This Week in Virology

Forest and Maria-Isabel join TWiV to discuss their their project to engage thousands of citizens to swab inanimate surfaces in the San Diego area, then send the samples to the Rohwer Lab for nucleic acid analysis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Forest on TWiV 391 Swabbing surfaces in San Diego (10News) Nido21 meeting Molnupiravir in phase 2a (Fierce Biotech) Letters read on TWiV 732 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – 10 amazing science tricks with liquids Brianne – How Do Blind Worms See the Color Blue? Rich – Statewide Study Shows Evidence Of Significant COVID-19 Antibodies In Children Kathy – Dark side of the moon as it crosses Earth Vincent – Wasdkeyboards and Novelkeys Listener Pick Bronwen – COVID Performance Index Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

On a TWiV tetramer, we review the ongoing outbreaks of Ebolavirus disease in DRC and Guinea, evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infections in children are far more prevalent than are being detected, and recent long COVID estimates from the UK. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Ebolavirus disease outbreak continues in Africa (ProMedMail) List of Ebolavirus outbreaks (Wikipedia) Ebolavirus genome sequences from Guinea (virological) Bias in reporting on childhood SARS-CoV-2 infections (Clinical Inf Dis) Estimated SARS-CoV-2 prevalence (MMWR) Estimated burden of SARS-CoV-2 by age group (CDC) UK long COVID estimates (pdf) Space Shuttle fly-by Vincent's office (YouTube) Letters read on TWiV 731 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Who Would Kidnap a Space Telescope? Alan – Radio Garden Rich – Countries with more obesity have had more covid deaths on average Vincent – Concord Aerospace Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #53, Daniel Griffin reviews underreporting of infections and long term disease in children, a blood test for T cells, results of phase 3 trials for monoclonal antibodies, preliminary findings on an oral antiviral, clinical trial of ivermectin, and recommendations for upcoming gatherings. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in EUA for T cell test (FDA) Lilly mAb phase 3 results (Lilly) VIR-7831 mAb phase 3 results (Globenewswire) Molnupiravir phase 2a results (Merck) Ivermectin not supported for mild COVID-19 (JAMA) Recommendations for fully vaccinated people (CDC) Letters read on TWiV 730 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Matt Frieman returns to TWiV to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic from the point of view of a coronavirologist, including his work with Novavax on their spike protein-based vaccine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Guest: Matt Frieman Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Phase 1-2 trial of Novavax protein vaccine (NEJM) MERS-CoV spike nanoparticle vaccine in mice (Vaccine) Novavax phase 3 press release When you've been fully vaccinated (CDC) Letters read on TWiV 729 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Covid-19 deaths per million ranked by average income Brianne – KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor for Feb 2021 and KFF COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Dashboard Rich – The Woman Who Stood Between America and a Generation of 'Thalidomide Babies'(wiki) Kathy – Quadrantid meteor (Quadrantids) Vincent – Higher Superstition by Paul Gross and Norman Levitt Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV notes the passing of Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, and reviews data on maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks, SARS-CoV-2 total and subgenomic viral load in hospitalized patients, and effect of changes in spike protein on efficacy in a mouse model of infection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Mavis Agbandje-McKenna dies (UF) Mavis on TWiV 448 Maximizing mask fit (MMWR) Genomic and subgenomic RNA in COVID-19 patients (medRxiv) Effect of spike changes on protection of mice (mBio) Letters read on TWiV 728 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Wild animal photos Brianne – Greater than COVID Alan – WHO report on infodemic response Rich – Reference Guide to the International Space Station Vincent – 3D Molecular Designs Listener Picks Lisbeth – Have the new jab Karen – Cholera exhibit at Museum of Trades and Crafts Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #52, Daniel Griffin reviews differences in attack rates between children and adults, J&J vaccine phase III data, G6PD deficiency and vaccines, NIH halts convalescent plasma trial, dexamethasone in hospitalized patients, data on tocilizumab, and long COVID in children. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 attack rates in children and adults (Clin Inf Dis) Documents for J&J COVID-19 vaccine review (FDA) Convalescent plasma and clinical outcomes (JAMA) NIH halts convalescent plasma trial (NIH) Dexamethasone in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (NEJM) Tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (NEJM) Update on long COVID prevalence (UK ONS) Letters read on TWiV 727 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Janet Iwasa joins TWiV to recount how she became a molecular animator, including a pivot during her Ph.D. thesis research, the value of animations in science, and their latest animation of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Brianne Barker and Kathy Spindler Guest: Janet Iwasa Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode The Animation Lab SARS-CoV-2 animation Documents for J&J COVID-19 vaccine review (FDA) Phase III data (pdf) Slide presentation of data (pdf) Addendum (pdf) Summary of v-Safe data (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – How T cells see SARS-CoV2 Rich – Ice bubbles in Lago Bianco, Switzerland Kathy – Music in COVID-19 control tents Vincent – Perseverance runs on processors used in 1990s iMacs Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Eva Harris and Janet Smith join TWiV to discuss how an antibody against dengue virus NS1 protein blocks endothelial dysfunction and the potential of treating infections by multiple flaviviruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Eva Harris and Janet Smith Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Eva Harris on TWiV 228 Zika virus in Nicaragua (virology blog) How an antibody block NS1-mediated endothelial dysfunction (Science) Broadly protective antibody against NS1 (Science) Letters read on TWiV 725 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Alan – Science Photographer of the Year Awards Rich – Bar Keeper's Friend Kathy – Perseverance secret message and other Easter eggs, 11 million Earthlings' names, "Name the Rover" essay contest. Sign up to send your name on a future Mars mission. Vincent – COVID-19 dataset Listener Picks Matthew - Remembering the colleagues we lost to COVID-19 Lori - Iceberger Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #51, Daniel Griffin reviews use of two masks, effectiveness of testing in nursing homes, updates on vaccines, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, little effect of vitamin D and remdesivir in clinical studies, and a long COVID research initiative from NIH. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Updated NYC mask guidance (NYC Health) Two masks recommended (CDC) Effectiveness of testing in nursing homes (Clin Inf Dis) Vaccine reactogenicity and antibody response after COVID-19 (medRxiv) Bamlanivimab alone or with Etesevimab (JAMA) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and death (BMJ) Budesonide and COVID-19 (medRxiv) No effect of vitamin D high dose (JAMA) Remdesivir little effect on hospitalized patients (NEJM) Sequelae 6 months after infection (JAMA) Long COVID initiative (NIH) Letters read on TWiV 724 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Ginger Campbell joins TWiV to discuss palliative care for COVID-19 patients, and how to approach the disease from a goals of care perspective. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Guest: Ginger Campbell, MD Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Brain Science Podcast Dr. Campbell's video on palliative care (YouTube) Resources on palliative care (WHO) Interviews with Paul Offit (one, two) Being Mortal by Atul Gawande Letters read on TWiV 723 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Soapbox Gallery Brianne – Cell Picture Show Rich – Perseverance Rover's Descent and Touchdown on Mars (Official NASA Video) Vincent – Our World in Data (see COVID-19 vaccinations) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv