This Week in Virology

Chadi and Caroline join TWiV to describe the potential epidemiological and evolutionary impacts of vaccine nationalism, and their modeling which emphasizes the importance of rapid equitable vaccine distribution for global control of the pandemic. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit and Brianne Barker Guests: Chadi Saad-Roy and Caroline Wagner Subscribe (free):  iTunes , ...

In COVID-19 clinical update #80, Daniel Griffin reviews infections in children, masking, testing to limit transmission, high barrier for monoclonal antibody escape, are boosters needed, use of steroids, grants for long COVID, and how the pandemic unfolds in Africa. Hosts:  Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV!...

The TWiVotopes review current evidence which does not show the need for widespread COVID-19 booster vaccination, and results of experiments to examine the replication and immune evasion of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for this...

Virus hunter Mya Breitbart joins TWiV to describe her laboratory's work on viruses in spiders, insects, millipedes, freshwater springs, seawater, plants, human feces and much more. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Dickson Despommier Guest: Mya Breitbart Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for this episode Viruses of spinybacked...

In COVID-19 clinical update #79, Daniel Griffin discusses clinical management guidelines, ER visits and hospitalization among children, infection and vaccine induced seroprevalence in the US, antibodies in Kenyan blood donors, infections after vaccination, anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis, baracitinib efficacy, long-term symptoms in adults, and sustained symptoms after severe disease. Hosts:...

Shane Crotty returns to TWiV to review the immunology of COVID-19, including differences between infection and vaccination, increased breadth of antibodies after infection followed by vaccination, the roles of T cells, and whether booster vaccinations are needed. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Guest: Shane Crotty Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google P...

The meteorologicomaniacs discuss the COVID-19 pandemic global death toll, effectiveness of vaccines against the delta variant, and how analysis of ancient viral DNA reveals that two pathogenic human viruses were brought into Mexico during the transatlantic slave trade. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google...

In COVID-19 clinical update #78, Daniel Griffin covers ivermectin, convalescent plasma, disease in pregnant women, children and COVID, delta outbreak in an elementary school, validation of at-home antigen test, shedding in infected vaccinated people, mRNA vaccine antibody responses compared, AZD7442, fluvoxamine, one year outcomes in hospitalized patients, and post-vaccination disease. Hosts:  Dan...

TWiV reviews models for determining correlates of neutralizing antibody protection against COVID-19, and for identifying key vector and host species that drive transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for this episode Correlate of p...

The TWiV team explains what the Biden report on SARS-CoV-2 origins did not: evidence that the virus came from Nature, not a lab; and reveals new coronaviruses in rodents that inhabit populated areas in southern China. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit , and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV!...

In COVID-19 clinical update #77, Daniel Griffin discusses children becoming increasingly infected, virological characteristics of infections in vaccinated health care workers, transmission dynamics among close contacts, licensing of Pfizer mRNA vaccine, cost of hospitalization of unvaccinated patients, 29 times higher hospitalization rates in unvaccinated patients, boost in neutralizing antibody p...

Paul and Theodora return to TWiV to explain their research on determining the number of neutralizing epitopes on the SARS-CoV-2 spike that are recognized by antibodies, and engineering of a polymutant spike with twenty amino acid changes that demonstrates the high genetic barrier to escape from convalescent serum. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit , and Brianne Barker G...

In COVID-19 clinical update #76, Daniel Griffin covers association of age and pediatric household transmission, rapid antigen testing in remote communities, shedding of infectious virus in vaccinated individuals, FDA amendment of mRNA vaccine EUA to allow a third dose, new vaccine mandate for NY state, full vaccination suppresses selection of variants, effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in nursing hom...

TWiV summarizes cases of arbovirus disease during 2019 in the US, and explains a study that estimates infectiousness throughout the SARS-CoV-2 course 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 Vaccine Town Halls (ASV) Arbov...

In COVID-19 clinical update #75, Daniel Griffin reviews vaccine effectiveness against transmission, modeling effectiveness of daily antigen tests, updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated, risk of infection with time after mRNA vaccination, reduced risk of infection after vaccination, therapeutic anticoagulants in critically ill patients, and 6 month outcomes in hospitalized patients. Hosts:  Dan...

Jeffrey Shaman returns to TWiV to explain how epidemiologists measure SARS-CoV-2 movement among humans, including calculation of the reproductive index, secondary transmission, and what factors affect transmission. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Guest: Jeffrey Shaman Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for...

TWiV reviews SARS-CoV-2 infection of wild white-tailed deer in the US, mRNA vaccine-mediated protection by spike-specific T cells before detection of neutralizing antibodies, and recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection in T-cell depleted rhesus macaques. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Alan Dove , Rich Condit , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS , ...

In COVID-19 clinical update #74, Daniel Griffin covers infections in vaccinated individuals, expansion of Regeneron monoclonal antibody cocktail for prophylaxis, neutralization of variants by antibodies produced by infection or vaccination, longer hospital stays associated with remdesivir treatment, and post-acute sequelae of infection and impact on quality of life 1-6 months after illness. Hosts:...

TWiV reviews a leaked CDC document on virulence and spread of the delta variant, and how anti-alphavirus antibodies that do not neutralize infection can nevertheless protect mice from disease. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for this episode NYC first to requ...

Kiran joins TWiV to discuss the findings of a team at Columbia University Medical Center on COVID-19 neuropathology, and the conclusion that SARS-CoV-2 does not reproduce in the central nervous system. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit , and Brianne Barker Guest: Kiran Thakur Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links f...

In COVID-19 clinical update #73, Daniel Griffin reviews updated mask guidance from CDC, infections in public school district employees, effectiveness of vaccines against delta variant, antibody response after third vaccine dose in kidney transplant recipients, protection afforded by mRNA vaccines fully vaccinated people with and without prior infections, correlates of protection in nonhuman primat...

TWiVsters review off-season epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus in Australia after easing of COVID-19 restrictions, and impaired innate immune responses in upper respiratory tract cells from patients with severe COVID-19. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links...

In this special episode, Daniel Griffin answers listener questions on COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine misinformation, long COVID, masking and distancing, school safety, and much more. Hosts:  Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free):  iTunes ,  Google Podcasts ,  RSS ,  email Become a  patron  of TWiV! Links for this episode Letters read on TWiV 785 Timestamps by Jolene . Thanks! Intro mu...

Moriah and Joseph join the nearly complete TWiV team to discuss their work on genetic variation and adaptability in herpes simplex virus, and how rotavirus infection disrupts intracellular calcium homeostasis. Live streamed during the 2021 annual meeting of the American Society for Virology. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello , Dickson Despommier , Rich Condit , Alan Dove , and Brianne Barker Guests: Jose...

In COVID-19 clinical update #72, Daniel Griffin covers long term symptoms in children, outcomes for MIS-C, recent guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, a large well traced outbreak of delta variant, low dose mRNA vaccination generates durable T cell memory and antibodies, protective immunity in recovered patients, assessment of BinaxNOW, no effect of oral azithromycin, post-discharge s...