…. Sherri – Have the New Jab Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #90, Dr. Griffin covers FDA expansion for booster doses, 3 more at home antigen tests approved by FDA, immune correlates analysis of mRNA-1273 vaccine, risk for stillbirth, PROVENT prophylaxis trial results, fluvoxamine recommendations, advice on molnupiravir, automated text messaging service for monitoring illness, and long COVID-19 after vaccination and infection. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Expanded eligibility for booster doses (FDA) More rapid antigen tests approved (FDA) Immune correlates for mRNA-1273 (Science) Risk for still birth with and without COVID-19 (MMWR) PROVENT phase III prophylaxis trial (AstraZenica) Fluvoxamine guidelines (IDSA) COVID-OUT trial (Univ Minnesota) Monoclonal antibody treatment in vaccinated infected (J Inf Dis) Steroid use in non-oxygen requiring patients (QJM) Doxycycline trial (Lancet) Efficacy of inhaled ciclesonide (JAMA) Advise on use of molnupiravir (EMA) Text messaging for monitoring disease (Ann Int Med) Long COVID after vaccination and infection (Res Square) Ivermectin for West Nile virus (Medpage Today) Letters read on TWiV 834 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews Michael Worobey's dissection of the early COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, and the discovery that herpesviruses assimilate cellular kinesin to produce motorized virus particles. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Early COVID-19 cases in Wuhan (Science) Herpesviruses assimilate kinesin (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 833 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Kathy – Power of poop Alan – Under the Sky We Make, by Kimberly Nicholas Vincent – Enzymatic amplification of beta-globing sequences Listener Picks Paula – Reasons to be Cheerful and The Night Witches by Bruce Myles Grant – George Carlin – Germs, Immune System Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv