This Week In Virology With Vincent Racaniello

TWiV reviews RFK Jr’s demand to revoke polio vaccine, Wuhan lab samples do not include close relatives to SARS-CoV-2, using artificial intelligence to discover the RNA virosphere, and biomarkers that discriminate early and late phases of respiratory virus infections from a SARS-CoV-2 human challenge study. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV ASV 2025 RFK Jr lawyer wants revocation of polio vaccine (CNN) Wuhan lab has no samples close to SARS-CoV-2 (Nature) Using AI to discover RNA virosphere (Cell) SARS-CoV-2 human challenge reveals biomarkers (Nat Comm) Does this challenge study pass the smell test? (TWiV 863) Letters read on TWiV 1179 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Angela – Science’s 2024 breakthrough of the year, Lenacapavir  “the long shot”.  NEJM papers with Lenacapavir trials: one and two. Kathy – Bach Tocc

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin deep dives into the whooping cough epidemic and bird flu in big cats, and in conjunction with your host Vincent Racaniello discusses the recent case of paralytic poliomyelitis in Israel, measles outbreaks and HHS campaign for vaccine safety campaign before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, if the COVID mRNA vaccine is effective against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization in children, where to find PEMGARDA, information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, how long COVID effects one’s activities, personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Highest level of whooping cough cases in a decade (NBC News) Provisional pertussis surveillance report (CDC) Polio moves into Israel (Jerusalem Post) Polio today (GPEI) Measles- the let’s get real vaccination campaign (CDC) Measl

At the School for Influenza in Brisbane, TWiV speaks with Kirsty, Erik and Rebecca about their careers and their research. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Kirsty Short, Erik Karlsson, and Rebecca Cox Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Diabetes, obesity, and COVID-19 severity (Diab Care) Rice farming and zoonosis in Cambodia (One Health) Influenza correlates of protection (mBio) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin continues his discussion of whether the mysterious respiratory illness in the Congo is malaria, and in conjunction with your host Vincent Racaniello discusses how routine childhood immunizations especially that against poliovirus are threatened by Robert F Kennedy Jr and Aaron Siri, the origin of the SAR-CoV-2 virus and retraction of Didier Raoult’s research, then returns to discussing the first case of severe disease following H5N1 infection in humans and the state of California’s “bird flu emergency”, the benefit of the measles vaccine, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how vaccination reduced hospitalization of children between 5-17 years, the ACIP recommendation for the immunocompromised, where to find PEMGARDA, information for Columbia Unversity Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, long COVID in cancer patients and the physical malaises of long COVID. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, R

TWiV reviews the appearance of poliovirus in Europe, mystery disease in DRC, global burden of Chikungunya, viruses of parasitic nematodes that induce antibody responses in vertebrate hosts, and picobirnaviruses, do they infect eukaryotes or prokaryotes? Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode ASV 2025 Write your senators about RFK Jr Support science education at MicrobeTV Poliovirus in Europe (WHO) DRC mystery disease (Reuters) Global burden of chikungunya (BMJ Global Health) RNA viruses of parasitic nematodes (Nat Micro) Picobirnaviruses encode bacterial lysins (PNAS) Prokaryotic ribosome binding site in picobirnavirus genome (Virology) Letters read on TWiV 1175 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Alan – Sondehub and radiosonde hunting Jolene – Book “10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People” By David Yeager Vincent – Dr. Vinay Prasad “Sabotaging RFK Jr’s Confirmation Will Increase V

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin deep dives into whether the mysterious respiratory illness in the Congo is malaria, and in conjunction with your host Vincent Racaniello discusses the failure of the poliovirus eradication campaign with virus circulation detected throughout Europe and how we should focus on disease control not virus circulation, then returns to discussing avian influenza in raw milk and the early stoppage of the mpox antiviral Tecovirimat  before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, if there is a difference in protection against the development of severe disease between an mRNA or a protein based vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, and information for Columbia Unversity Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode IIs the mysterious disease in the Congo, malaria? (AP News) State of global health, year-end remarks by WHO director-genera

TWiV reviews nominees to head NIH, FDA, and CDC, cervical cancer decline following HPV vaccination, local dengue in Texas, human isolate of H5N1 virus is transmissible and virulent in animal models, and shared mechanisms of immune evasion among animal and bacterial viruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, Brianne Barker, and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Bhattacharya nominated to head NIH (Science) Makary nominated to head FDA (Science) Weldon nominated to head CDC (Chief Healthcare Exec) Cervical cancer declining following vaccination (JAMA Net) Local dengue case in Texas (Texas HHS) H5N1 human isolate transmissible and virulent (Nature) H5 current situation (CDC) Global H5N1 cases (Our World in Data) Conserved immune evasion in animal and bacterial viruses (Cell) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Pale Blue Pod Kathy – PhysicsGirl recent Instagram post, ScienceAdvisor signup 

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin summarizes influenza and RSV circulation in the US, the benefit of administering oseltamivir early and if influenza vaccination reduces secondary household infections, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how 1st or 2nd trimester SARS-CoV-2 infections may shorten newborn telomeres, what are B1 cells, if IgG4 responses are critical for protection elicited by mRNA vaccines, if there is a difference in protection against the development of severe disease between an mRNA or a protein based vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, if remdesivir reduces readmission of vulnerable patients once hospitalized for COVID-19, information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, if transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ameliorates musculoskeletal pain and fatigue during long COVID, do antihistamines reduce post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and how long can SARS-CoV-2 antigens be d

TWiV reviews susceptibility to vaccine-preventable infections in asylum seekers, the economic power of vaccines, French university tries to bury its investigation of a faculty member’s ethical lapses, transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in New Zealand before and after COVID-19, and a germ line encoded antibody that recognizes a broad array of enveloped viruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Why RFK Jr is not suitable for HHS (YouTube) Write your Senators to oppose RFK Jr Support MicrobeTV ASV 2025 Susceptibility to infections in asylum seekers (NEJM) RSV hospitalization in adults (JAMA Net Open) Ethics failings at French university (Science) RSV transmission in New Zealand (Nat Commun) Glycan reactive IgM binds multiple viruses (SciImmunol) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Publication of Updated Human Cell Atlas Rich – Astroscale Alan – E3 ubiquitin liga

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin dives into H5N1/influenza and RSV circulation in the US, whether or not H5N1 is “adapting” for human-human transmission, why drinking raw milk may NOT be the best idea despite RFK Jr endorsement, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how if I encounter no one I can infect no one, the efficacy of COVID-19 boosters, how vaccines are the ‘seat belt’ of public health, the results of two PLACEBO control studies assessing antiviral therapy for COVID-19, where to find PEMGARDA, susceptibility of neurological complications in young to middle-aged adults and how discussing the origins of the pandemic and rise of scientific harassment will allow you to avoid a political conversation around your Thanksgiving day table, the interplay between transmission and immunity for virus spread and who to call if you do get sick this holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!   Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV!

TWiV travels to Brisbane, Australia for the Options XII for the control of influenza conference, and meets up with Stephanie Gras and Jenna Guthmiller to talk about their careers and their research. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Steph Langel Guests: Stephanie Gras and Jenna Guthmiller Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Goldilocks zone of influenza immunity (J Inf Dis) Broadly neutralizing HA antibodies (Nature) T cell epitopes needed for influenza vaccines (Clin Transl Immunol) T cell epitopes conserved in emerging H5N1 viruses (Clin Transl Immunol) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin briefly discusses the E.coli outbreak associated with onions from McDonald’s before deep diving into the announcement of Robert F Kennedy Jr. nomination for Secretary of Human and Health Services with highlights from MicrobeTV’s own Vincent Racaniello and Paul Offit (Beyond the Noise), the global measles outbreak, underutilization of influenza antivirals for children and teens, the $350 million 2025 order for mpox vaccination, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, the effectiveness of N95 mask, the interplay between transmission and immunity for virus spread, where to find PEMGARDA, and translational science being conducted to understand long COVID including ongoing clinical trials, development of animal models and how sex may affect outcomes. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Micky D’s onions linked to E. coli outbreak….another reason to not eat fast

TWiV reveals a novel H5N1 reassortant virus in Cambodia, circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 in more countries, circulation in the blood of humans of infectious parvovirus B19 coated with active proteases, and B cell receptor dependent enhancement of dengue virus infection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV Fundraiser Novel H5N1 in Cambodia (medRxiv) More cVDVP2 circulation (polioeradication.org) Infectious parvovirus B19 with proteases (Nat Comm) B cell receptor enhancement of dengue disease (PLoS Path) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – See How Many Lives Vaccines Have Saved Around the World based on Lancet study Dickson – 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Kathy – 450 Million year old arthropods preserved in fool’s gold. Primary article Pyrite video Vincent – ‘We need to be ready for a new world’:

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin apprises us about the first case of highly pathogenic influenza in Canda, children dying of influenza infection and novel genetic reassortments of the virus, the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, number of mpox infections, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, how scientific mistrust has affected COVID-19 vaccine administration, resolution of the FDA hold on Novovax’s combination influenza and COVID vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, how Paxlovid SAVES you money, when to use steroids to treat COVID-19 and how trace amounts of cytokines elicted during SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively impact cardiac function. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Bird flu flew into British Columbia Canada (Global News Canada) H5N1 in British Columbia (CIDRAP) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza flies commercial and domestic (USDA) Countdown till the end of Marburg outbreak (WH

TWiV notes the passing of virologist Diane Griffin, first H5N1 influenza virus in US pigs, Innate immune control of influenza virus interspecies adaptation via IFITM3, and antiviral trained innate immunity in alveolar macrophages after SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces secondary influenza A virus disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV Fundraiser Diane Griffin passes (Johns Hopkins) Diane Griffin on TWiV 453 First H5N1 influenza virus in US pigs (CIDRAP) IFITM3 controls interspecies influenza virus infection (Nat Comm) Trained innate immunity by alveolar macrophages (Immunity) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Angela – See a giant ‘ghost particle’ detector and more — October’s best science images Brianne – October 27 APoD: Bat nebula Dickson – Nikon Small World Contest 2024 winners Kathy – AAAS 150th anniversary video, c

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin informs us about the World Health Organization research and development plan to combat endemic pathogens including hepatitis C virus, RSV and dengue virus, another case of mpox in Britian, the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, if there is a benefit to additional COVID vaccinations after the initial series, ISDA guideline for using anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody therapy for prophylaxis, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, if and how do severe secondary bacterial infections develop following SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if COVID-19 associates with a risk of autoimmune and autoinflammatory connective tissue disorders. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Is the WHO the world’s NIH: endemic pathogens initiative (eBioMedicine) Another two cases of mpox in Britian (Reute

From the 2024 International Hepatitis B virus meeting in Chicago, TWiV speaks with Mala Maini and John Tavis about their careers, the replication and transmission of HBV, and the HBV Foundation. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit Guests: Mala Maini and John Tavis Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode MicrobeTV Discord Server Immunobiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus infection (Nat Rev Immunol) HBV Foundationhttps://www.hepb.org/ Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin informs us about “walking pneumonia”, the phase of the polio supplemental immunization campaign in Gaza, mpox circulation, the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, the beginning of influenza season, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, contrasting public health concerns between the US and the UK, if mRNA boosters affect mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, if antiviral therapy prevents long COVID and viral sequalae in healthy young marines. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections increasing (CDC) Polio vaccination campaign restarts (Reuters) North Gaza polio campaign postponed (Reuters) 1St clade 1b mpox in UK (GOV.UK) UK imports mpox (CIDRAP) Clinical trial of MVA-BN for children (Bavarian-Nordic) How to stop Marburg virus (Rwan

TWiV reviews continuing expansion of poliovirus type 2, removal of influenza B/Yamagata from the vaccine, Nobel Prize for miRNAs, protective immune response with a adenovirus-associated virus vector expressing a computationally designed hemagglutinin, and viral gene drive during herpes simplex 1 infection in mice. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, 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 Continued expansion of type 2 poliovirus (reliefweb) No more polio case map at polioeradication.org B/Yamagata removed from flu vaccine (NPR) Nobel Prizes for miRNA (ScienceInsider) AAV-vectored influenza vaccine (J Virol) Herpesvirus type 1 gene drive in mice (Nat Commun) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Virus and Vaccines Information Page from NIH All of Us Research Program Kathy – For a Pivotal Vaccine: Trial, Error and Two Young Lives Rich – October 17 20

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin informs us about mpox circulation, the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, new recommendations for the RSV and pneumococcal vaccines by the CDC, the beginning of influenza season, before reviewing the recent statistics on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the WasterwaterScan dashboard, contrasting public health concerns between the US and the UK, what the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is when indoors, the difference between NVX-CoV2327 and BNT162b2 for adolescents, why 65 years and older should get a second boost of the COVID-19 vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, a reminder of how and when to use steroids to treat COVID-19, the clinical trial for evaluating how novel treatments of COVID-19 affect long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Grim marker: mpox over a 1000 deaths in Africa (CIDRAP) Global trend of mpox outbreak 2022-2024 (WH