The Latest Podcasts in the Microbe.TV Network

Latest Podcasts

Beyond the Noise #21: Putting Floridians at RiskDecember 1, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses why in the name of standing up to the “Washington edicts,” Governor DeSantis and his state’s Surgeon General have put many Floridians at unnecessary risk and inexplicably offered the vaccine to some who are not at high risk. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #18: The Perfect Predator: Why Phage is RageNovember 30, 2023Today Dr. Steffanie Strathdee, Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences at UC San Diego and Co-Director at the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics, will chat with us about how bacteriophages—viruses that attack bacteria—changed her life and are becoming part of our future. [...] read more...

TWiP 223: Voluminous diarrheaNovember 28, 2023TWiP solves the case of the Haitian female with AIDS and voluminous diarrhea, and review the pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention and treatment of malaria Chagas disease. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #42November 27, 2023On episode #42 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 11/09 – 11/21/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1065: Cat coronavirus gains function in CyprusNovember 26, 2023TWiV reviews ban on gain-of-function research by the House, chronic wasting disease in Tennessee deer, nOPV2 causing paralysis in children, and an outbreak of feline infectious peritonitis in Cyprus caused by a new recombinant coronavirus. [...] read more...

TWiV 1064: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 25, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses progress toward measles elimination, risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 despite vaccination in patients requiring treatment with immune-suppressive drugs, symptoms, viral loads, and rebound among COVID-19 outpatients treated with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir compared to propensity score matched untreated individuals, late administration and corticosteroid usage explain inefficacy in COVID-19 convalescent plasma trial, higher-dose fluvoxamine and time to sustained recovery in outpatients with COVID-19, recombinant C1 inhibitor in the prevention of severe COVID-19, and Epstein-Barr virus reactivation is not causative for post-COVID-19-syndrome in individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 disease course. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #17: Evolution in action for everyone with Vaughn CooperNovember 24, 2023Today Dr. Vaughn Cooper, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, will chat with us about how he and his team teach high school students and undergraduates about evolution occurring in real time—using bacteria. [...] read more...

TWiV 1063: Childhood paralysis with Kevin MessacarNovember 19, 2023Kevin Messacar visits the Incubator to discuss his career as a pediatric infectious disease physician, and his work on enteroviruses that are associated with acute flaccid myelitis and other diseases. [...] read more...

TWiV 1062: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 18, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses coverage with selected vaccines and exemption from school vaccine requirements among children in kindergarten, seasonality of endemic COVID-19, mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination before vs during pregnancy and omicron infection among infants, extracting symptoms from free-text responses using ChatGPT among COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong, SARS-CoV-2 virologic rebound with nirmatrelvir–ritonavir therapy, optimization of antiviral therapy in immunocompromised COVID-19 patients, a study to learn about the study medicines (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) in people aged 12 years or older with COVID-19 and a compromised immune system, evaluation of the safety profile and therapeutic efficacy of Remdesivir in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, effect of neutralizing monoclonal antibody treatment on early trajectories of virologic and immunologic biomarkers in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and SARS-CoV-2 virologic rebound with nirmatrelvir–ritonavir therapy. [...] read more...

TWiM 298: Impact of lung microbiome and racial disparities on asthmaNovember 17, 2023TWiM provides thoughts on providing better training for a non-academic career, and help celebrate Black in Microbiology Week with a 2023 paper by Ari Kozik, a co-founder of Black Microbiologists Association and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #16: What’s bugging the fruit fly microbiome?November 16, 2023Today Dr. Nichole Broderick, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Johns Hopkins University, will chat with us about how the study of the fruit fly microbiome can give us insights into human health and disease. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 95: Watering the viruses until they bloomNovember 14, 2023Nels and Vincent discuss how the rewetting of seasonally dried soils, a critical event in Mediterranean grasslands that reactivates dormant soil microorganisms, leading to pulses of carbon and nitrogen mineralization, and is accompanied by a bloom of viral diversity, followed by extensive viral community turnover. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #41November 13, 2023On episode #41 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 10/26 – 11/08/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1061: Seasonal COVID and a niche for cervical cancerNovember 12, 2023TWiV reveals a prediction of the expected endemic seasonality of COVID-19, based on circulation of human coronaviruses, and ecological clearance of vaccine-targeted human papillomaviruses and an increase in circulation of non-targeted virus types. [...] read more...

TWiV 1060: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 11, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses stress in America 2023, CDC expanding testing of international air traveler samples to include flu, RSV, and other respiratory viruses, missed opportunities for preventing congenital syphilis, intrinsic and effective severity of COVID-19 cases infected with the ancestral strain and omicron BA.2 variant in Hong Kong, T-cell immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 measured by an interferon-γ release assay is strongly associated with patient outcomes in vaccinated persons hospitalized with delta or omicron variants, masks during pandemics caused by respiratory pathogens, behavioral factors and SARS-CoV-2 transmission heterogeneity within a household cohort in Costa Rica, convalescent plasma for Covid-19–induced ARDS in mechanically ventilated patients, and olfactory and gustatory function 3 years after mild COVID-19. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #15: A Gut Feeling About Precision MedicineNovember 10, 2023Today Dr. Sean Gibbons, Associate Professor at the Institute for Systems Biology, will chat with us about how the study of host-associated microbial communities can give us insights into evolution, ecology, and even human health . [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #20: A way to keep children out of the hospitalNovember 8, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses two new strategies to prevent RSV, the most common cause of pediatric hospitalizations, but a third strategy, which has always been available, is rarely mentioned. [...] read more...

Immune 73: Big macsNovember 7, 2023Immune reveals the total mass (1.2kg), number (1.8 trillion), and distribution of immune cells in the human body, with macrophages contributing nearly 50% of the total cellular mass. [...] read more...

TWiV 1059: Keeping poliovirus out and Ebolavirus inNovember 5, 2023On this episode of TWiV we discuss unusual properties of monoclonal antibodies: one that that binds the receptor attachment site and blocks infection with all three poliovirus serotypes, and others that inhibit Ebolavirus spread from cell to cell. [...] read more...

TWiV 1058: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 4, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses health worker–perceived working conditions and symptoms of poor mental health, Mpox neutralizing antibodies at 6 months from mpox infection or MVA-BN vaccination, newborn and early infant outcomes… [...] read more...

TWiM 297: Bacterial-electronic sensor pillNovember 3, 2023TWiM reviews how a coating of lipoproteins provides a stabilizing environment on the inner membrane of Bacillus subtilis spores, and a miniaturized device that integrates genetically engineered probiotic biosensors with a custom-designed photodetector and readout chip to track mediators of inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #14: An inordinate fondness for viruses with Jack GilbertNovember 3, 2023Today Dr. Jack Gilbert, Professor of Pediatrics and of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, chats with us about his MANY interests in microbiology, from human health to marine environments. [...] read more...

TWiN 44: ADHD and persistent painNovember 2, 2023TWiN reviews a mouse model of ADHD to characterize hypersensitivity to pain, and that sensitization is further amplified in a pathological inflammatory state. [...] read more...

TWiP 222: Balamuthia in the brain with Natasha SpottiswoodeOctober 31, 2023At the meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygeine in Chicago, Natasha joins TWiP to solve the case of the Man with a Generalized Seizure and Infectious Forms in the Brain. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #40October 30, 2023On episode #40 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 10/13 – 10/25/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1057: CMV-based HIV vaccine with Klaus FrühOctober 29, 2023Klaus Früh visits the Incubator to discuss his career and his work on cytomegalovirus-vectored vaccines which are unique in their ability to persistently maintain an immune shield of effector memory T cells, including highly unconventional MHC-II and MHC-E restricted CD8+ T cells. [...] read more...

TWiV 1056: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 28, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses health worker–perceived working conditions and symptoms of poor mental health, Mpox neutralizing antibodies at 6 months from mpox infection or MVA-BN vaccination, newborn and early infant outcomes following maternal COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, duration of SARS-CoV-2 culturable virus shedding in children, prescribing outcomes in outpatients treated with nirmatrelvir–ritonavir for COVID-19 in an interdisciplinary community clinic, Nirmatrelvir and molnupiravir and post-COVID-19 condition in older patients, optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, association between Guillain-Barré syndrome and COVID-19 infection and vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection correlates with male benign prostatic hyperplasia deterioration, Transplanting candidates with COVID-19, and favorable experience of transplant strategy including liver grafts from COVID-19 donors. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #13: (Magnetically) attractive bacteria with Arash KomeiliOctober 27, 2023Today Dr. Arash Komeili, professor of plant and microbial biology at UC Berkeley, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss compartmentalization in bacteria, and the amazing world of living magnets—the magnetotactic bacteria! [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #19: Should scientists openly debate vaccine policy?October 24, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses whether scientists should openly debate vaccine policies, or does that only confuse the American public and embolden anti-vaccine activists. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #39October 23, 2023On episode #39 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, recorded at IDWeek in Boston, Daniel and special host Priya Kodiyanplakkal review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 9/27 – 10/12/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1055: Vermont viridaeOctober 22, 2023Vincent travels to the University of Vermont to speak with Jason, Emily, Jessica, and Dimitry about their careers and their work on SARS-CoV-2, hantaviruses, poliovirus, influenza virus, and the involvement of viruses in the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1054: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 21, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses high Influenza incidence and disease severity among children and adolescents aged [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #12: Shedding light on symbiosis with Ruth IsenbergOctober 20, 2023Today Dr. Ruth Isenberg, postdoctoral scholar (and former #DocMartian!) in the Willett Lab at the University of Minnesota, will tell us about her first generation path in science, the squid-Vibrio symbiosis work she did for her PhD, and her current career path. [...] read more...

TWiV 1053: Bird flu in BaltimoreOctober 15, 2023From the Centers for Excellence in Influenza Research and Response meeting in Baltimore, Vincent speaks with Ron Fouchier, Rafael Medina, and Louse Moncla about recent changes in the epidemiology of avian H5N1 influenza virus and the threat to humans and other animals. [...] read more...

TWiV 1052: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 14, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses disease severity of RSV compared with COVID-19 and Influenza among hospitalized adults aged ≥60 years, antiviral efficacy of Molnupiravir versus ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in patients with early symptomatic COVID-19, Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization among patients with vulnerability to covid-19 complications, antibiotic use among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the United States, one week of oral Camostat vs Placebo in nonhospitalized adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, assessment of the available therapeutic approaches for severe COVID-19, optimal duration of systemic Corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, effect of monovalent COVID-19 vaccines on viral interference between SARS-CoV-2 and several DNA viruses in patients with long-COVID syndrome, local budesonide therapy in the management of persistent hyposmia in suspected non-severe COVID-19 patients, and the safety profile and clinical and virological outcomes of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir treatment in patients with advanced chronic Kidney disease and COVID-19. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #11: Viruses from hell with Ken StedmanOctober 13, 2023Today Dr. Ken Stedman, Professor of Biology at Portland State University, tells us about the strange and wonderful viruses of heat loving extremophilic archaea—truly viruses from Hell! [...] read more...

TWiV 1051: Like SARS-CoV-2 in the headlightsOctober 8, 2023TWiV reviews the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their identification nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, and accelerated mutation of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer. [...] read more...

TWiM 296: Bacterial channels in plant cellsOctober 7, 2023TWiM discusses a dispute about whether the mycobiome plays a role in the development of cancer, and the structure and function of channels that are delivered to plant cells by pathogenic bacteria. [...] read more...

TWiV 1050: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 7, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the effectiveness of maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy against COVID-19–associated hospitalizations in infants aged [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #10: Bacterial fight clubOctober 6, 2023Today Dr. David Baltrus, Associate Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona, talks with us about how his laboratory studies bacteria that battle one another; the first rule of this fight club is that EVERYONE talks about Microbial Fight Club. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #38October 5, 2023On episode #38 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 9/14 – 9/27/23. [...] read more...

TWiN 43: Pavlovian opioid toleranceOctober 4, 2023TWiN discusses a study of on the pathways that control opioid analgesic tolerance, a root cause of opioid overdose and misuse, which can develop through an associative learning. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #18: RSV vaccine during pregnancyOctober 2, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses the CDC recommendation of an RSV vaccine for pregnant people to be given during the third trimester. [...] read more...

TWiP 221: Delusional parasitosisOctober 1, 2023Michelle and Alexander join TWiP to solve their case of the 36 Year Old Male with shortness of breath, stinging pain in the extremities, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and bowel irregularities, and discuss host cell invasion by Trypanosoma cruzi. [...] read more...

TWiV 1049: Long COVID’s book of homeostatic catsOctober 1, 2023TWiV explains how immune profiling was used to identify distinguishing features of Long COVID, and how a co-opted feline endogenous retroviral envelope promotes cell survival by controlling copper transport and homeostasis in cats. [...] read more...

TWiV 1048: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 30, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses a molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in global SARS-CoV-2 genomes, inhaled fluticasone furoate for outpatient treatment of COVID-19, optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, early antibody treatment, inflammation, and risk of post-COVID conditions, autonomic dysregulation in long-term patients suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome assessed by heart rate variability, and multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalization with COVID-19 in the UK. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 94: A bacteria, a phage, and a selfish element walk into a cryptomonadSeptember 29, 2023Nels and Vincent take apart an amazing symbiosis consisting of two bacteria, one bacteriophage, and seven different genomes all within a single-celled alga. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #9: Colorful microbes, citizen science, and tools for allSeptember 29, 2023Today Sebastian Cocioba, a citizen scientist with myriad interests, talks with us about his path in science, some of the tools he has made for others, and how he views science and scientists. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #17: Does everyone need a yearly COVID-19 booster?September 25, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses the CDC recommendation on 12 September 2023 of a booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age. [...] read more...

TWiV 1047: Long COVID and avian flu in ferretsSeptember 24, 2023TWiV explains a study of postacute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years, and airborne transmission of human-isolated avian H3N8 influenza virus between ferrets. [...] read more...

Immune 72: After dark in the library with Ellen RothenbergSeptember 23, 2023From Cornell University in Ithaca New York, Vincent and Cindy meet with Ellen Rothenberg to review her career in science, starting with work on retroviruses to unraveling transcriptional networks underlying T-cell development and signaling. [...] read more...

TWiV 1046: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 22, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses wastewater surveillance data as a complement to emergency department visit data for tracking the incidence of influenza A and RSV, chatbot-delivered online intervention to promote seasonal Influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic, temporal assessment of disparities in California COVID-19 mortality by industry, modeling the impact of a high-uptake bivalent booster scenario on the COVID-19 burden and healthcare costs in New York City, can high COVID-19 vaccination rates in adults help protect unvaccinated children, Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir use and hospitalizations or death in previously uninfected non-hospitalized high-risk population with COVID-19, Optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, and vaccination after developing long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiM 295: Uncultured and unmutableSeptember 22, 2023TWiM explains how phages avoid tRNA-targeting host defenses, and discovery of a new antibiotic from an uncultured bacterium that binds to an immutable target. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #8: Who goes there? Going deep in the Pine Barrens with Lauren SeylerSeptember 22, 2023Microbes are everywhere and do remarkable things—-like breathing metal! Lauren Seyler joins us today to discuss the microbial mysteries of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #16: The Freedom to HarmSeptember 19, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses a recent court ruling in Mississippi put children at greater risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #37September 18, 2023On episode #37 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 8/31 – 9/13/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1045: Less Lassa, CRISPR RNA virusesSeptember 17, 2023TWiV reviews a Lassa virus mRNA vaccine that confers protection against disease without inducing neutralizing antibodies, and a CRISPR-based method for engineering the genome of RNA viruses. [...] read more...

TWiV 1044: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 16, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of coadministration of COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines, interim effectiveness estimates of 2023 southern hemisphere influenza vaccines in preventing Influenza-associated hospitalizations, genome-wide association study of susceptibility to RSV hospitalization in young children [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #7: Microbiology from the refrigerator with Elinne BecketSeptember 15, 2023We exist in a sea of microbes, it is true. We only need to look. And Dr. Elinne Becket of California State University San Marcos, joins Mark to describe some of the work she and her undergraduate colleagues are doing. And a popular hashtag on social media: #BlueSoup. Welcome to our quality quorum, Elinne! [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #15: Lawyer tricks: the unanswerable questionSeptember 14, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses how lawyers and scientists differ in their approach to scientific truths. This video is based on Dr. Offit’s substack post, “Lawyer Tricks: The Unanswerable… [...] read more...

TWiV 1043: Marion Koopmans on COVID-19, Mpox, H5N1, polio and One HealthSeptember 10, 2023From the European Society for Clinical Virology meeting in Milan, Vincent speaks with Marion Koopmans about COVID-19, Mpox, H5N1 and polio, and the promise of a One Health approach to prevent outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics…. [...] read more...

TWiM 294: You’ll scream after ice creamSeptember 9, 2023TWiM reveals that the ice cream manufacturing environment harbors psychrotrophic bacteria, and identification of a deadly bacterial strain causing widespread deaths of newborns in Uganda. [...] read more...

TWiV 1042: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 9, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses China’s health authorities fighting surge in cases of Mpox unknown origin, analysis of seasonal variation of antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract diagnoses in primary care practices, prevalence and associated outcomes of co-infection between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, comparison of bivalent and monovalent mRNA vaccine boosters, optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, acute blood biomarker profiles predict cognitive deficits 6 and 12 months after COVID-19 hospitalization, temporal changes in fecal microbiota of patients infected with COVID-19, and long-term survival after intensive care for COVID-19. [...] read more...

Immune 71: Can parasitic worms prevent pandemics?September 8, 2023Immune explains how, in a mouse model of roundworm infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, exposure to lung-migrating helminths protects mice against SARS-CoV-2 infection. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #6: What’s the buzz on honeybee microbes? With Irene NewtonSeptember 7, 2023It is true that microbes are everywhere, and have impacts and applications that are often unexpected. Today, a true microbial force of nature visits Matters Microbial: Dr. Irene Newton of the Biology Department of the University of Indiana. Irene will tell us about some of her laboratory group’s recent research on how microbes interact with honeybees! [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #14: Back to School: The quest to eliminate vaccine mandatesSeptember 6, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses growing resistance to school vaccine mandates in the United States. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #36September 4, 2023On episode #36 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 8/17 – 8/30/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1041: Novel oral polio vaccine? with Raul Andino and Kostya ChumakovSeptember 3, 2023Vincent speaks with Raul and Kostya about the development of novel oral polio vaccine from the Sabin type 2 strain, its deployment in over 600 million children, and whether it can lead to eradication of poliomyelitis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1040: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 2, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the public health significance of finding autochthonous melioidosis cases in the continental United States, human neural larva migrans caused by Ophidascaris robertsi ascarid, Project nextgen awards over $1.4 billion to develop the future of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, excess all-cause mortality in China after ending the zero COVID policy, international pediatric COVID-19 severity over the course of the pandemic, differences in SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral and cellular immune responses after contralateral and ipsilateral COVID-19 vaccination, Pfizer and BioNTech receive positive CHMP opinion for Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union, clinical antiviral efficacy of Remdesivir in COVID-19, optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment, clinical outcomes associated with overestimation of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, risk of autoimmune diseases following COVID-19 and the potential protective effect from vaccination. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #5: Mothers, Microbes, and Dung BeetlesSeptember 1, 2023It’s interesting to think about the microbes in and on us—some of which are vital to our well being—and how we came to possess them. Mark introduces Dr. Anne Estes of Towson University, who will discuss this very topic as it applies to dung beetles. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #13: RFK Jr. and ‘ethnically targeted’ virusesAugust 29, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses how RFK Jr. refers to a scientific study to support his notion that SARS-CoV-2 might have been constructed to attack certain racial or ethnic groups. [...] read more...

TWiV 1039: Landmines for phages, a mouthful of redondovirusesAugust 27, 2023TWiV describes how a viral capsid protein activates a bacterial innate immune system that interferes with protein synthesis, and human-associated redondoviruses that infect the commensal protozoan Entamoeba gingivalis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1038: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 26, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses modeling poliovirus transmission and responses in New York State, FDA approves first vaccine for pregnant individuals to prevent RSV in infants, prevention and control of seasonal influenza with vaccines: recommendations of the Advisory Cmmittee on Immunization Practices, Nirmatrelvir resistance – de novo E166V/L50V mutations in an immunocompromised patient treated with prolonged nirmatrelvir/ritonavir monotherapy leading to clinical and virological treatment failure, incidence of new-onset hypertension post–COVID-19: comparison with influenza, and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years. [...] read more...

TWiM 293: Aerosol phage therapy, alpha-gal aptamers for MRSAAugust 25, 2023TWiM explains personalized aerosilized phage therapy for a chronic lung infection, and using the combination of antibiotic and a DNA molecule that binds alpha-gal to reduce S. aureus infection in vivo. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #4: Extreme Microbial Closeups: Cryo-EM and Fine Structure of Microbes with Ariane BriegelAugust 25, 2023Everyone thinks microbes are very small, and most of them are. But how to see them? The microscope opened a whole new world to the observer, starting with the Dutch microbiologist Antonie van Leeuvenhoek. But… [...] read more...

TWiEVO 93: Faster than a speeding bacteriaAugust 24, 2023Nels and Vincent review a collision of synthetic biology and experimental evolution, using a minimal synthetic bacterial cell with only 473 genes, the smallest genome of any known organism that can be grown in lab culture. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #35August 24, 2023On episode #35 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 8/3 – 8/16/23. [...] read more...

TWiP 220: Denies any bug bitesAugust 20, 2023TWiP solves the case of the Hiker from Queens who Denies Bug Bites, and reveal two different malaria experimental vaccines that target different parts of the parasite life cycle. [...] read more...

TWiV 1037: Antibodies, the good (CoV), the bad (Ad), the beautifulAugust 20, 2023TWiV reviews evidence that symptomatic adenovirus infection leads to thrombocytopenia, thrombosis, and production of anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies similar to the rare disorder seen after immunization with adenoviral vectored COVID-19 vaccines, and a monoclonal antibody isolated from a SARS survivor, following vaccination with a SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine, that neutralizes a broad collection of ACE2-binding sarbecoviruses.. [...] read more...

TWiV 1036: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 19, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses Florida local transmission of dengue cases reported in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, infants admitted to US intensive care units for RSV infection during the 2022 seasonal peak, long-term risk of death and readmission after hospital admission with COVID-19 among older adults, safety profile and clinical and virological outcomes of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir treatment in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and COVID-19, Fluvoxamine vs placebo for outpatients with symptomatic COVID-19, the effect of corticosteroids, antibiotics, and anticoagulants on the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome in COVID-19 hospitalized patients 6 months after discharge, long COVID and significant activity limitation among adults, incidence of diabetes following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in Hong Kong, and diabetes following SARS-CoV-2 infection: Incidence, persistence, and implications of COVID-19 vaccination. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #3: How much of you is microbial? With Seth BordensteinAugust 18, 2023Mark discusses some “shock and awe” concepts about the microbial world that he introduces to his microbiology students, and asks three important questions about microbiology and microbiologists with guest Dr. Mya Breitbart of the University of South Florida. [...] read more...

TWiM 292: Breast milk bioactivesAugust 15, 2023TWiM reveals that breast milk bioactives are essential for development of the infant microbiome and immunity, and how capsule mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae can affect bacterial pathogenesis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1035: Poxvirus wars, warp speed COVID-19 vaccine rolloutAugust 13, 2023TWiV dissects a study of COVID-19 vaccination which shows that the timing of initial rollout affects disease outcomes more substantially than final coverage or degree of socioeconomic disparity, and discovery of a novel cellular defense comprising a nuclease that is activated by poxvirus infection and cleaves a specific tRNA molecule to inhibit protein synthesis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1034: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 12, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the immunogenicity, safety, and preliminary efficacy evaluation of OVX836, a nucleoprotein-based universal influenza A vaccine candidate, association between nose picking and SARS-CoV-2 incidence, a cohort study in hospital health care workers; effect of COVID-19 vaccination and booster on maternal-fetal outcomes, dynamics of inflammatory responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection by vaccination status in the USA, does monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19 impact short and long- term outcomes in a large generalizable population, persistent endothelial dysfunction in post-COVID-19 syndrome and its associations with symptom severity and chronic inflammation, core mitochondrial genes are down-regulated during SARS-CoV-2 infection of rodent and human hosts. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #2: Shock and awe microbiology and a chat with Mya BreitbartAugust 11, 2023Mark discusses some “shock and awe” concepts about the microbial world that he introduces to his microbiology students, and asks three important questions about microbiology and microbiologists with guest Dr. Mya Breitbart of the University of South Florida. [...] read more...

TWiV Special: Toppling the anti-vaxxer pyramid with “flu-shot cheerleader” Desiree TownsendAugust 11, 2023Vincent speaks with Desirée Townsend about how she felt used and indoctrinated by the anti-vaxx movement, the science surrounding her autoimmune disorder, and why she is no longer the “flu shot cheerleader,” but a cheerleader for flu shots. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #12: A breakthrough product for babiesAugust 9, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses a breakthrough product for babies that at long last allows prevention of one of the most common causes of pediatric hospitalizations in the United States. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #34August 8, 2023On episode #34 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 7/20 – 8/2/23. [...] read more...

Matters Microbial #1: A microbiological introduction and a chat with Vincent RacanielloAugust 7, 2023In the first episode of Matters Microbial, Mark introduces himself and his history, talks a bit about his goals for this podcast, then asks three important questions about microbiology and microbiologists with his first guest, Vincent Racaniello. [...] read more...

TWiV 1033: Freediving with nanobodies and interferonAugust 6, 2023TWiV notes the passing of Harald zur Hausen, dengue breaking records in the Americas, inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation by modulation of type I IFN, and an armed nanobody that protects mice against influenza A and B disease. [...] read more...

TWiV 1032: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 5, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses predicting COVID-19 incidence using wastewater surveillance data, use of wastewater metrics to track COVID-19 in the US, wastewater-based epidemiology predicts COVID-19-induced weekly new hospital admissions in over 150 USA counties, association between duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity and long COVID, rapid direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in exhaled breath at the point of care, effectiveness of oral Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir vs. intravenous three-day Remdesivir in preventing progression to severe COVID-19, NIH launching of several phase 2 long-COVID treatment trials. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #11: The real RFK Jr.August 2, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit examines In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit examines recent comments by RFK Jr. in his book, ‘The Real Anthony Fauci’, and an outbreak of measles in Samoa. [...] read more...

TWiV 1031: Death on the West NileJuly 30, 2023TWiV notes the passing of virologist Michael BA Oldstone, a study to assess the performance of rapid antigen tests to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the presence of antibodies to type I interferons in ~40% of patients with West Nile virus encephalitis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1030: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 29, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the use of RSV vaccines in older adults: recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices, case report of leprosy in Central Florida, blood group A enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection, predicting COVID-19 incidence using wastewater surveillance data, a common allele of HLA associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, prevalence of low-frequency, antiviral resistance variants in SARS-CoV-2 isolates in Ontario, Canada, viral resistance analyses from the Remdesivir phase 3 adaptive COVID-19 treatment trial-1, impact of Molnupiravir treatment on patient-reported COVID-19 symptoms in the phase 3 move-out trial, Molnupiravir for treatment of adults with mild or moderate COVID-19, delayed intubation associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure who fail heated and humified high flow nasal canula, relationship between azithromycin and cardiovascular outcomes in unvaccinated patients with COVID‐19 and preexisting cardiovascular disease, and the effects of COVID-19 on cognitive performance in a community-based cohort, clinical phenotypes and quality of life to define post-COVID-19 syndrome. [...] read more...

TWiM 291: Biogeography of tectonics and teethJuly 28, 2023TWiM explains how photoferrotrophic bacteria initiated plate tectonics over 2500 million years ago, and how two bacteria work together to cause childhood tooth decay. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #10: RFK Jr. should stop talking about vaccinesJuly 28, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit examines RFK Jr.’s claim that the polio vaccine killed more people than it saved. [...] read more...

TWiV 1029: David Tuller on Long COVID and ME/CFSJuly 27, 2023David Tuller returns to TWiV to provide an update on ME/CFS, the PACE trial, developments related to the NICE guidelines, and how similar practices and ideologies are being applied to long COVID. [...] read more...

Immune 70: Immunology of picky eatingJuly 26, 2023Immune explains how mast cells, IgE antibody, and the brain collaborate to promote avoidance of certain foods to evade allergic responses. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #33July 25, 2023On episode #33 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel reviews the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 7/6 – 7/19/23. [...] read more...

TWIP 219: Sick as a dogJuly 24, 2023TWiP solves the case of the 19 month old Female Having Issues, and discusses the finding that selection for insecticide resistance can promote Plasmodium falciparum infection in Anopheles mosquitoes. [...] read more...

TWiV 1028: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and T cellsJuly 23, 2023TWiV reviews approvals of the first gene therapy for severe hemophilia A in adults and a monoclonal antibody to prevent RSV respiratory disease in babies and toddlers, and a common allele of HLA that mediates asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection through pre-existing T cell immunity due to previous exposure to common cold coronaviruses. [...] read more...

TWiV 1027: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 22, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer in the United States, Omicron subvariant BA.5 efficiently infects lung cells, COVID-19 scent dog research highlights and synthesis during the pandemic of December 2019, T-Cell Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 measured by an interferon-γ release assay is strongly associated with patient outcomes in vaccinated persons hospitalized with Delta or Omicron variants, a common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the immunology of long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 92: There’s algae in the jarJuly 21, 2023Nels and Vincent explain a study of how interspecies competition between two algae influences evolution of metabolism and size. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #9: Chemophobia – It’s not hard to scare people about vaccinesJuly 20, 2023Paul explains how to scare people about vaccines: just use chemical names. [...] read more...

TWiN 42: Therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugsJuly 17, 2023TWiN explains how psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA, which are being explored for treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric diseases, reopen the social reward period for critical learning. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 91: Meet your very distant cousinsJuly 17, 2023Nels and Vincent discuss new findings using phylogenetic approaches about how complex eukaryotic cells emerged from prokaryotic ancestors, which firmly place eukaryotes as a clade nested within the Asgard archaea. [...] read more...

TWiM 290: Houston, we have Mimi GoldschmidtJuly 16, 2023From ASM Microbe 2023 in Houston, TWiM speaks with Mimi Goldschmidt about her remarkable career in microbiology which included training astronauts to safely bring moon rocks back to Earth. [...] read more...

TWiV 1026: Debunking RFK Jr.’s vaccine funk with Dan WilsonJuly 16, 2023Dan Wilson returns to TWiV to debunk vaccine misinformation by RFK Jr. during his recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience. [...] read more...

TWiV 1025: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 15, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the new risk assessment for the H5N1 avian flu viruses, the development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure in animals, repeated antibiotic exposure and risk of hospitalization and death following COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 rebound study: a prospective cohort study to evaluate viral and symptom rebound differences in participants treated with Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir versus untreated controls, exaggerated blood pressure elevation in response to orthostatic challenge a post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) after hospitalization, long term follow-up of a multicenter cohort of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary embolism, and risk of cardiovascular disease after COVID‐19 diagnosis among adults with and without diabetes. [...] read more...

TWiV 1024: The ChumakoviridaeJuly 14, 2023Vincent speaks with Kostya Chumakov about his career: raised by two virology parents in Moscow, trained in virology by Vadim Agol, then moving to the US FDA where he developed a molecular test for measuring production consistency of oral poliovirus vaccine. [...] read more...

Beyond the Noise #8: The casual cruelty of placebo-controlled vaccine trialsJuly 13, 2023Paul discusses RFK Jr’s statement that pharmaceutical companies “never do placebo-controlled trials.” [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #32July 11, 2023On episode #32 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 6/21 – 7/4/23. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Click arrow to playDownload Puscast 032 (25… [...] read more...

TWiV 1023: Covering science with Katherine WuJuly 9, 2023Katherine joins TWiV to discuss her career in science writing, from not liking science at all, to a PhD in microbiology and immunology, and writing for Nova, the NY Times, and The Atlantic, and how… [...] read more...

TWiV 1022: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 8, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses autochthonous leprosy in the United States, a systematic review to identify novel clinical characteristics of Mpox virus infection and therapeutic and preventive strategies to combat the virus, two-year duration of immunity of inactivated poliovirus vaccine, evaluation of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 SIA impact in a large outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus in Nigeria, performance of rapid antigen tests to detect symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection, effectiveness of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, oral Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir for COVID-19 in vaccinated, non-hospitalized adults ages 18-50 years, genome-wide association study of long COVID, vaccination ameliorates cellular inflammatory responses in SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections, and high incidence of autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in patients with long-COVID. [...] read more...

BTN #7: Vaccine misinformation with RFK, Jr.July 3, 2023Paul discusses Joe Rogan’s vaccine misinformation-filled podcast with RFK Jr and his call for a debate with scientists on the topic. [...] read more...

TWiV 1021: Nextstrain with Trevor BedfordJuly 2, 2023From ASV 2023 in Athens, Georgia, Vincent, Kathy and Brianne speak with Trevord Bedford about his career, the development of Nextstrain.org for real-time tracking of pathogen evolution, and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from January 2020 through Omicron. [...] read more...

TWiV 1020: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 1, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses guidance on measles during the summer travel season, the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines on the diagnosis of COVID-19: antigen testing, SARS-CoV-2 variants and age-dependent infection rates among household and nonhousehold contacts, effect of COVID-19 vaccination on household transmission of SARS-COV-2 in the Omicron era, incidence of myopericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, intrinsic and effective severity of COVID-19 cases infected with the ancestral strain and Omicron BA.2 variant in Hong Kong, safety, immunogenicity and protection of heterologous boost with an aerosolized Ad5-nCoV after two-dose inactivated COVID-19 vaccines in adults, awake prone positioning for non-intubated patients with COVID-19-related acute hypoxic respiratory failure, melatonin effects on sleep quality of COVID-19 patients, female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders, and incident autoimmune diseases in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. [...] read more...

TWiM 289: Viral defense and counter-defenseJune 30, 2023TWiM highlights viral defense and counter-defense: cGAS mediated ubiquitination to counter infection, and viral sponges that sequester nucleotide signals to inactivate immunity. [...] read more...

TWiP 218: Malaria parasite evades mosquitoJune 29, 2023TWiP solves two cases this week, the Man with Issues after COVID-19, and the Man with Left Arm Weakness, then describe how the malaria parasite evades mosquito immunity by glutaminyl cyclase–mediated posttranslational protein modification. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #31June 28, 2023On episode #31 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 6/8 – 6/20/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1019: Eddie Holmes on SARS-CoV-2 originsJune 25, 2023From ASM Microbe in Houston, Texas, Vincent speaks with Eddie Holmes about the evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spilled over into humans in the Huanan Market in Wuhan, absence of evidence for other origins, and his work on the virosphere. [...] read more...

TWiV 1018: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 24, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the CDC vaccine advisory group recommending the newly approved RSV vaccines, association of culturable-virus detection and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, prevention of COVID-19 following a single intramuscular administration of Adintrevimab, real-world effectiveness of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir on COVID-19, and COVID-19 convalescent plasma outpatient therapy to prevent outpatient hospitalization. [...] read more...

BTN #6: Do We Really Need a Yearly COVID Vaccine?June 21, 2023Paul explains the decision on June 15th 2023 by an FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee to pick the strain for “this year’s” SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and who it is recommended for. [...] read more...

TWiN 41: Alzheimer’s and melanin-concentrating hormoneJune 20, 2023Vivianne explains how early in Alzheimer’s disease, the brain attempts to counteract the increased excitatory drive caused by amyloid deposition, and that melanin-concentrating hormone, produced during sleep, is involved in this protective response. [...] read more...

TWiV 1017: From Nature, not a labJune 18, 2023Vincent travels to the University of Pennsylvania to meet up with Susan, Rick, Gigi and David to discuss the origin of SARS-CoV-2, how the FBI might have reached its conclusion on the matter, and public and political perception of scientific risk. [...] read more...

TWiV 1016: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 17, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses surveillance to track progress toward poliomyelitis eradication, genetic stabilization of attenuated oral vaccines against poliovirus types 1 and 3, evaluation of Oseltamivir used to prevent hospitalization in outpatients with Influenza, viral emissions into the air and environment after SARS-CoV-2 human challenge, has COVID-19 threatened routine childhood vaccination, successful treatment of persistent symptomatic COVID-19 infection with extended duration Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir, anemia as a risk factor for disease progression in patients admitted for COVID-19, impact of fatigue as the primary determinant of functional limitations among patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, post-COVID condition in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and incidence of post-COVID-19 condition over 10 months, metformin reduces SARS-CoV-2 in a Phase 3 randomized placebo controlled clinical trial, persistent serum protein signatures define an inflammatory subcategory of long COVID, and the relevance of pacing strategies in managing symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome. [...] read more...

Immune 69: Lung cancer and retrovirusesJune 15, 2023Kevin joins Immune to discuss his work showing that antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote immunotherapy of lung cancer. [...] read more...

BTN 5: The next wave of severe COVID-19June 15, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses a recent meeting of experts at the White House that raised an ominous possibility. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #30June 13, 2023On episode #30 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 5/24 – 6/7/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 1015: Soldiers & Scientists at USAMRIIDJune 11, 2023Vincent and Rich travel to Ft. Detrick to visit USAMRIID and speak with Todd, Crystal, John and Jay about their careers, their research, and the mission of the US Army Medical Institute of Infectious Diseases. [...] read more...

TWiV 1014: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 10, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses estimates of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and incidence of primary SARS-CoV-2 infections among blood donors, by COVID-19 vaccination status, smart thermometer–based participatory surveillance to discern the role of children in household viral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine mandates, changing severity and epidemiology of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States after introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, effectiveness of COVID-19 treatment with Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir or Molnupiravir among U.S. veterans, national trends in anticoagulation therapy for COVID-19 hospitalized adults in the United States, development of a definition of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, neuroinflammation after COVID-19 with persistent depressive and cognitive symptoms, long COVID clinical phenotypes up to six months after infection identified by latent class analysis of self-reported symptoms, and coronary microvascular health in symptomatic patients with prior COVID-19 infection. [...] read more...

BTN4: A New, Life-Saving Vaccine for Older AmericansJune 8, 2023In this episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit discusses two newly licensed respiratory syncytial virus vaccines for adults over 60 years of age. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #29June 7, 2023On episode #29 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 5/11 – 5/23/23. [...] read more...

TWiP 217: ChatGPT solves the caseJune 5, 2023TWiP solves the case of the Man With Dog Exposure, and discuss rapid and spontaneous post-partum clearance of Plasmodium falciparum related to expulsion of the placenta. [...] read more...

TWiV 1013: Bird flu around the worldJune 4, 2023TWiV reviews remarkable changes in the epidemiology of avian H5N1 influenza virus leading to previously uninfected areas, involvement of previously unaffected wild birds, and devastating outbreaks in farmed poultry, and isolation of a monoclonal antibody… [...] read more...

TWiV 1012: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 3, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the potential for recurrent Mpox outbreaks among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, association between SARS-CoV-2 variants and frequency of acute symptoms, prospective study of key correlates for household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Pfizer’s PAXLOVID™ receiving FDA approval for adult patients at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19, efficacy and safety of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, development of a definition of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 and risk for mental disorders among adults in Denmark, risk of new post-COVID mental disorders higher only in older patients. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #28May 30, 2023On episode #28 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 4/26 – 5/10/23. [...] read more...

BTN3 Do we still need COVID-19 vaccine mandates?May 29, 2023In the third episode of Beyond the Noise, Dr. Paul Offit answers the question of whether we still need COVID-19 vaccine mandates. [...] read more...

TWiV 1011: Aquatic virusesMay 28, 2023Vincent travels to Québec City, Canada and the 11th Aquatic Virus Workshop, where he speaks with Fred Aylward and Jed Furman about the research of their laboratories on the ecology and evolution of aquatic viruses and their microbial communities. [...] read more...

TWiV 1010: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 27, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the CDC HIV surveillance report, FDA voted in favor of approving the Abrysvo vaccine, canine olfactory detection of SARS-CoV-2-infected humans, safety of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 17 years, and statement on the antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines. [...] read more...

BTN 2: Can we make a universal pandemic vaccine?May 23, 2023In part II of ‘A Closer Look at Biden’s $5 Billion “Next Gen Project”, Paul suggests that it might be harder than we think to make a universal pandemic vaccine. [...] read more...

TWiV 1009: Nidovirus on the waterMay 21, 2023Vincent travels to Montreux, Switzerland and the 16th International Nidovirus Symposium, where he speaks with Maria von Kerkhove, the face of COVID-19 for the World Health Organization, and Kanta Subbarao, Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Influenza in Melbourne. [...] read more...

TWiM 287: When replicas do not replicateMay 20, 2023TWiM investigates the high variability in the rate and amount of current production from microbial fuel cells, and how bacteria link their growth rate to external nutrient conditions via a protein that functions as a cellular rheostat. [...] read more...

TWiV 1008: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 20, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses variant specific clinical performance of a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test with focus on omicron VOC, ventilation in buildings, COVID-19 mortality among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor users, risk of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with pre-coronavirus disease obstructive sleep apnea diagnoses, trajectories of the evolution of post COVID-19 condition, and efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy targeting severe fatigue following COVID-19. [...] read more...

Immune 68: Sins and blessings of immunityMay 18, 2023Immune discusses immunological imprinting, also called original antigenic sin, in the context of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. [...] read more...

TWiV 1007: Fragile DNA, viruses, cancerMay 14, 2023TWiV explains genetic changes in nOPV2 strains that paralyzed children, outbreak of raccoon distemper in Toronto, EcoHealth Alliance gets its NIH grant back, and breakage at chromosomal fragile sites caused by the EBNA1 protein of Epstein-Barr virus as a mechanism for carcinogenesis. [...] read more...

TWiV 1006: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 13, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses immunogenicity and tolerability of a bivalent virus-like particle norovirus vaccine candidate in children from 6 months up to 4 years of age, influenza hemagglutinin stem nanoparticle vaccine induces cross-group 1 neutralizing antibodies in healthy adults, COVID-19 surveillance after expiration of the public health emergency declaration, provisional mortality data, targeted vaccine messaging to promote COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth, vaccines and related biological products advisory committee meeting June 15, 2023 announcement, how to overhaul the CDC, impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on inpatient clinical outcome, prevalence of post-coronavirus disease condition 12 weeks after Omicron infection compared with negative controls and association with vaccination status, gut bacteria cocktail helps long COVID, and gut microbiota‐derived symbiotic formula (SIM01) as a novel adjuvant therapy for COVID‐19. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 90: The mystery of the mouse mummiesMay 12, 2023Nels and Vincent provide insights into the mystery of mouse mummies on the summits of >6000 m Andean volcanoes, including whether they were living there and if so why? [...] read more...

TWiN 40: Dopamine organizes behavior’s syllablesMay 11, 2023Tim takes TWiN through two studies on the role of dopamine: that syllables are natural units of spontaneous behavior used by the brain to structure action, and that mesolimbic dopamine release conveys causal associations but not reward prediction errors, thereby challenging the dominant theory of reward learning. [...] read more...

TWiM 286: Integrons and invasionMay 11, 2023TWiM reveals environmental integrons, bacterial genetic elements notorious for their role in spreading antibiotic resistance, and how Salmonella invasion is controlled by competition among intestinal chemical signals. [...] read more...

BTN 1: Nasal spray COVID vaccines, hope or hype?May 9, 2023Introducing a new video series based on Paul Offit’s substack, ‘Beyond the Noise’. I mistakenly called it ‘Above the Noise’ in this video. For this first episode Paul explains his thoughts on the White House creation of a $5 billion project to in part create newer, better coronavirus vaccines, including nasal spray vaccines. [...] read more...

TWiV 1005: COVID T vax and a virus from the blueMay 7, 2023TWiV reveals plankton-infecting relatives of herpesviruses in the sunlit oceans, and a vaccine encoding non-spike T cell antigens that protects animals from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. [...] read more...

TWiV 1004: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 6, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approving Arexvy: the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine approved for use in the United State, association between SARS-CoV-2 and metagenomic content of samples from the Huanan Seafood Market, researchers disagree over how bad it is to be reinfected and whether COVID-19 can cause lasting changes to the immune system, virtual care and emergency department use during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients of family physicians in Canada, vaccination with BCG-Denmark did not result in a lower risk of COVID-19 among health care workers than placebo, NVX-CoV2373 vaccine efficacy against hospitalization, comparative effectiveness of the SARS-COV-2 vaccines during Delta dominance, assessment of gender-specific COVID-19 case fatality risk per malignant neoplasm type, clinical outcomes following treatment for COVID-19 with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir and Molnupiravir among patients living in nursing homes, timing of intubation and ICU mortality in COVID-19 patients, real-life experience with Remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 among older adults, and how long COVID brain fog and muscle pain are associated with longer time to clearance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the upper respiratory tract during acute infection. [...] read more...

Immune 67: Can T cells live forever?May 3, 2023Immune explains the results of a study which show that in mice, functional T cells respond to vaccination for over 10 years and 51 successive immunizations, exhibiting supernumerary cell division and longevity. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #27May 2, 2023On episode #27 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 4/13 – 4/25/23. [...] read more...

TWiP 216: A challenging caseMay 1, 2023Eyal joins TWiP to solve the case of the case of the Feverish Patient from Israel, and reveals his training and experience with travel medicine in Israel. [...] read more...

TWiV 1003: Going clinically viralApril 30, 2023Vincent and Kathy travel to Atlanta for APHL ID Lab Con, a conference focused on the latest developments in detection and characterization of infectious diseases of public health concern, and speak with Megan, Ryan, and Kirsten about the workings of public health and clinical laboratories. [...] read more...

TWiV 1002: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 29, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses completeness and spin of medRxiv preprints and associated published abstracts of COVID-19 randomized clinical trials, lessons learned from a COVID-19 dog screening pilot in California K-12 schools, SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and severity… [...] read more...

TWiN 39: Virus-like capsids trigger paraneoplastic diseaseApril 26, 2023Junjie from Jason’s lab joins TWiN to discuss the observation that the cell gene PNMA2 encodes non-enveloped virus-like capsids that induce autoantibodies which underlie paraneoplastic syndrome. [...] read more...

TWiM 285: How plague got deadlyApril 26, 2023TWiM reveals a new type of satellite virus that requires only phage tails for producing infectious virus particles, and that highly virulent plague bacteria differs from its innocuous enteric predecessor by its resistance to lysis by human complement. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 89: On the outer rim of tumor evolutionApril 24, 2023Nels and Vincent discuss the observation that cells on a boundary of a solid tumor have higher growth rates compared to those in the center and how to model this difference using genome sequencing data. [...] read more...

TWiV 1001: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 23, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses an update on vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks, how the dream of wiping out polio might need a rethink, risk of death in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 vs seasonal Influenza in fall-winter, French Mpox cluster includes fully vaccinated patients, two individuals with potential Mpox virus reinfection, epidemiologic and clinical features of Mpox-associated deaths, FDA authorizes changes to simplify use of bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 during Omicron variant predominance among infants born to people with SARS-CoV-2, severe maternal morbidity and mortality of pregnant patients with COVID-19 infection during the early pandemic period in the US, sickness presenteeism in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation improvements among k–12 public school districts, risk factors and vectors for SARS-CoV-2 household transmission, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after bivalent versus monovalent, durability of bivalent boosters against Omicron subvariants, Nirmatrelvir and risk of hospital admission or death in adults with COVID-19, evolving real-world effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies for treatment of COVID-19, effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support–free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, efficacy and safety of Anakinra plus standard of care for patients with severe COVID-19, higher dose corticosteroids in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 who are hypoxic but not requiring ventilatory support, risk of autoimmune diseases in patients with COVID-19, definition of post–COVID-19 condition among published research studies, and sleep disturbance severity and correlates in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiV 1000: Live from New York, 1k epitopes of virologyApril 22, 2023The entire TWiV team gathers at a theatre in New York City to celebrate a milestone in science podcasting, to reminisce how they joined the show, and to play a game of TWiV Jeopardy. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #26April 18, 2023On episode #26 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 3/30 – 4/12/23. [...] read more...

TWiM 284: Flies, pigs, and squidApril 9, 2023TWiM reveals housefly dispersal of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, and a reproductive organ in squid linked to symbiotic bacteria. [...] read more...

TWiV 999: Vaccinated to the ninesApril 9, 2023TWiV notes Ashish Jha’s call for doctors to combat a vacuum of medical information while ignoring our contributions, China CDC’s surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at the Huanan Seafood Market, and an experimental infectious attenuated COVID-19 vaccine that elicits superior mucosal and systemic immunity in hamsters. [...] read more...

TWiV 998: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 8, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the White House COVID adviser calling on doctors to combat a vacuum of medical information, adeno-associated virus type 2 in US children with acute severe hepatitis, genomic investigations of unexplained acute hepatitis in children, surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 at the Huanan seafood market, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization among adolescent and pediatric SARS-CoV-2 cases between May 2021 and January 2022 in Canada, effectiveness of BNT162b2 after extending the primary series dosing interval in children and adolescents aged 5–17, prevalence and characteristics associated with post–COVID-19 condition among non-hospitalized adolescents and young adults, within-host genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals, live-attenuated vaccine sCPD9 elicits superior mucosal and systemic immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamsters, Fc-γR-dependent antibody effector functions are required for vaccine-mediated protection against antigen-shifted variants of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 convalescent plasma utilization in the United States, FDA authorizes Gohibic (vilobelimab) injection for the treatment of COVID-19, anti-C5a antibody IFX-1 (vilobelimab) treatment versus best supportive care for patients with severe COVID-19 (PANAMO), anti-C5a antibody (vilobelimab) therapy for critically ill, invasively mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19, triple combination therapy with two antivirals and monoclonal antibodies for persistent or relapsed SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients, and the breadth of the neutralizing antibody response to original SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to the presence of long COVID symptoms. [...] read more...

Immune 66: COVID-19 immune memory – what you need to knowApril 4, 2023Immune discusses the current understanding of immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines, which supersedes that of any other acute infectious disease. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #25April 3, 2023On episode #25 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 3/23 – 3/29/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 997: Inside Omicron with Mohsan SaeedApril 2, 2023Mohsan joins TWiV to discuss the work of his laboratory showing that spike and nsp6 are determinants of Omicron attenuation, and why the work was widely misinterpreted by the press and the public. [...] read more...

TWiV 996: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 1, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses how antibiotics don’t reduce risk of death from viral respiratory infections, norovirus infections continue to rise in the US, ABO blood types and SARS-CoV-2 infection assessed using seroprevalence data in a large population-based sample, maternal third dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and risk of infant COVID-19 hospitalization, association of treatment with Nirmatrelvir and the risk of Post–COVID-19 condition, mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 had a higher chance of in-hospital death if treated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen before intubation, high-flow nasal cannula and outcomes in COVID-19, severe infection and risk of Cardiovascular disease, and the risk factors associated with post−COVID-19 condition. [...] read more...

TWiP 215: A mobile piece of spaghettiMarch 30, 2023TWiP solves the case of the case of the boy in Uganda with a mobile piece of spaghetti in the gallbladder, and reviews papers on female genital schistosomiasis in rural Madagascar, and a volatile sex attractant of tsetse flies. Image of Ascaris courtesy of Ryan Relich. [...] read more...

TWiN 38: Bacterial immunity heals sensory neuronsMarch 27, 2023TWiN explains the finding that immunity to commensal bacteria promotes sensory neuron regeneration via the cytokine interleukin-17A. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 88: Dog days of evolution in the shadows of ChernobylMarch 26, 2023Nels and Vincent review a study of the dogs of Chernobyl which reveals that genetically distinct populations with different amounts of western breed contributions to their genomes, the first step in assessing the effects of exposure to long-term ionizing radiation. [...] read more...

TWiV 995: Viral origin storiesMarch 26, 2023TWiV discusses genetic evidence of susceptible wildlife in SARS-CoV-2 positive samples at the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, polio cases in African linked to a new polio vaccine that was designed to not cause the disease, and structural conservation of hepatitis B virus capsid proteins over millions of years despite a shift from a naked to an enveloped capsid. [...] read more...

TWiM 283: Quorum sensing in the gutMarch 25, 2023TWiM reveals quorum-sensing systems that regulate intestinal inflammation and permeability caused by P. aeruginosa, and how plasmids manipulate bacterial behavior through translational regulatory crosstalk. [...] read more...

TWiV 994: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 25, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 story, prior COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction, adverse maternal, fetal, and newborn outcomes among pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection, correlates of protection against COVID-19 infection and intensity of symptomatic disease in vaccinated individuals exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in households in Israel, effectiveness of Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir in preventing hospital admissions and deaths in people with COVID-19, projected COVID-19 mortality reduction from Paxlovid rollout, and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines decouple anti-viral immunity from humoral autoimmunity. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #24March 21, 2023On episode #24 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 3/1 – 3/22/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 993: COVID-19 drives autoimmunityMarch 19, 2023TWiV reveals how treatment with remdesivir for COVID-19 resolved a chronic poliovirus infection in an immunocompromised patient, and the finding that infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to an increase in new and preexisting autoantibodies. [...] read more...

TWiV 992: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 18, 2023In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses clearance of longstanding, immune-deficiency-associated, vaccine-derived poliovirus infection following remdesivir therapy for chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2 exposure in New York City rats, clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Delta and Omicron variant-dominant periods in Korea, exhaled breath aerosol shedding of SARS-CoV-2 variants, outpatient treatment of COVID-19 and the development of long COVID over 10 months, Nirmatrelvir and the risk of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, assessment of the risk of venous thromboembolism in nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19, and the optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment. [...] read more...

TWiV 991: The cancer mRNA shotMarch 12, 2023On this episode of TWiV, the observation that the 1918 influenza virus is not lethal in nonhuman primates and implications for studies on viral virulence, and mRNA vaccines that control and resolve human papillomavirus-associated cancers in mice. [...] read more...

TWiV 990: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 11, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses confronting the evolution and expansion of anti-vaccine activism in the USA in the COVID-19 era, the effectiveness of maternal Influenza vaccination in Peru, characteristics and predictors of persistent symptoms post-COVID-19 in children and young people, parental nonadherence to health policy recommendations for prevention of COVID-19 transmission among children, community-onset bacterial coinfection in children critically ill with SARS-CoV-2 infection, bivalent booster effectiveness against severe COVID-19 outcomes in Finland, viral kinetics of sequential SARS-CoV-2 infections, risk of COVID-19 associated Pulmonary aspergillosis based on corticosteroid duration in intensive care patients, immunomodulators for severe COVID19 in transplant patients: do they increase the risk of secondary infection, long-term cardiovascular outcomes in COVID-19 survivors among non-vaccinated population, cardiac abnormalities in Long COVID 1-year post-SARS-CoV-2 infection, one-year adverse outcomes among us adults with Post–COVID-19 condition vs those without COVID-19 in a large commercial insurance database, and long-term gastrointestinal outcomes of COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiM 282: At-home evolution with yeastMarch 10, 2023TWiM presents a protocol for evolving caffeine-tolerant yeast by high school students in the home, and how predator-prey dynamics change when multiple bacteria grow together in biofilms. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #23March 7, 2023On episode #23 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 2/16 – 2/28/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 989: Antibody cross-reactivity is metalMarch 5, 2023TWiV to explains a study on presence of COVID-19 vaccine mRNA in the blood, and the isolation of cross-protective monoclonal antibodies against common endemic respiratory viruses. [...] read more...

TWiV 988: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 4, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses FDA authorizing the first over-the-counter at-home test to detect both influenza and COVID-19, monoclonal antibody for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants and children, epidemiologic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant variant XBB.1.5, COVID-19 vaccines vs pediatric hospitalization, maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infant protection against SARS-CoV-2 during the first six months of life, immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, fatal fulminant cerebral edema in six children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection in Taiwan, certifying deaths due to COVID-19, efficacy of first dose of COVID-19 vaccine vs no vaccination on symptoms of patients with long COVID, and the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiP 214: Tropical medicine excursions with Kay SchaeferFebruary 27, 2023Kay Schaefer joins TWiP to solve the case of the German Male with Hematuria, and discusses Tropical Medicine Excursions, which provides patient-oriented training courses for healthcare professionals who wish to improve their clinical skills in… [...] read more...

TWiV 987: Convalescing with CasadevallFebruary 26, 2023Arturo Casadevall returns to TWiV to explain the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients, and the need to support virology at a time when more regulation of experiments is envisioned. [...] read more...

TWiV 986: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinFebruary 25, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the efficacy and safety of two RSV vaccines in older adults, health care vaccine mandate remains as some push for an end, past SARS-CoV-2 infection protection against re-infection, a third vaccine dose equalizes the levels of effectiveness and immunogenicity of heterologous or homologous COVID-19 vaccine regimens, Sotrovimab retains activity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BQ.1.1 in a non-human primate model, effect of higher-dose Ivermectin for 6 Days vs placebo on time to sustained recovery in outpatients with COVID-19, viral burden rebound in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals in Hong Kong, serological response to vaccination in post-acute sequelae of COVID, sex differences in cardiovascular complications and mortality in hospital patients with COVID-19, association of COVID-19 vaccination with risk for incident diabetes after COVID-19, postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 in university setting, the CDC’s long-Covid deception, and podcast companies, once walking on air, feel the strain of gravity. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 87: Nathan Clark’s revolutionary hair care adviceFebruary 21, 2023Nathan joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his approach to understanding how species adopt novel traits to overcome challenges, and its application to identifying coding and noncoding sequence changes that underlie mammalian hairlessness. Hosts: Nels… [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #22February 21, 2023On episode #22 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 2/2 – 2/15/23. [...] read more...

Immune 65: Infection infidelities with Jonathan KaganFebruary 20, 2023Jon joins Immune to discuss the research of his laboratory on understanding how the innate immune system recognizes and responds to pathogens, and his hypothesis that infection infidelities drive innate immunity. [...] read more...

TWiM 281: Microbes making jet fuelFebruary 19, 2023TWiM explains the synthesis in bacteria of new energy-dense biofuels that can replace rocket and jet fuels, and the use of nanopore sequencing to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with serious infections. [...] read more...

TWiV 985: Bambi’s revengeFebruary 19, 2023TWiV reviews an outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Equatorial Guinea, wild poliovirus type 3 shedding from a laboratory in the Netherlands, and white-tailed deer as a reservoir for previous SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. [...] read more...

TWiV 984: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinFebruary 18, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the political polarization of COVID-19 treatments among physicians and laypeople in the United States, seven alternatives to evidence-based medicine, Malawi’s cholera death toll crosses 1,300 in its deadliest outbreak on record, impact of coronavirus infections on pediatric patients at a tertiary pediatric hospital, maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and delta or omicron infection or hospital admission in infants, yes masks reduce the risk of spreading infection, despite a review saying they don’t, COVID-19 and airborne transmission: science rejected, lives lost. can society do better, what were the historical reasons for the resistance to recognizing airborne transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic, a randomized trial comparing Omicron-containing boosters with the original COVID-19 vaccine mRNA-1273, SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies after bivalent vs. monovalent booster, the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose separation and targeting on the COVID-19 epidemic in England, intra-host evolution provides for the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, real-world use of Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir in outpatients with COVID-19 during the era of Omicron variants including BA.4 and BA.5 in Colorado, viral burden rebound in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 receiving oral antivirals in Hong Kong, and guidance on the use of convalescent plasma to treat immunocompromised patients with COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiV 983: One flu vaccine for them all with Scott HensleyFebruary 12, 2023Scott returns to TWiV to explain the development of an experimental mRNA vaccine that encodes hemagglutinin antigens against all known influenza A virus subtypes and influenza B virus lineages, and why he is worried about avian H5N1 influenza virus. [...] read more...

TWiV 982: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinFebruary 11, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the consistency of COVID-19 trial preprints with published reports and impact for decision making, the negative effect of preexisting immunity on Influenza vaccine responses transcends the impact of vaccine formulation type and vaccination history, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection in farmed minks in Spain, Peru confirms H5N1 avian flu in marine mammals, prior vaccination enhances immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection with early activation of memory T cells followed by production of potent neutralizing antibodies, bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine for prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory tract infections in older adults with comorbidities, incidence of chronic spontaneous urticaria following receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine booster in Switzerland, relationship between immune response to SARS-CoV2 vaccines and development of breakthrough infection in solid organ transplant recipients, early treatment with pegylated interferon lambda for COVID-19, and how long-term high-dose immunoglobulin successfully treats long COVID patients with pulmonary, neurologic, and cardiologic symptoms. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #21February 6, 2023On episode #21 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 1/19/23 – 2/1/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 981: Tastes like chikungunyaFebruary 5, 2023TWiV explains the recent meeting of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) where stricter guidelines for research involving human, animal, and plant pathogens were considered, and how the consumption of viruses by small protists returns energy to food chains. [...] read more...

TWiP 213: One deadly snail with Jessie Stone, MDFebruary 4, 2023Jessie Stone joins TWiP to solve the case of the Boy With a Swollen Belly, and discusses Soft Power Health, a clinic that she founded in Uganda to provide healthcare for people in need. [...] read more...

TWiV 980: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinFebruary 4, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses prevalence and clinical outcomes of respiratory syncytial virus versus influenza virus in adults hospitalized with acute respiratory Illness, reconsideration of antinucleocapsid IgG antibody as a marker of SARS-CoV-2 infection postvaccination for mild COVID-19 patients, assessment of COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death among children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in the US, information for persons who are immunocompromised regarding prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the context of currently circulating Omicron sublineages, association of culturable-virus detection and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, effectiveness of bivalent boosters against severe Omicron infection, Covid vaccines and playing the long game, efficacy and safety of antimicrobial stewardship prospective audit and feedback in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and severe fatigue and persistent symptoms at three months following SARS-CoV-2 Infections during the pre-Delta, Delta, and Omicron time periods. [...] read more...

TWiM 280: They forgot to divideFebruary 3, 2023TWiM explains how magnesium modulates cell division frequency of a soil bacillus, and killing of fungi by Acinetobacter baumannii via a Type VI DNase Effector. [...] read more...

TWiV Special: One COVID vaccine for them all with Paul OffitFebruary 3, 2023Paul Offit returns to TWiV to unpack the recent FDA Advisory Panel on COVID vaccines, with discussions on giving everyone the same bivalent vaccine, simplifying the immunization schedule, and how to know when the vaccine should be updated. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 86: Pulling out the stops in genetic code evolutionFebruary 2, 2023Nels and Vincent discuss how evolution of changes in stop codon assignment might occur, and a novel mechanism for altering the meaning of translation stop codons discovered in a trypanosomatid with the apropos name, Blastocrithidia nonstop. [...] read more...

TWiV 979: Flushing out the viroidsJanuary 29, 2023TWiV gives an update on poliovirus in wastewater, and reveals a vast world of viroids that infect a wide range of host species in diverse ecosystems. [...] read more...

TWiV 978: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJanuary 28, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses co-detections of other respiratory viruses among children hospitalized with COVID-19, preprint review should form part of PhD programs and postdoc training, early and increased Influenza activity among children, COVID-19 vaccines versus pediatric hospitalization, SARS-CoV-2 variant-related abnormalities detected by prenatal MRI, protective effectiveness of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against the Omicron variant and severe disease, protective effectiveness of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and hybrid immunity against the omicron variant and severe disease, persistent COVID-19 Symptoms at 6 months after onset and the role of vaccination before or after SARS-COV-2 infection, effect of Dexamethasone use on viral clearance among patients with COVID-19, and the impact of vaccination on post-acute sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #20January 25, 2023On episode #20 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 1/4/23 – 1/17/23. [...] read more...

Immune 64: A tangled web of wiresJanuary 23, 2023Cindy, Steph, Brianne, and Vincent do a rapid review of 11 immunology papers, including a wiring diagram for the immune system, group A streptococcus vaccines, systems immunology prediction of vaccines, class switch towards IgG4 after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, very bad B cells, monoclonal antibody to two streptococcal M protein epitopes, transcriptional atlas of response to 13 vaccines, impact of SARS-CoV-2 exposure history on T cell and IgG response, neutrophilic inflammation predisposes to RSV infection, commensals avoiding recognition, and continuous germinal center invasion contributes to diversity of immune response. [...] read more...

TWiN 37: Microglia at the crossroadsJanuary 23, 2023TWiN reviews the field of microgial research, which has advanced in recent decades but is constrained by nomenclature that is necessary but often implies specific functions. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Jason Shepherd, Timothy Cheung, and Vivianne… [...] read more...

TWiV 977: Ageing is infectiousJanuary 22, 2023TWiV covers a study of SARS-CoV-2 persistence at multiple sites in the human body, and the role of endogenous retroviruses in ageing and senescence. [...] read more...

TWiV 976: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJanuary 21, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses China reporting almost 60,000 Covid-related deaths after abrupt shift in policy, detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG in human milk and breastfeeding infant stool 6 months after maternal COVID-19 vaccination, effect of Fluvoxamine vs placebo on time to sustained recovery in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19, hyperimmune globulin for severely immunocompromised patients hospitalized with COVID-19, long COVID outcomes at one year after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations, a systematic review of trials currently investigating therapeutic modalities for post-acute COVID-19 syndrome and registered on World Health Organization international clinical trials platform, and the effect of using a structured pacing protocol on post-exertional symptom exacerbation and health status in a longitudinal cohort with the post-COVID-19 syndrome. [...] read more...

TWiM 279: A road map for successful phage therapyJanuary 19, 2023TWiM describes successful phage therapy against a mycobacterial lung infection, and how encapsulation of the cell wall protects S. pneumoniae from its major peptidoglycan hydrolase and host defenses. [...] read more...

TWiV 975: Crossing the Ts with Daniela WeiskopfJanuary 15, 2023Daniela joins TWiV to discuss her career and her research on T cells, their role in infection with SARS-CoV-2, T cell epitopes and why a variant that evades T cell immunity is not likely to emerge. [...] read more...

TWiV 974: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJanuary 14, 2023In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses poliovirus returns to New York wastewater, COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we thought, increasing ventilation reduces SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission in schools, the use of carbon dioxide monitoring to assess ventilation at a national infectious diseases conference, effectiveness of the bivalent mRNA vaccine in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, 7-month duration of SARS-CoV-2 mucosal immunoglobulin-A responses and protection, and long COVID outcomes at one year after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #19January 10, 2023On episode #19 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 12/22/22 – 1/3/23. [...] read more...

TWiV 973: Crouching virus, hidden triggers with Felicia GoodrumJanuary 8, 2023Felicia 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. [...] read more...

TWiV 972: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJanuary 7, 2023In 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. [...] read more...

TWiN 36: Unbearable neurologistsJanuary 3, 2023TWiN answers listener questions about Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma and the microbiota, Dravet’s Syndrome, schizophrenia, brain development, and chips implanted in the human brain. [...] read more...

TWiV 971: Another year is viralJanuary 1, 2023In the first epitope of 2023, TWiV reviews our coverage of virology in 2022, including favorite story arcs, episodes, show titles, and much more. [...] read more...

TWiV 970: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinDecember 31, 2022In 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. [...] read more...

TWiM 278: Bacteria sing the bluesDecember 29, 2022TWiM explores the relationship between the gut microbiome and depressive symptoms, and how purine nucleotides act as adjuvants to antibiotics. [...] read more...

TWiV 969: Carl Zimmer on COVID-19December 28, 2022Carl Zimmer visits the Incubator to record a wide-ranging conversation about COVID-19, including origins, vaccines, public health responses, and impact on society. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #18December 27, 2022On episode #18 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 12/9/22 – 12/21/22. [...] read more...

TWiP 212: The Man from Mali with Shauna GunaratneDecember 26, 2022Shauna Gunaratne joins TWiP to solve the case of the Man from Mali with Painless Skin Lesions, and discuss her plans for a tropical medicine institute in New York City. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Daniel… [...] read more...

TWiV 968: A spillover waiting in the wingsDecember 25, 2022TWiV 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. [...] read more...

TWiV 967: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinDecember 24, 2022In 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 [...] read more...

TWiV 966: 1918 influenza with Jeffery TaubenbergerDecember 23, 2022Vincent 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. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 85: Teaching old dogs new genetic tricksDecember 21, 2022Nels and Vincent discuss the use of genome sequence data for over 4,000 domestic, semi-feral, and wild canids to understand the genetic drivers of canine behavior. [...] read more...

Immune 63: Immune, promptlyDecember 20, 2022Cindy, Steph, Brianne, and Vincent review some of their favorite immunology papers of 2022. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Cynthia Leifer, Steph Langel, and Brianne Barker Click arrow to playDownload Immune 63 (62 MB .mp3, 103 min)Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. RSS, emailBecome… [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #17December 19, 2022On episode #17 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 11/24/22 – 12/8/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 965: Asking Esper Kallas for some I.D.December 18, 2022Brazilian infectious diseases physician Esper Kallas returns to TWiV to discuss the state of viral diseases in his country, including those caused by Zika, dengue, and yellow fever viruses, MPOX, and SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiV 964: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinDecember 17, 2022In his weekly clinical update 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. [...] read more...

TWiV 963: Feline coronavirus with Gary WhittakerDecember 14, 2022Vincent travels to Cornell University to speak with Gary Whittaker about regulation by proteolytic processing of the fusion activity of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, and feline coronavirus transmission, replication and disease. [...] read more...

TWiM 277: To stop or not to stopDecember 12, 2022On this episode of TWiM, we reveal widespread stop-codon recoding in bacteriophages that may regulate translation of lytic genes, and how Staphylococcus aureus inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth. [...] read more...

TWiV Special: Bivalent boosters with Paul OffitDecember 12, 2022Paul Offit returns to TWiV to discuss why the bivalent booster dosing story should be a cautionary tale of how not to move forward in this pandemic. [...] read more...

TWiV 962: Chiara Mingarelli takes the pulse of the universeDecember 11, 2022Astrophysicist Chiara Mingarelli joins TWiV to discuss her career and her work using pulse timing arrays to study the gravitational wave background, ripples in the fabric of spacetime that are caused by events such as the merging of black holes. [...] read more...

TWiV 961: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinDecember 10, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses Mpox (formerly monkeypox) in women: epidemiological features and clinical characteristics of mpox cases in Spain, April to November 2022, triage of patients with Ebola virus disease, SARS-CoV-2 serology and self-reported infection among adults, serological markers of SARS-CoV-2 infection; anti-nucleocapsid antibody positivity may not be the ideal marker of natural infection in vaccinated individuals, sensitivity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antibody for breakthrough infections during the epidemic of the Omicron variants, effect of wearing glasses on risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the community, and data-driven identification of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection subphenotypes. [...] read more...

TWiP 211: Monoclonal against malaria in MaliDecember 7, 2022TWiP solves the case of the Man from Hong Kong with Multiple Comorbidities, and discuss safety and efficacy of a monoclonal antibody against malaria in Mali. [...] read more...

TWiN 35: Neuromodulation in treatment-resistant depressionDecember 6, 2022Jason and Tim review the use of an implanted chronic deep brain sensing and stimulation device to carry out biomarker-driven closed-loop therapy that resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement in depression. [...] read more...

TWiV 960: Getting funky with Dan WilsonDecember 4, 2022Dan Wilson of Debunk the Funk joins TWiV to explain why he decided to take on science misinformation and how he critiques people who promulgate incorrect information. [...] read more...

TWiV 959: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinDecember 3, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses effectiveness of influenza vaccination of pregnant women for prevention of maternal and early infant Influenza-associated hospitalizations in South Africa, a multivalent nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccine against all known influenza virus subtypes, single and 2-dose vaccinations with modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic induce durable B cell memory responses comparable to replicating smallpox vaccines, whether the risk of still and preterm birth is affected by the timing of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, medical masks versus N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 among health care workers, alarming antibody evasion properties of rising SARS-CoV-2 BQ and XBB subvariants, real-world evidence of novel treatments for COVID-19 on mortality: a nationwide comparative cohort study of hospitalized patients in the 1st, 2nd, 3rdand 4th wave in the Netherlands, and effectiveness and safety of extended thromboprophylaxis in post-discharge patients with COVID-19. [...] read more...

Immune 62: Every cell is an immune cell with De’Broski HerbertDecember 2, 2022De’Broski joins immune to reveal his remarkable career path and the research of his laboratory on neuroimmunology and the immune response to parasite infections. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #16November 29, 2022On episode #16 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 11/9/22 – 11/23/22. [...] read more...

TWiM 276: Bacterial multicellularity near an underground streamNovember 28, 2022TWiM presents evidence that over half of human pathogenic diseases are impacted by climate change, and considers how a novel prokaryote discovered next to an underground stream illuminates the pathway to multicellularity. [...] read more...

TWiV 958: Pass the RNA and have some venison piNovember 27, 2022The TWiV team reveals a variant SARS-CoV-2 that emerged in deer with deer-to-human transmission, and hybrid virus particles produced by co-infection with influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus particles. [...] read more...

TWiV 957: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 26, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses human monkeypox virus infection in women and non-binary individuals during the 2022 outbreaks, changes in population immunity against infection and severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants in the United States, updates on COVID-19–related mortality, impact of community masking on COVID-19, effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against hospitalization with Omicron sub-lineages BA.4 and BA.5 in England, cardiovascular outcomes after Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab use for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19, how Paxlovid is associated with decreased hospitalization rate among adults with COVID-19, inside the mind of an anti-paxxer, and angiotensin receptor blockers for the treatment of COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiV 956: A domesticated viral envelope with Cedric Feschotte and John Anthony FrankNovember 20, 2022Cedric and John join TWiV to discuss their research showing that a human protein derived from an ancient retrovirus infection can protect against infection by other retroviruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest:… [...] read more...

TWiV 955: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 19, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the four things to know about RSV, the burden of respiratory syncytial virus in healthy term-born infants in Europe, the diagnostic accuracy of rapid diagnostic tests for Ebola virus disease, evaluating the accuracy of self-collected swabs for the diagnosis of monkeypox, tecovirimat is effective against human monkeypox virus in vitro at nanomolar concentrations, acute and postacute sequelae associated with SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery in lung transplant recipients, effectiveness of a third BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, maternal antibody response and transplacental transfer following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination in pregnancy, impact of community masking on COVID-19, Lifting Universal Masking in Schools – Covid-19 Incidence among Students and Staff, systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab for prophylaxis of COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, comparative effectiveness of sotrovimab and molnupiravir for prevention of severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients in the community, early adoption of anti–SARS-CoV-2 pharmacotherapies among us veterans with mild to moderate COVID-19, evaluation of viral and symptom rebound differences between Paxlovid and untreated COVID-19 participants, monoclonal antibodies for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, twice daily oral zinc in the treatment of patients with COVID-19, cognitive deficits in long Covid-19, severe Neuro-COVID is associated with peripheral immune signatures, autoimmunity and neurodegeneration, and long-lasting symptoms after an acute COVID-19 infection and factors associated with their resolution. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #15November 15, 2022On episode #15 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 10/27/22 – 9/9/22 [...] read more...

TWiV 954: Speculating sarbecovirus spillovers with Michael LetkoNovember 13, 2022Michael Letko joins TWiV to discuss his research on understanding cell receptors required for sarbecovirus entry, including an ACE2-dependent isolate from Russian bats that is resistant to vaccine-induced antibodies. [...] read more...

TWiV 953: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 12, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses high demand for Amoxicillin causing shortages amid child RSV surge, epidemiologic and clinical features of children and adolescents aged [...] read more...

TWiM 275: The myth of clonalityNovember 11, 2022TWiM reveals high rates of co-transformation of plasmids in E. coli overturns the clonality myth, and bacterial membrane vesicles as a novel strategy for extrusion of the antimicrobial bismuth in H. pylori. [...] read more...

Immune 61: Training immune cells with Julia Bohannon and Musa MhlangaNovember 8, 2022From SLB22 on the Island of Hawai’i, Julia and Musa join Immune to reveal their remarkable career paths, and their research on understanding trained innate immunity. [...] read more...

TWiV 952: Jake Scott put the ID in COVID-19November 6, 2022Infectious Disease physician Jake Scott joins TWiV to provide a west coast clinical perspective on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to the impact of vaccines, antivirals, variants of concern and mortality. [...] read more...

TWiV 951: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinNovember 5, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses Influenza incidence and vaccine effectiveness during the southern hemisphere influenza season in Chile, Nirsevimab for prevention of RSV infection in healthy late-preterm and term infants, severe Monkeypox in hospitalized patients, reinfections with different SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants, impact of community masking on COVID-19 in Bangladesh, unadjuvanted intranasal spike vaccine elicits protective mucosal immunity against sarbecoviruses, antibody responses to Omicron BA.4/BA.5 bivalent mRNA vaccine booster shot, immunogenicity of bivalent mRNA vaccine boosters, long-term gastrointestinal sequelae following COVID-19, evaluation of an automated text message–based program to reduce use of acute health care resources after hospital discharge, and how in adults with COVID-19, melatonin was assessed for effects on inflammatory markers, clinical signs and symptoms, and mortality. [...] read more...

TWiP 210: Is there a doctor on board? with Aisha KhatibNovember 3, 2022From ASTMH2022 in Seattle, Aisha joins the TWiP team to talk about her training and her career, including delivering a baby on an airplane, and they solve the Case of the Heartsick Guatemalan Septuagenarian. Hosts: Vincent… [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #14November 1, 2022On episode #14 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 10/13/22 – 10/26/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 950: Prion diseases with Richard KnightOctober 29, 2022From the European Society for Clinical Virology 2022 Conference in Manchester UK, Vincent speaks with Richard Knight about prion diseases and the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalitis that led to cases of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. [...] read more...

TWiV 949: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 29, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses progress toward poliomyelitis eradication in Pakistan, polio by the numbers , influenza and COVID-19 vaccination coverage among health care personnel, phase 1/2a safety and immunogenicity of an adenovirus 26 vector RSV vaccine encoding prefusion F in adults 18–50 years and RSV seropositive children 12–24 months, receipt of first and second doses of JYNNEOS vaccine for prevention of Monkeypox, distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 persistence and reinfection, Novavax NVX-COV2373 triggers potent neutralization of Omicron sub-lineages, association between regular physical activity and the protective effect of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in a South African case, COVID-19 outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients who received Tixagevimab-cilgavimab Prophylaxis and/or Bebtelovimab treatment, Omicron sublineage BA.2.75.2 exhibits extensive escape from neutralizing antibodies, and Tocilizumab versus Baricitinib in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 83: Evolution spreads its wings (and then loses them)October 24, 2022Florian Maderspacher from Current Biology joins Nels and Vincent to discuss a special issue of the journal on birds. [...] read more...

TWiV 948: Breathless with David QuammenOctober 23, 2022David Quammen returns to TWiV to discuss how he wrote his new book ‘Breathless’, a story about the science and the scientists behind the race to understand the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiV 947: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 22, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the prediction of upcoming global infection burden of influenza seasons after relaxation of public health and social measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, severe COVID-19 outcomes after full vaccination of primary schedule and initial boosters, and how successful immunomodulators for treatment of COVID-19 have opened the pathway for comparative trials. [...] read more...

TWiM 274: Bacterial endosymbionts block giant virusesOctober 21, 2022Mark Martin returns to TWiM to join the discussion of how to design a complex gut microbiome, and protection of protists from virus infection by intracellular bacterial symbionts. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #13October 17, 2022On episode #13 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 9/29/22 – 10/12/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 946: Poo versus fluOctober 16, 2022Angela Mingarelli joins TWiV to discuss whether the gut microbiota of bats confers tolerance to influenza virus infection in mice, and primate hemorrhagic fever-causing arteriviruses that can reproduce in human cells and might be capable of infecting humans. [...] read more...

TWiV 945: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 15, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses a healthcare-associated infection with Monkeypox virus, air and surface sampling for monkeypox virus in a UK hospital, misrepresentation and nonadherence regarding COVID19 public health measures, tolerability and immunogenicity of an intranasally-administered adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, clinical, virologic, and immunologic evaluation of symptomatic rebound following Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir treatment, early outpatient treatment with Eemdesivir in patients at high risk for severe COVID-19, Molnupiravir plus usual care versus usual care alone as early treatment for adults with COVID-19 at increased risk of adverse outcomes, and outcomes among confirmed cases and a matched comparison group in the long-COVID in Scotland. [...] read more...

TWiV 944: Hacking through Borneo with Kathryn HanleyOctober 9, 2022Kathryn Hanley joins TWiV to discuss her career and the research in her laboratory on the molecular biology, evolution and ecology of emerging RNA viruses and their insect vectors. [...] read more...

TWiV 943: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 8, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses high points of the multi-national monkeypox outbreaks, monkeypox virus genome mutations, possible occupational infection of healthcare workers with monkeypox virus, rates of monkeypox cases by vaccination status, protection of SARS-CoV-2 infection against reinfection, Paxlovid significantly reduces COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths, and rebound in COVID19 with and without Paxlovid treatment. [...] read more...

Public Health with Laurie Garrett: Wastewater TestingOctober 4, 2022Laurie Garrett discusses the role of wastewater testing in public health and her idea of a device that could be used by anyone to analyze water samples. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #12October 3, 2022On episode #12 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 9/15/22 – 9/28/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 942: Omicron boosters with Paul OffitOctober 2, 2022Paul Offit returns to TWiV for a discussion of SARS-CoV-2 bivalent boosters containing ancestral and Omicron spike mRNAs, including their composition, why they are being recommended by CDC, and who would benefit the most from them. [...] read more...

TWiM 273: The value of wipingOctober 1, 2022TWiM reveals how to inactivate norovirus on formica surfaces, and how to achieve antibiotic resistance by suppression of a frameshift mutation in an essential gene. [...] read more...

TWiV 941: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinOctober 1, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses increased acute respiratory illnesses among children and adolescents, estimates of monkeypox incubation period, generation time, and reproduction number, rapid increase in suspected SARS-CoV-2 reinfections, interim infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare personnel during COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 secondary attack rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated household contacts during replacement of delta with omicron variant, breakthrough infection by SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron variants elicited immune response comparable to mRNA booster vaccination, interval between prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and booster vaccination impacts magnitude and quality of antibody and B cell responses, further humoral immunity evasion of emerging SARS-CoV-2 BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, short-course early outpatient Remdesivir prevents severe disease due to COVID-19 in organ transplant recipients during the Omicron BA.2 wave, effectiveness of Molnupiravir in high risk patients, and primary care and a distinct symptom pattern for long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiN 34: Microglia vital after spinal cord injurySeptember 30, 2022TWiN explains how central nervous system resident macrophages known as microglia coordinate cellular interactions during spinal cord repair in mice. [...] read more...

TWiV 940: Eddie Holmes in on viral originsSeptember 28, 2022Eddie Holmes joins TWiV to discuss his role in the first release of the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence, what really happened during the infamous Fauci teleconference, and evidence that the virus came from Nature and not from a lab. [...] read more...

TWiP 209: A worm in paradiseSeptember 27, 2022The TWiP team solves the case of the Woman From Hawaii With Allodynia and abdominal pain, bilateral hip and leg pain, dizziness, and diffuse hyperesthesia. [...] read more...

TWiV 939: From lizards to Lassa with Tom MonathSeptember 25, 2022Tom Monath joins TWiV to discuss his wide-ranging career that includes medicine, field work and vaccine development while working for the US government, the US military, and multiple biotechnology companies. [...] read more...

TWiV 938: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 24, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin reviews the public health response to poliovirus in New York, impact of mandatory influenza vaccination, monkeypox in a young infant, health care worker exposure to monkeypox virus, monkeypox testing delays, transmission potential of monkeypox virus, TPOXX trial for monkeypox, detection of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic mRNA, mucosal IgA against SARS-CoV-2, BNT262b2 against Omicron, awareness and use of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals, comparable outcomes for Bebtelovimab and Nirmatrelvir, and COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s disease. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 82: A genetic hack for the human brainSeptember 22, 2022Nels and Vincent consider evidence that a single amino acid change in the TKTL1 gene might have led to greater neurogenesis in the frontal cortex of modern humans compared with Neanderthals. [...] read more...

Immune 60: Immunoeducation with Sumali Pandey and Phil MixterSeptember 22, 2022Sumali and Phil join Immune to discuss their approaches to immunology education. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #11September 20, 2022On episode #11 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 9/1/22 – 9/14/22. [...] read more...

TWiM 272: Metabolism’s got rhythmSeptember 19, 2022TWiM explores the activation of natural product synthesis using CRISPR interference in Streptomyces, and how light/dark and temperature cycling modulate electron flow in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms [...] read more...

TWiV 937: Pediatric hepatitis with Emma ThomsonSeptember 18, 2022From the European Society for Clinical Virology 2022 Conference in Manchester UK, Vincent speaks with Emma Thomson about the recent outbreak of pediatric hepatitis of unknown etiology and the finding that it is linked to infection by adenovirus-associated virus 2. [...] read more...

TWiV 936: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 17, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses detection of a highly divergent type 3 vaccine-derived poliovirus in a child with a severe primary immunodeficiency disorder, severe respiratory illnesses associated with rhinoviruses and/or enteroviruses including EV-D68, effects of vaccination and previous infection on Omicron infections in children, COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among vaccinated and unvaccinated adults 18 years or older in 13 US states, effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines over time prior to Omicron emergence in Ontario, Canada, nasal IgA wanes 9 months after hospitalization with COVID-19 and is not induced by subsequent vaccination, resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.4.6 to antibody neutralization, persistent circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike associated with post-acute COVID-19 sequelae, and impact of COVID-19 vaccination on the risk of developing long-covid and on existing long-covid symptoms. [...] read more...

TWiV 935: Mobile DNA with Cedric FeschotteSeptember 11, 2022Vincent travels to Cornell University to speak with Cedric about his career and his research on mobile genetic elements such as transposons and endogenous viruses and how they have shaped the evolution of nearly all organisms. [...] read more...

TWiV 934: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 10, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses variant influenza virus infections: recommendations for identification, treatment, and prevention for summer and fall 2022, low levels of monkeypox virus neutralizing antibodies after MVA-BN vaccination in healthy individuals, using the right tools at the right time for SARS-COV-2 infection, onset and window of SARS-COV-2 infectiousness and temporal correlation with symptom onset, transmission of SARS-COV-2: a review of viral, host, and environmental factors, antibody persistence and safety through 6 months after heterologous orally aerosolized Ad5-nCoV in individuals primed with two-dose vaccine, timely administration of tocilizumab improves outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, administration of anti–SARS-COV-2 monoclonal antibodies after US Food and Drug Administration deauthorization, and clinical and genetic risk factors for acute incident venous thromboembolism in ambulatory patients with COVID-19. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #10September 5, 2022On episode #10 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 8/5/22 – 8/31/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 933: Island-hopping batsSeptember 4, 2022TWiV discusses a new henipavirus from fruit bats in Madagascar, and attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron disease in mice caused by genome mutations outside of the spike protein coding region. [...] read more...

TWiV 932: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinSeptember 3, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses vaccine effectiveness against influenza illness in children, clinical manifestations of infection with poliovirus, spike protein-independent attenuation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in laboratory mice, concordance of SARS-CoV-2 results in self-collected nasal swabs vs swabs collected by health care workers in children and adolescents, probable animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 causing a pet shop-related outbreak, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among adults during BA.2 variant, SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells and antibodies, Nirmatrelvir use and outcomes during the Omicron surge, real-world effectiveness of early Molnupiravir or Nirmatrelvir–ritonavir in hospitalized patients, and distinguishing features of long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiN 33: Viruses leaving the brainAugust 31, 2022TWiN describes how neurotropic viruses leave the brain via meningeal lymphatic vessels located dorsally and basally beneath the skull. [...] read more...

TWiV 931: Driven to immunodistractionAugust 28, 2022TWiV reviews the genetic characterization of a new strain of type 2 oral polio vaccine and its implications for eradication, and how a polymorphism in humans comprising a single amino acid change in an antibody molecule regulates vaccine elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies against influenza virus HA. [...] read more...

TWiV 930: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 27, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses antibody response against nonpoliovirus enteroviruses, clinical presentation and virological assessment of confirmed human monkeypox virus cases in Spain, object and surface contamination with monkeypox virus, monkeypox virus infection in humans across 16 countries, clinical characteristics of ambulatory and hospitalized patients with monkeypox virus infection, compassionate use of Tecovirimat for the treatment of monkeypox infection, monitoring of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine among children, Pfizer and BioNTech announce updated vaccine data supporting efficacy in children, direct capture of neutralized RBD enables rapid point-of-care assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titer, Pfizer and BioNTech submit application for bivalent vaccine, and Oral Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir in non-hospitalized vaccinated patients with COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiM 271: Microbe vs microbeAugust 26, 2022TWiM presents a novel mucosal COVID-19 vaccine based on a bacteriophage capsid, and potentiation of C. difficile infection severity by the gut bacterial community. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Right click to… [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #9August 22, 2022On episode #9 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 8/4/22 – 8/17/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 929: Empathyology with Andy SlavittAugust 21, 2022Andy Slavitt joins TWiV to discuss his book, Preventable and how failures in leadership, politics, and selfishness doomed the U.S. response to SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiV 928: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 20, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses the public health response to a polio case in a unvaccinated NY state resident, human to dog transmission of monkeypox virus, Tecovirimat and the treatment of monkeypox, detection of asymptomatic monkeypox virus infections among male sexual health clinic attendees in Belgium, what to do if you are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19, risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers, effectiveness of HEPA filters at removing infectious SARS-CoV-2 from the air, Pfizer reports additional data on Paxlovid, hospitalization encounters for infection after Paxlovid, a randomized trial of Metformin, Ivermectin, and Fluvoxamine, and readmissions, post-discharge mortality and sustained recovery among patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. [...] read more...

Immune 59: Forks in the road: Th17 cells with Mandy McGeachyAugust 19, 2022At Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, Mandy joins Immune to discuss her career and her research on understanding how Th17 cells develop and are influenced to be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in their function. [...] read more...

TWiP 208: A red herringAugust 18, 2022The TWiP team solves the case of the Woman Who Vomited Up a Worm, and discuss how malaria transmission intensity can modify the effectiveness of the RTS, S/AS01 vaccine in Africa. [...] read more...

TWiV 927: Merchlinsky vs monkeypoxAugust 14, 2022Michael Merchlinsky joins TWiV to discuss the development of two smallpox antiviral drugs and two smallpox vaccines and their uses during the monkeypox outbreak. [...] read more...

TWiV 926: TWiV clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 13, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses guidance for prevention and treatment of monkeypox, post-infectious symptoms among children and adolescents, profiling post-infectious syndromes of different variants, comparison of vaccine Ankara vs intradermal routes of administration, infection in vaccinated individuals treated with or without PAXLOVID, duration of symptoms with positive rapid antigen after infection, epidemiologic characteristics of monkeypox, and sequelae of post-acute infection. [...] read more...

TWiM 270: Magnets and salt improve plastics production by ArchaeaAugust 12, 2022TWiM explores the use of Archaea to produce plastics from molasses wastewater, and a bacterial defense against bacteriophage infection that involves depletion of deoxynucleotides. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Right click to… [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #8August 8, 2022On episode #8 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 7/21/22 – 8/3/22. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Click arrow to playDownload Puscast 008… [...] read more...

TWiV 925: First kisses and second dosesAugust 7, 2022TWiV discusses monkeypox virus, poliovirus in NY, Marburg virus in Ghana, ancient herpes simplex virus type 1 genomes, and immunogenicity of different combinations of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. [...] read more...

TWiV 924: TWiV clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinAugust 6, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses Tecovirimat for treatment of monkeypox, the safety and acceptance of vaccination after multisystem inflammatory syndrome, variants in solid organ transplant recipients, masks for prevention of respiratory virus infections, pre-exposure prophylaxis with Evusheld, the association between Evusheld administration and infection, if repeat administration of casirivimab and imdevimab is well-tolerated, viral and symptom rebound in untreated infection, extended Remdesivir infusion for persistent infection, Baricitinib in patients admitted with infection, and cognitive impairment 13 months after hospitalization. [...] read more...

Immune 58: Gut B cells awry in ulcerative colitisAugust 3, 2022Immune explains a study of three cohorts of patients with ulcerative colitis which finds major perturbations within the mucosal B cell compartment, highlighting a potential role for these cells in disease pathogenesis. [...] read more...

TWiN 32: Relearning how to move after strokeAugust 2, 2022TWiN reviews how, in a mouse stroke model, recovery of movement is associated with the remaining cortex and the striatum coordinating their activity together. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 80: Viruses of a feather bottleneck togetherAugust 1, 2022Louise Moncla joins Nels and Vincent to review her use of genomics to understand emergence, evolution, and transmission of respiratory viruses including influenza virus H5N1, mumps virus, and SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiV 923: If a bat pees in a forest, does anyone care?July 31, 2022From The Third International Symposium on Infectious Diseases of Bats in Ft. Collins, Colorado, TWiV speaks with Vincent Munster and Raina Plowright about their careers and their research on bats, bat viruses, bat ecology and spillover events. [...] read more...

TWiV 922: TWiV clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 30, 2022In his weekly clinical update Dr. Griffin discusses monkeypox virus infection in humans across 16 countries, pregnancy outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection by trimester, vaccination intent and belief, antiviral drug treatment for non-severe disease, the association of smoking with infected hospitalized patients, the association of Paxlovid on negative conversion rates among high-risk patients with COVID-19, safety and efficacy of Molnupiravir, usage of enoxaparin for primary thromboprophylaxis, statin and aspirin as therapy in infected patients, post-COVID-19 conditions among children 90 days after SARS-CoV-2 Infection, and symptoms and risk factors for long COVID in non-hospitalized adults. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #7July 25, 2022On episode #7 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 7/7/22 – 7/20/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 920: Science will break your heartJuly 24, 2022From ASV 2022 in Madison, Wisconsin, TWiV speaks with Pamela Bjorkman and Andy Mehle about their careers and their research on influenza virus, HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza virus. [...] read more...

TWiM 269: Bacterial but not microbialJuly 23, 2022TWiM reviews discovery of a bacterium that is visible to the naked eye, and reversible resistance to bacteriophage by shedding of the bacterial cell wall. [...] read more...

TWiV 921: COVID-19 clinical update #124 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 23, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #124, Dr. Griffin discusses the results of a variant vaccine booster trial, the neutralization of variant sub-lineages by Novavax, the CDC’s recommendation of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine in adults, Paxlovid in patients who are immunocompromised and hospitalized, and inhaled fluticasone for outpatient treatment. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #6July 17, 2022On episode #6 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 6/23/22 – 7/6/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 919: Motivated by volatilesJuly 17, 2022TWiV reviews the FDA decision to update COVID-19 vaccine boosters in the fall, the meaning of fatigue with respect to long COVID, and a skin volatile induced by flavivirus reproduction that attracts mosquitoes to the infected host. [...] read more...

TWiV 918: COVID-19 clinical update #123 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 16, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #123, Dr. Griffin discusses rapid diagnostic testing in response to the monkeypox outbreak, leading causes of death in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, antibody evasion by subvariants, broadly-neutralizing antibodies against emerging variants, factors associated with severe outcomes among hospitalized immunocompromised adults, measurement of the burden of hospitalizations during the pandemic, parental vaccine hesitancy in diverse communities, evaluating saliva sampling to improve access to diagnosis in low-resource settings, oral sabizabulin for high-risk hospitalized adults, lower-risk of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and neurovascular injury with complement activation and inflammation during infection. [...] read more...

TWiV 917: Boosters on, Paul OffitJuly 10, 2022Paul Offit returns to TWiV to discuss why, during the recent FDA advisory committee meeting, he voted against releasing revised COVID-19 vaccines containing an Omicron component, and the reasons why children must be vaccinated against the disease. [...] read more...

TWiV 916: COVID-19 clinical update #122 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 9, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #122, Dr. Griffin discusses vaccine availability and coverage among children, post-infection health impairments in children and adolescents, infection detection using salvia and nasopharyngeal samples, effectiveness of vaccines during delta dominance, durability… [...] read more...

TWiM 268: Aspergillus and aspergillumJuly 8, 2022TWiM discusses citizen science surveillance of drug-resistant Aspergillus in garden soil, and the mechanism of action of a copper dependent antibiotic. [...] read more...

TWiV 915: Mouse mouth to mouse momJuly 3, 2022TWiV discusses the recent decision by an FDA advisory committee to update COVID vaccines for the fall, the monkeypox virus outbreak, and the finding that enteric viruses infect the salivary glands and are transmitted through saliva. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 79: When the immune system is away, SARS-CoV-2 will playJuly 2, 2022Nels and Vincent discuss an analysis of the drivers of evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during chronic infections, indicating that a tradeoff exists between antibody evasion and fitness. [...] read more...

TWiV 914: COVID-19 clinical update #121 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJuly 2, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #121, Dr. Griffin discusses age as a risk factor for severe disease, updated vaccine boosters for the fall, pediatric infection and antibody seroprevalence in Arkansas over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, all-cause maternal mortality in the United States before and during the pandemic, and the effect of 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment and how it impacts vaccine immunity. [...] read more...

TWiP 207: Accidental host with Claire Panosian, MDJuly 1, 2022Claire joins the TWiP team to discuss her training and experience as an infectious disease physician, and her transition to science communication, then we solve the case of the Honduran Male with Seizures. [...] read more...

Immune 57: Bacteria, the new cure for wounds?June 30, 2022Immune reviews data showing that in mice, skin bacteria activate keratinocytes to stimulate hair follicle regeneration and wound healing. [...] read more...

TWiN 31: HIV-1 co-receptor shapes window for memory linkingJune 29, 2022TWiN explains the observation that in mice, the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5 closes the temporal window for linking different memories. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #5June 29, 2022On episode #5 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 6/8/22 – 6/22/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 913: Twinkle twinkle little SARSJune 26, 2022TWiV explains the meaning of vaccine-derived poliovirus found in London sewage, risk of long COVID after infections with Delta or Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2, and enhancers of innate immune signaling as broad-spectrum antivirals. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello,… [...] read more...

TWiM 267: The honey badger of pathogens with Heran DarwinJune 25, 2022From ASM Microbe 2022 in Washington, DC, Heran joins TWiM to discuss her career and her work on the agent of tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson Guest: Heran Darwin… [...] read more...

TWiV 912: COVID-19 clinical update #120 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 25, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #120, Dr. Griffin discusses outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, CDC recommendation for vaccines in young children, neurodevelopment outcomes in infants of mothers testing positive for COVID during pregnancy, efficacy of monoclonal antibodies and antivirals in hamsters, rebound phenomenon after PAXLOVID in high-risk persons, hospitalization for infection after PAXLOVID treatment, and risk of long COVID with different variants. [...] read more...

TWiV 911: Antibody can get vaccinated nowJune 19, 2022TWiV provides an update on hepatitis of unknown etiology in children, an experimental nanoparticle vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus, and minimal impact of bamlanivimab therapy on antiviral antibodies induced by vaccination. [...] read more...

TWiV 910: COVID-19 clinical update #119 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 18, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #119, Dr. Griffin reviews tixagevimab for infection prevention, ivermectin for outpatient infection treatment, symptom rebound after PAXLOVID treatment, bamlanivimab minimally impacting immune response to vaccination, in-hospital mortality among infection patients, residual viral antigen in patients following infection, usage of Casirvimab/Imdevimab and Remdesivir in infected patients with depleted B-cells, and rheumatic symptoms following infection. [...] read more...

TWiV 909: Art of scienceJune 16, 2022From ASM Microbe 2022 in Washington DC, Vincent and Michael speak with science artists Michele Banks and Jane Hartman about their work and their inspiration. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #4June 14, 2022On episode #4 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 5/25/22 – 6/8/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 907: When the cats and mice are away, the viruses playJune 12, 2022TWiV discusses the situation with monkeypox, risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infections of cats and dogs, and a lineage-tracing mouse model for studying papillomavirus infections. [...] read more...

TWiV 908: COVID-19 clinical update #118 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 11, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #118, Dr. Griffin discusses management of hair loss after infection, FDA announcements on vaccine schedule and recommendations, Moderna announcement on bivalent booster candidate, association between vaccination and infection during pregnancy, population-level implications of Israel’s booster campaign, PAXLOVID outcomes during recent infection surge, efficacy and safety of Tixagevimab-cilgavimab, diagnostic accuracy of infection by canines, efficacy of colchicine in hospitalized patients, and factors associated with hospital readmission. [...] read more...

TWiM 266: Bacteria that can recordJune 8, 2022TWiM explains how spindle-shaped Archaeal viruses evolved from rod-shaped ancestors to package a larger genome, and transcriptional recording by CRISPR acquisition from RNA. [...] read more...

TWiV 906: Long COVID, giant viruses, and smallish poxJune 5, 2022TWiV reviews human monkeypox infections, evidence for human Mimivrus infections, and incidence of long COVID in post-vaccine SARS-CoV-2 infections. [...] read more...

TWiV 905: COVID-19 clinical update #117 with Dr. Daniel GriffinJune 4, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #117, Dr. Griffin discusses duration of virus shedding, association between pre-exposure to steroids and infection outcome, post-infection subtypes, rehabilitation for post-acute infection, Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab for infection prevention, antibody prophylaxis and vaccination in kidney transplant recipients, remdesivir and bebtelovimab fact sheets for providers, the updated guidelines on treatment with Famotidine, Paxlovid rebound symptom characterizations, antigen test positivity duration, viral dynamics of variants and isolation, association of inflammation in CS fluid, and transmission dynamics in Ghana. [...] read more...

Immune 56: Flip flops on the thymic beach with Al SingerJune 1, 2022Al Singer joins immune to discuss mice that have their T cell immune system reversed, revealing the molecular basis for T cell lineage fate determination in the thymus. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #3May 31, 2022On the third episode of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 5/11/22 – 5/25/22. [...] read more...

TWiP 206: Bacteria protect mosquitoes from parasitesMay 30, 2022The TWiP team solves the case of the Ghanian Women With Leg Swelling, and relate how Anopheline mosquitoes are protected against parasite infection by tryptophan catabolism in gut microbiota. [...] read more...

TWiV 904: 50 years of reverse transcriptaseMay 29, 2022Vincent travels to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to speak with David Baltimore, John Coffin, and Harold Varmus about the discovery in 1970 of retroviral reverse transcriptase and its impact on life sciences research. [...] read more...

TWiV 903: COVID-19 clinical update #116 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 28, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #115, Dr. Griffin discusses croup association with infection surge, rhinovirus co-circulation in children, shedding following vaccination, high vaccine efficacy in children 6 mo-5 yr, vaccine protection for hospitalized patients, convalescent plasma as post-exposure prophylaxis, real-world effectiveness of PAXLOVID, effectiveness of PAXLOVID in reducing hospitalization, infection rebound after PAXLOVID, relapse of symptomatic infection after PAXLOVID, remdesivir and bebtelovimab fact sheets for providers, guidelines on usage of anticoagulation drugs, long covid symptoms after vaccination, excess mortality in MA, infection sequelae and immunity, and post infection conditions among adults. [...] read more...

TWiV Special: Monkeypox clinical update with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 26, 2022In this special episode, Dr. Griffin answers questions about the recent cases of monkeypox including their origin, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and overall risk. [...] read more...

TWiN 30: Gut to brain spread of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s diseaseMay 24, 2022TWiN describes experiments demonstrating that gut injection of alpha-synuclein fibrils in mice converts endogenous alpha-synuclein to a pathologic form that spreads to the brain and leads to features of Parkinson’s disease. [...] read more...

TWiV 902: Autoantibodies drive severe COVID-19May 22, 2022TWiV reviews recent cases of monkeypox, presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA but not infectious virus in feces, and the association of autoantibodies to interferons with severe COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiM 265: Antiviral hotspots and desiccation toleranceMay 21, 2022TWiM explains the discovery of hotspots of genetic variation containing reservoirs of anti-phage systems in E. coli phages and their parasitic satellites, and pathogen desiccation tolerance promoted by hydrophilins. [...] read more...

TWiV 901: COVID-19 clinical update #115 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 21, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #115, Dr. Griffin reviews cross-variant immunity without vaccination, EUA for boosters in 5-11 year olds, B.1.1.529 attack rate, scent dogs, Omicron and pets, Paxlovid, Veklury, Fluvoxamine, antigen positivity after isolation, inflammasome activation and severe disease, and GI persistence and fecal shedding. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #2May 17, 2022On the the second episode of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 4/27/22 – 5/11/22. [...] read more...

TWiV 900: Burning down the mouseMay 15, 2022TWiV celebrates 900 episodes, Vincent gives the Richard R. Ernst lecture, and we discuss why inflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives severe COVID-19. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Click… [...] read more...

TWiV 899: COVID-19 clinical update #114 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 14, 2022n COVID-19 clinical update #114, Dr. Griffin discusses early treatment with ivermectin, procalcitonin not a reliable biomarker, vaccine in 6-11 year olds, FDA limits use of Janssen vaccine, does site of vaccine booster matter, sniffer dogs, monoclonals for hospitalized patients, risk assessment for public events, Paxlovid eligibility, and persistence of pediatric anosmia, [...] read more...

TWiV 898: Immunity is skin deepMay 8, 2022TWiV explains why the concept of herd immunity might not apply to COVID-19, and the observation that smallpox vaccination causes an increase in skin bacteria that promote pathology and influence the immune response. [...] read more...

TWiV 897: COVID-19 clinical update #113 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMay 7, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #113, Dr. Griffin discusses tocilizumab use in hospitalized Patients, IL-6 inhibitors and mortality, Baricitinib in hospitalized patients, post-infection neurological sequelae, comparative effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, phase 2/3 study of Paxlovid, infection relapse following Paxlovid, pre-hospital administration of Remdesivir, and hospitalization with different variants. [...] read more...

TWiM 264: Antimicrobial antipsychoticsMay 6, 2022TWiM reveals that the atypical antipsychotic quetiapine promotes multiple antibiotic resistance in E. coli, and treatment with Bifidobacterium lactis probiotic benefits patients with coronary artery disease. [...] read more...

Infectious Disease Puscast #1May 5, 2022On the first episode of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara bring Marc Crislip’s well known Puscast back to life, and present a review of the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 4/13 – 4/27/22. [...] read more...

TWiP 205: Two for the price of oneMay 3, 2022The TWiP team solves the case of the Pregnant Ghanian Living Near a River, and reveal drug development for treatment of onchocerciasis. [...] read more...

Immune 55: Cells that suck at their jobMay 3, 2022Immune reveals a CD8+ regulatory subset of T cell subset that suppress pathogenic T cells and are active in autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases including COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiN 29: Astrocytes close the critical periodMay 2, 2022TWiN explains the finding that in the mouse visual cortex, astrocytes are key elements in the experience-dependent wiring of brain circuits. [...] read more...

TWiV 896: Memory B cells, the way we wereMay 1, 2022TWiV explains a study of how climate change is predicted to increase cross-species viral transmission risk, and increased memory B cell potency and breadth after a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine boost. [...] read more...

TWiV 895: COVID-19 clinical update #112 with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 30, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #112, Dr. Griffin reviews seroprevalence of infection-induced antibodies, Moderna filing for vaccine authorization in young children, public health impact of vaccines in US, FDA approval of first treatment for young children, phase 2 data for Sabizabulin, and post infection inflammation. [...] read more...

TWiV 894: Dinner with the TMPRSS familyApril 28, 2022TWiV explains what is known about cases of acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin in children, and discovery of an inhibitor of TMPRSS2 protease that blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 77: The mutations of our livesApril 26, 2022Alex joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his work which demonstrates that somatic mutation rates scale with lifespan in mammals. [...] read more...

TWiV 893: Yellow fever virus escapes antibodiesApril 24, 2022Kartik, Denise, and Gorka join TWiV to discuss their finding that changes in the surface glycoprotein of South American yellow fever virus lead to reduced neutralization by antibodies induced by the vaccine, which is derived from an African isolate. [...] read more...

TWiV 892: COVID-19 clinical update #111 with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 23, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #111, Dr. Griffin discusses vaccine coverage and mortality in Hong Kong, immune response to boosters in kids, hospitalization of kids, breath based diagnostic test, viral co-infections, bivalent mRNA vaccine, intramuscular Evusheld, and global long COVID. [...] read more...

TWiV 891: LLOV in the time of EbolaApril 21, 2022Elke, Adam, and Gabor join TWiV to discuss their work on Lloviu virus, a filovirus, including recovery of infectious virus from a DNA copy of the genome and from Schreiber’s bats in Hungary. [...] read more...

TWiM 263: Lavender and cathetersApril 18, 2022TWiM explains the use of lavender oil to disrupt Listeria biofilms, and how treatment of catheters with liquid silicone reduces associated urinary tract infections. [...] read more...

TWiV 890: Looking into a booster crystal ballApril 17, 2022This episode of TWiV is focused on COVID-19 vaccines and antibodies: who should get boosters, whether a variant matched mRNA vaccine is superior to a historical vaccine, and how the interval between vaccination and infection influences the quality of the antibody response. [...] read more...

TWiV 889: COVID-19 clinical update #110 with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 16, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #110, Dr. Griffin covers hospital admissions during variant outbreaks, viral load in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, predictive capacity of symptoms in children, comparison of antigen tests, incidence of myocarditis after vaccination, steroids during replication phase, Paxlovid efficacy and safety, fluvoxamine, sabizabutin, colchicine, and prevalence of infection in Africa. [...] read more...

TWiV 888: Molnupiravir with Richard PlemperApril 14, 2022Richard joins TWiV to discuss the SARS-CoV-2 antiviral drug Molnupiravir , including how it was discovered, its mechanism of action, whether it is a mutagen for cells, and the future of drugs for treatment of COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiV 887: Bonfire of the monocytesApril 10, 2022TWiV explains why this season’s influenza vaccine is not protecting against mild to moderate disease caused by H3N2 virus, and that antibody-dependent entry of SARS-CoV-2 into monocytes is a major contributor to severe COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiV 886: COVID-19 clinical update #109 with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 9, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #109, Daniel Griffin discusses cardiac complications after infection or vaccination, long COVID in children, fourth vaccine dose in Israel, no need for fourth vaccine dose in EU, dexamethasone dosing, immunomodulation therapy, MIS outcomes in children, US long COVID effort launched, and herd immunity. [...] read more...

TWiV 885: Russian bats and Ankara vectorsApril 7, 2022TWiV reveals an ACE2-dependent sarbecovirus from Russian bats that is not inhibited by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and a modified vaccinia virus Ankara vectored vaccine that protects nonhuman primates from Delta infection. [...] read more...

Immune 54: Asthma and agingApril 6, 2022Immune explains how aging influences chronic outcomes of respiratory viral infection through regulation of the alveolar macrophage compartment and type 2 inflammatory responses to viruses. [...] read more...

TWiN 28: Oligodendrocyte performance enhancing exosomesApril 4, 2022TWiN reveals how oligodendrocytes enhance axonal energy metabolism by transcellular delivery of a protein, SIRT2, that deacetylates mitochondrial proteins. [...] read more...

TWiM 262: Spot on with T4SS modulatorsApril 3, 2022TWiM welcomes new host Petra, and explains how a small protein helps ensure that E. coli utilizes a preferred carbon source, and a screening strategy to identify inhibitors of the type IV secretion system that is essential for virulence of a variety of bacterial pathogens. [...] read more...

TWiV 884: Cytokines and viral mimicryApril 3, 2022Vincent and Amy explain how asthmatic bronchial smooth muscle increases rhinovirus replication in the bronchial epithelium, and mimicry of IL-17 by the ORF8 protein of SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiV 883: COVID-19 clinical update #108 with Dr. Daniel GriffinApril 2, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #107, Daniel Griffin reviews vaccine booster doses, at-home testing, transmission in ferrets, improving indoor air quality, trials of BCG, ivermectin, and fluvoxamine, vaccination during pregnancy, mRNA vaccines and Fc functions, anti-platelet and aspirin therapy and a trial of prone positioning. [...] read more...

TWiV 882: Elispot on about T cells and lipidsMarch 31, 2022Vincent and Brianne review the need to better understand T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection to better inform public health decisions, and how IL-1 and IL-1ra are important regulators of the inflammatory response to RNA vaccines. [...] read more...

TWiP 204: Near a fast-flowing riverMarch 28, 2022The TWiP team solves the case Two Ghanians Near A Fast-Flowing River, and discuss a promising new drug for treatment of African trypanosomiasis. [...] read more...

TWiV 881: 50 ways to zap your virusMarch 27, 2022TWiV describes the identification of a monoclonal antibody that provides broad protection against a variety of hantaviruses, and development of an oral remdesivir-like antiviral that ameliorates viral disease in mice. [...] read more...

TWiV 880: COVID-19 clinical update #107 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 26, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #107, Daniel Griffin discusses Moderna vaccine results in children, hospitalization by ethnicity, BA.2 severity in children, placentitis and thrombohematoma during pregnancy, predictive value of symptoms for diagnosis, Evusheld activity against BA.1 and BA.2, Remdesivir resistance, Ivermectin with and without strongyloidiasis, inhaled ciclesonide, home telemonitoring, pulse oximetry for remote monitoring, effectiveness of anti-platelet therapy, and deaths in Zambia. [...] read more...

TWiV 879: Indolent, resistant, and losing our TMPRSSMarch 24, 2022TWiV reviews the emergence of remdesivir-resistant SARS-CoV-2 during treatment of a persistently infected immunocompromised patient, and how altered TMPRSS2 utilization by the Omicron variant influences infectivity and fusion. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 76: One-step symbiosisMarch 22, 2022Nels and Vincent describe how a single amino acid change can allow E. coli to replace the essential gut symbiont of the stinkbug Plautia stali. [...] read more...

TWiV 878: Shape matters sometimesMarch 20, 2022TWiV revisits chronic wasting disease of cervids and the ability of the prions to infect meadow voles and raccoons, and the suggestion that stochastic assembly of influenza virus particles may play a role in phenotypic diversity. [...] read more...

TWiV 877: COVID-19 clinical update #106 with Dr. Daniel GriffinMarch 19, 2022In COVID-19 clinical update #106, Daniel Griffin covers failure of ivermectin to improve hospitalization, increased hospitalization of children with Omicron, seroconversion of children versus adults, effectiveness of Pfizer mRNA vaccine in children, high vaccine effectiveness in Finland against Omicron, distinct long COVID clinical phenotypes, and estimating worldwide excess mortality. [...] read more...

TWiM 261: Overwhelming microbial greatnessMarch 18, 2022Mark returns to TWiM to join in a discussion of soil microbiota as game-changers in restoration of degraded lands, and discovery of a centimeter-long bacterium, the biggest yet discovered. [...] read more...

TWiV 876: Spillover market with Michael WorobeyMarch 17, 2022Michael Worobey joins TWiV to explain evidence that SARS-CoV-2 emerged via the wildlife trade and that the Huanan market was the unambiguous epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] read more...

TWiV 875: Animal houseMarch 13, 2022TWiV discusses the virome of game animals in China, and the finding that binding of sarbecoviruses to ACE2 is an ancestral and evolvable trait. [...] read more...

TWiN 27: Eyes wired to the auditory cortexMarch 3, 2022TWiN discusses the finding that rewiring retinal projections to the auditory thalamus in ferrets leads to visually responsive cells that are typical of cells in the visual cortex. [...] read more...

TWiM 260: Carnivorous vulture beesFebruary 26, 2022In this food-centric TWiM, we reveal the microbiomes of carnivorous vulture bees and of Gala apples from all over the world. [...] read more...

TWiEVO 75: Even the BANAL coronaviruses are interestingFebruary 24, 2022Nels and Vincent review isolation of SARS-CoV-2-like viruses from bats in Laos that can replicate in human cells. [...] read more...

TWiP 203: True, true, and unrelatedFebruary 23, 2022The TWiP team solves the case of the Shopkeeper with Thirst, Rash, and low Blood Oxygen, then review a study on the effect on survival to adulthood in Tanzania of mosquito net use in early childhood. [...] read more...

Immune 53: Dendritic cell robbersFebruary 21, 2022Immune reveals that marginal zone B cells steal complexes of MHC and complement C3 from dendritic cells for antigen presentation to T cells. [...] read more...

Immune 52: B cell boot camp with Gabriel VictoraJanuary 29, 2022Gabriel Victora joins Immune to review how high affinity antibodies are produced in the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid tissues. [...] read more...

TWiN 26: Immunological memory in the brainJanuary 26, 2022TWiN reviews evidence in mice that brain neurons encode and retrieve specific immune responses. [...] read more...

TWiP 202: 80 microns and ovoidJanuary 23, 2022Sara from the Febrile Podcast joins the TWiP team at The Incubator to solve the case of the Man With an Egg Laden Colonic Mass, and Daniel presents a new puzzle for us to solve. [...] read more...

TWiN 25: Thanks for listeningDecember 28, 2021TWiN answers listener questions on sex in neuroscience studies, rotating memories in the brain, odorant receptors in the brain, and neutrophils that promote neuron survival. [...] read more...

Immune 51: Teenage NINJA mice with Nikhil JoshiDecember 22, 2021Nikhil Joshi joins Immune to discuss the creation of NINJA mice that synthesize neoantigens to enable the study of endogenous antigen-specific naïve T cell responses in disease and infection. [...] read more...

TWiN 24: Social transmission of maternal behavior with Ioana Carcea and Robert FroemkeNovember 24, 2021Ioana and Robert join TWiN to discuss their work demonstrating that rodents acquire maternal behavior by social transmission from an experienced mother to a virgin female how to care for a litter via endogenous oxytocin. [...] read more...

Immune 50: Red blood cells are immune sentinelsNovember 11, 2021Immune reviews evidence that toll-like receptor 9 on the surface of red blood cells binds DNA, leading to uptake by macrophages and innate immune activation. [...] read more...

TWiN 23: Peripheral nervous system with Bruce CarterOctober 31, 2021Bruce Carter joins TWiN to discuss the peripheral nervous system: the development of nerves that convey sensory information like touch from the tips of your toes to the brain, and Schwann cells, which are necessary for ensuring that those sensory signals are sustained as they travel long distances to the brain. [...] read more...

Immune 49: I fell in love with worms with Keke FairfaxOctober 13, 2021Keke Fairfax joins Immune to discuss the work from her laboratory on understanding how maternal schistosomiasis impairs IL-4 production and B cell expansion in offspring, and modulation of macrophage immunometabolism by helminths. [...] read more...

TWiN 22: It’s never lupusSeptember 29, 2021TWiN explains how anti-DNA antibodies present in lupus patients bind to GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors, act as positive allosteric modulators, and impair spatial memory. [...] read more...

Immune 48: Environmental enteric dysfunction with Timothy HandSeptember 13, 2021Tim Hand joins Immune to discuss the work from his laboratory showing that environmental enteric dysfunction, a disease caused by chronic malnutrition and infection, and which is associated with reduced growth and oral vaccine failure, is controlled by an increase in intestinal regulatory T cells. [...] read more...

TWiN 21: How do we know if a mouse is hallucinating?August 24, 2021TWiN explores a study of hallucination-like perception in mice which supports the idea that hallucinations arise as faulty perceptual inferences due to elevated dopamine in the striatum. [...] read more...

Immune 47: Trapping viruses in NETsAugust 23, 2021The immune professors discuss neutrophil extracellular traps, and how IgA-virus immune complexes potentiate this process through Fc receptors on neutrophils. [...] read more...

Immune 46: Bats don’t STING like a beeJuly 27, 2021Immune explore the observation that bat cells display dampened STING-dependent interferon activation, suggesting why bats might have a unique capacity to harbor many viruses. [...] read more...

TWiN 20: Drifting aromas in the brainJuly 14, 2021While perceptual constancy requires the brain to maintain a stable representation of sensory input, TWiN explores a study showing that odor-evoked responses in the olfactory cortex drift over periods of days to weeks. [...] read more...

TWiN 19: Glia 101June 21, 2021On this episode, Vivianne gives a primer on glial cells, with the goal of thinking about the central nervous system holistically and appreciating the different cell types that contribute to its function. [...] read more...

Immune 45: Immune messagesJune 16, 2021On this episode of Immune, we answer listener questions about CAR-Macs, complement and COVID-19, sleep and the immune system, caving and the immune system, germinal centers, COVID-19 vaccines and much more. [...] read more...

Immune 44: Got IgA on the brainMay 17, 2021On this episode of Immune, IgA-producing plasma cells mobilized from the gut play an unexpected role in suppressing neuroinflammation. [...] read more...

TWiN 18: Autism and the gut microbiome with Mauro Costa-MattioliMay 12, 2021Mauro Costa-Mattioli joins TWiN to discuss how his laboratory dissects the contribution of host genetics and the microbiome in complex neurodevelopment disorders such as autism spectrum disorders. [...] read more...

TWiN 17: Worms see the light with Michael NitabachApril 21, 2021Michael Nitabach joins TWiN to discuss the finding that the nematode C. elegans, which do not have eyes, can discriminate between colors to guide foraging decisions and move them away from harmful bacteria that produce a blue-pigment toxin. [...] read more...

Immune 43: CAR-NK and CAR-MAC, thinking outside the CAR-T cell boxMarch 24, 2021On this episode of Immune, Cindy provides an update on CAR-T cell therapy of cancers and introduces two new approaches that utilize NK cells and macrophages and their use in treating solid tumors. [...] read more...

TWiN 16: Neuronal depolarization with Stefano BrigidiMarch 17, 2021Stefano joins TWiN to discuss his work on understanding genomic decoding of neuronal depolarization by stimulus-specific transcriptional regulators. [...] read more...

TWiN 15: Microbiome and neurodevelopment with Helen VuongFebruary 17, 2021Helen joins TWiN to discuss her work on understanding how the maternal microbiome modulates fetal neurodevelopment in mice. [...] read more...

Immune 42: Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibody immunity with Christian GaeblerFebruary 13, 2021Christian joins Immune to discuss the humoral memory response in a cohort of 87 individuals 1.3 and 6.2 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

Immune 41: Zebrafish immunology with Madina WaneJanuary 25, 2021Madina joins Immune to explain how the immune system of zebrafish gills compares to its functional counterpart in mammals, the lungs, and to discuss a zebrafish model for understanding olfactory loss during COVID-19. [...] read more...

TWiN 14: Reducing Alzheimer-like pathology in miceJanuary 14, 2021Ori, Jason, and Vincent discuss the use of antibodies to neutralize amyloid-β seeds before their deposition becomes detectable in transgenic mice, and the finding that the preclinical phase of Alzheimer‘s disease may be a late manifestation of earlier pathogenic seed formation. [...] read more...

Immune 40: COVID-19 nuancesDecember 30, 2020Immune reminisces about a year in COVID-19 immunology, Steph’s receiving the Pfizer vaccine, and answers to listener questions about a challenge study with common cold CoVs, T cell exhaustion, how CD4 T cells control infections, and more. [...] read more...

TWiN 13: mRNAs for long-term memoryDecember 16, 2020Ori, Jason, Erin, and Vincent dissect a study that utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the genes that underlie remote memory storage in the medial prefrontal cortex of the mouse. [...] read more...

Immune 39: A Tonka Truck full of saltDecember 1, 2020Immune catches up on COVID listener email, including discussions about long-term COVID, cross-reactive memory to SARS-CoV-2, common mucosal surfaces, the risky business of peptide mega-pools, immunodominant epitopes and much more. [...] read more...

Immune 38: COVID-19 and kids with Sallie PermarNovember 28, 2020Sallie joins Immune to discuss her career, emphasizing the importance of a good mentor and the ability to pivot, and her research, which has focused on mother to child transmission of infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, CMV, and more recently, COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

Immune 37: Black in ImmunoNovember 16, 2020Alexis, Joel, Elaine, Justine, and Evonne join Immune to discuss their careers, their research, and a platform created by a collective of Black immunologists and allies aimed at amplifying, celebrating and supporting Black voices in immunology. [...] read more...

TWiN 12: A gene for short-term memoryNovember 11, 2020Ori, Jason, and Vincent reveal identification of an orphan receptor that modifies short-term memory in mice, and a mouse model of COVID-19 that includes anosmia or loss of smell. [...] read more...

Immune 36: Aberrant immunity in COVID-19October 21, 2020Immune describes the striking loss of germinal centers in lymph nodes and spleen in patients with severe COVID-19, providing an explanation for short-lived humoral immunity and limited somatic hypermutation of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. [...] read more...

TWiN 11: A dollar per neuronOctober 14, 2020Maria joins TWiN to explain how single-cell transcriptomics is being used to reveal the evolution of the brain, at a cost of about $1 per neuron. [...] read more...

TWiN 10: Remodeling synapses with a cytokineSeptember 29, 2020TWiN explains how a cytokine produced by neurons activates microglia which modify the extracellular matrix and remodel synapses, leading to memory consolidation. [...] read more...

Immune 35: SARS-CoV-2 antibodiesSeptember 23, 2020Immune examines antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, including the relationship between severe COVID-19 and anti-spike antibodies, kinetics of production, and correlates of protection. [...] read more...

Immune 34: Coronavirus cross-reacting T cellsAugust 25, 2020Immune explains a study demonstrating T cells that react with SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in individuals who have never been infected with the virus, implying cross-reactivity with common cold coronaviruses. [...] read more...

TWiN 9: COVID-19 neurology with Genna WaldmanAugust 11, 2020Columbia University Chief Neurology Resident Genna Waldman joins TWiN to explains how her department prepared for COVID-19, and the neurological symptoms associated with the disease. [...] read more...

Immune 33: COVID-19 immunotypesJuly 28, 2020Immune explains a study of 125 COVID-19 patients by deep immune profiling, which revealed three immunotypes associated with poor clinical prognosis or recovery. [...] read more...

TWiN 8: Replacing lost neuronsJuly 7, 2020TWiN explains how neurological disease in mice can be repaired by using CRISPR/Cas to knock down levels of a single cell protein, which converts astrocytes to neurons. [...] read more...

TWiN 7: Stress, the good, bad and beautifulJune 13, 2020The TWiN team reveals how the nervous system controls hair graying in mice subjected to stress, and adaptive immune responses. [...] read more...

Immune 32: Immunology of COVID-19, part fourJune 5, 2020Immune continues a discussion of the immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, including inflammatory responses and disease, antibody and T-cell responses, and vaccines, and answers to listener questions. [...] read more...

TWiN 6: Neural control of sexual behaviorMay 20, 2020Nirao Shah joins TWiN to discuss the work of his laboratory on how our brains generate social interactions that differ between the sexes. [...] read more...

Immune 31: Immunology of COVID-19, part threeMay 8, 2020Immune continues a discussion of the immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, including vaccines and immunity, effects of BCG and OPV, immunity passports, and answers to listener questions. [...] read more...

TWiN 5: Anosmia and COVID-19April 18, 2020Bob Datta joins TWiN to reveal the findings of his laboratory on expression of SARS-CoV-2 entry genes in the olfactory epithelium and the implications for anosmia associated with COVID-19. [...] read more...

Immune 30: Immunology of COVID-19, part twoApril 17, 2020Brianne Barker returns to continue a discussion of the immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, including use of steroid, coagulation in some patients, cytokine storm, and vaccines. [...] read more...

Immune 29: Immunology of COVID-19March 31, 2020Brianne Barker joins Immune to discuss the immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2, including immune respones, pathogenesis, immunopathology and more. [...] read more...

Immune 28: Fish immunologyFebruary 8, 2020Irene Salinas joins Immune to reveal the work of her laboratory on the evolution of mucosal immune responses in teleost fish, the oldest living bony vertebrates. [...] read more...

Immune 27: Trained immunityJanuary 11, 2020Steph explains how sepsis induces protective immune memory in NK cells, via histone methylation of the interferon gamma enhancer. [...] read more...

TWiN 4: It’s a trap!January 9, 2020Jason visits the TWiN studio to explain Arc Capsid Bearing Any RNAs (ACBARs), virus-like capsids that transfer genetic information between neurons. [...] read more...

TWiN 3: Gambling on dopamineDecember 18, 2019Erin and the TWiN team explain how dopamine neurons encode reward probability and uncertainty, and their roles in attention-based learning and risk-taking such as gambling and addiction. [...] read more...

Immune 26: Measles erases immune memoryNovember 28, 2019Michael Mina joins the Immune team to explain his findings that measles diminishes pre-existing antibodies that protect against infection with other pathogens. [...] read more...

TWiN 2: Cells that fire together wire togetherNovember 5, 2019The TWiN team explain the basic principles of synaptic transmission, and review a classic paper demonstrating that recycling endosomes are important for modifying synaptic strength, which is involved in information storage and processing. [...] read more...

Immune 25: Remembrance of antigen encounters pastNovember 1, 2019The Immune team explains that short chain fatty acids produced by microbial fermentation of fiber rewire metabolism to enable the production of memory T cells. [...] read more...

TWiN 1: The ultimate challengeOctober 26, 2019The synaptics launch the first episode of TWiN by revealing their training, research interests, and goals for the podcast. [...] read more...

Immune 24: Unlucky IL-13September 19, 2019The Immune team reveals a new type of T helper cell that drives the production of IgE, leading to allergic responses. [...] read more...

Immune 23: How to tell a mouse from a mouseAugust 14, 2019The immunosomes explain that widely used inbred laboratory mice are not identical, and how to tell them apart. [...] read more...

Immune 22: Engineering B cellsJuly 31, 2019Immune reveals an alternative to a protective vaccine, engineered B cells that produce antiviral antibodies. [...] read more...

Immune 21: Islets of LangelhansJune 12, 2019Immune tackles the finding that patients with Type I diabetes have lymphocytes with both TCR and BCR that may drive the pathogenesis of the disease. [...] read more...

Immune 20: In defense of deathMay 29, 2019The Immune trio explains how activation of the inflammasome by a bacterial protein causes blood clotting through a programmed cell death process called pyroptosis. [...] read more...

Immune 19: Mom’s the wordApril 17, 2019The Immune team discusses immunization of pregnant mice to protect offspring from neonatal herpes simplex virus disease. [...] read more...

Immune 18: Biting off more TCR than you can chewMarch 27, 2019The immunophiles discuss T cell antigen discovery by trogocytosis – the transfer of membrane patches among cells in close contact. [...] read more...

Immune 17: Feed a macrophage, starve a tumorFebruary 13, 2019The immunophiles explain how metabolic rewiring of macrophages by CpG promotes clearance of cancer cells. [...] read more...

Immune 16: B is for BursaJanuary 19, 2019The Immune team turns to chickens, which have been important in understanding the immune system, to show that infection of mature B cells is not required for the pathogenesis of Marek’s disease herpesvirus. [...] read more...

Immune 15: Happy neu-trophil yearDecember 22, 2018Stephanie takes the Immune team on a tour of neutrophils, the most abundant leukocytes in mammals, including tethers and slings, neutrophil rolling, and neutrophil nets. [...] read more...

Immune 14: Braking badNovember 14, 2018The Immune team explains the science behind the 2018 Nobel Prizes awarded to Allison and Honjo: checkpoint immunotherapy. [...] read more...

Immune 13: Do no harmOctober 20, 2018The ImmuNerds discuss how a cellular long non-coding RNA binds to an innate RNA sensor and regulates virus-induced interferon production to prevent damage to the host. [...] read more...

Immune 12: Systems immunologySeptember 19, 2018The Immune trifecta explores systems immunology, and its use in a study of immune system development in newborn children. [...] read more...

Immune 11: Immunomimetic designer cellsAugust 18, 2018Cindy and Vincent describe the construction of a gene network that programs mammalian cells to detect and eliminate bacterial infections. [...] read more...

Immune 10: Immune goes viralJuly 21, 2018The Immune team travels to the University of Maryland for ASV 2018, where they meet up with Rebecca Lynch to explore her work on broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1. [...] read more...

Immune 9: Neither mice nor lamprey lieJune 20, 2018The Immune team explores the variable lymphocyte receptors of jawless vertebrates, a system of immunity that parallels the structurally unrelated antibodies of jawed vertebrates. [...] read more...

Immune 7: Contradictory complements in Alzheimer’s DiseaseApril 18, 2018The Immune hosts discuss how the complement system functions, and its role in early synapse loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. [...] read more...

Immune 6: Potent antiviral antibodies without somatic mutationMarch 16, 2018The Immune hosts explain how antibody molecules mature, then discuss the finding in infants of potent neutralizing antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus without somatic hypermutation. [...] read more...

Immune 5: Mother knows best about food allergiesFebruary 22, 2018The ImmuoModulators provide a primer on mucosal defenses, and explain how sensitizing female mice to food allergens prevents allergic reactions in their offspring. [...] read more...

Immune 4: Putting the immunotherapy CAR T before the cancerJanuary 23, 2018The immu-knowledge-ists deconstruct the holy grail of oncologists, cancer immunotherapy, and the exciting development of CAR T cells and how they work. [...] read more...

Immune 3: Two epitopes, four serotypes, and a partridge in a pear treeDecember 16, 2017Cindy, Steph, and Vincent discuss recent problems with dengue virus vaccine, and a bi-specific monoclonal antibody against Zika virus. [...] read more...

Immune 2: Lymphocytes after darkNovember 25, 2017Cindy, Steph, and Vincent reveal that lymphocyte trafficking through lymph nodes and lymph is circadian – it is dependent on the time of day. [...] read more...

Immune 1: Some like it hotNovember 1, 2017Cindy, Steph, and Vincent launch a new podcast, Immune, and talk about how warm temperature protects against atherosclerosis by regulating monocyte migration into the blood. [...] read more...

ImmuneOctober 16, 2017IMMUNE is a new podcast from the MicrobeTV network. It’s about the host defense systems that protect against disease. Coming November 2017. [...] read more...

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