This Week in Virology

TWiV 1247: In the company of vaccines with Stanley Plotkin

August 24, 2025

Stanley Plotkin joins TWiV to recount his career as a vaccinologist, having participated in the development of vaccines for polio, rabies, and rubella, and his thoughts on the current anti-science, anti-public health, and anti-vaccine climate.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

Guest: Stanley A. Plotkin

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Download TWiV 1247 (65 MB .mp3, 108 min)
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Links for this episode

Support science education at MicrobeTV 1:30
Stanley Plotkin (History of Vaccines)
Talking about vaccines with Dr. Plotkin (CHOP)
Path to eradication of rubella (Vaccine) 24:52, 38:33
Status of cytomegalovirus vaccine (J Inf Dis) 43:58
Human diploid cell vaccines (Dev Biol Stand) 32:08, 33:55
IPV an essential part of polio eradication (Clin Inf Dis) 22:12
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1246: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

August 23, 2025

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus and Legionnaire’s disease in Harlem, the role of the American Association of Pediatrics defining immunization practices, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, effective of the high and low does influenza vaccines, association Gullian-Barre syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vaccines, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, vascular aging after COVID-19 and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Links for this episode

Department of Public Health alerts public to rare Vibrio vulnificus bacteria in coastal waters (Mass.gov) 8:09
Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) 14:31
Ivermectin to Control Malaria (NEJM) 10:39
AAP has been leading voice on childhood vaccine recommendations since 1930s
(American Academy of Pediatrics)
The American Academy of Pediatrics Releases Its Own Evidence-Based Immunization Schedule (American Academy of Pediatrics) 20:27
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 25:54
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Health Ministry says unvaccinated 18-month-old dies of measles (Times of Israel) 26:42
Ten countries in the Americas report measles outbreaks in 2025 (PAHO: Pan American Health Organization) 27:48
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 27:30
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
Relative effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccine against hospitalizations and mortality according to frailty score (JID) 30:49
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))
Evaluation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Among Adults 65 Years and Older (FDA)
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) 33:03
Evidence to Recommendations Framework (EtR): RSV Vaccination in Adults Aged 50–59 years (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases) 33:03
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 34:36
COVID-19 deaths (CDC) 34:36
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) 34:36
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biorXiv)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Paxlovid (Pfizer)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Accelerated vascular ageing after COVID-19 infection: the CARTESIAN study (European Heart Journal) 36:23
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1246 6:16, 41:25
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1245: Grabbing herpesvirus with both arms

August 17, 2025

TWiV reviews fradulent science becoming an industry, FDA may not authorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids, Kennedy won’t push strict pesticide regulations conserved betacoronavirus sequences recognized by human T cells, and Bispecific antibodies protect against herpes recurrent disease.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker

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Links for this episode

Support science education at MicrobeTV 5:21
Frontiers in Comparative Systems Virology 5:53
Fradulent science becomes an industry (Science) 7:46
FDA may not authorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids (CIDRAP) 13:14
Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations (NY Times) 15:44
Conserved betacoronavirus sequences recognized by human T cells (Cell) 17:30
Bispecific antibodies protect against herpes recurrent disease (Cell Rep) 43:57
Letters read on TWiV 1245 1:21:21
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:34:31

Brianne – New Study Suggests Using AI Made Doctors Less Skilled at Spotting Cancer
Alan – Save the Microbes effort gets off the ground
Vincent – Dr. Vinay Prasad’s Catch-22: The Only Way He Can Truly Succeed at His Job is to Get Fired Again

Listener Picks

Chaim – “Virus Hunters” by Greer Williams
Bridget – Wave Life Sciences and their potential treatment for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1244: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

August 16, 2025

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses Vijay Prasad’s return to the FDA, revoking of COVID vaccine authorization for young children, the Legionnaires’ outbreak in Harlem, the new labeling requirements for Ixchiq, the infectious attenuated Chikungunya vaccine and the importation of H5 influenza virus in Antarctica, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, guidelines for treating COVID-19, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the association of “virus rebound” and post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients, how virus infection particularly influenza and SARS-CoV-2 may ‘re-activate’ dormant cancer cells and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1244 (26 MB .mp3, 43min)
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Links for this episode

Prasad returns to the FDA (Washington Post) 1:55
Pfizer Covid vaccine for young children may not be renewed by FDA (The Guardian) 2:55
Report suggests FDA may not reauthorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids (CIDRAP) 2:55
Factors Associated With Pediatric COVID-19 Mortality: A Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC) Study (Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society) 6:46
Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) 10:02
Recommended Pause in Use of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) in Individuals 60 Years of Age and Older While Postmarketing Safety Reports are Investigated (FDA) 11:08
FDA Removes Recommended Pause in Use and Approves Required Updated Labeling (FDA) 11:45
Chikungunya Vaccines (CDC: Chikungunya virus) 11:56
Chikungunya in China (CDC: Travelers’ Health) 11:56
Travelers’ health notices (CDC: Travelers’ Health) 11:56
Areas at Risk for Chikungunya (CDC: Chikungunya virus) 11:56
Adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine is effective against herpes zoster ophthalmicus, and is associated with lower risk of acute myocardial infarction and stroke in adults aged ≥50 years (CID) 13:48
Tracking HPAIV H5 through a geographic survey of Antarctic seabird populations
(Scientific Reports) 15:51
Report details first suspected H5 avian flu detections in seabirds in Antarctica (CIDRAP) 15:51
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) 19:46
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 19:46
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) 21:53
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 22:12
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 22:59
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) 22:59
2025 Clinical Practice Guideline Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America on the Treatment and Management of COVID-19: Pemivibart for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, Vilobelimab for Critical Illness, and Abatacept or Infliximab for Severe or Critical Illness (CID) 24:06
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biorXiv)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Paxlovid (Pfizer)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID and Cancer (MicrobeTV) 25:56
Respiratory viral infections awaken metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs (Nature) 25:56
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1244 30:55
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID, and cancer

August 10, 2025

TWiV discusses the latest worrisome Executive Order on oversight of federal grantmaking, RFK Jr winds down mRNA viral vaccine development, Lenacapavir, a drug for AIDS prevention and treatment, and how respiratory virus infections awaken dormant metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker

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Download TWiV 1243 (68 MB .mp3, 117 min)
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Links for this episode

Support science education at MicrobeTV 2:06
Oversight of Federal grantmaking (Whitehouse.gov) 2:37
Grantmaking gets a Christofascist (Rasmussen Retorts) 3:15
HHS winds down mRNA vaccine development (HHS) 10:31
Lives saved by COVID vaccines (JAMA) 15:00
Lenacapavir review (Biochem Pharm) 17:33
UNAIDS urges Gilead to lower price of lenacapavir (UNAIDS) 40:56
Gilead and price gouging (Wikipedia) 40:56
Respiratory virus infections awaken metastatic breast cancer (Nature) 45:50
Letters read on TWiV 1243 45:03, 1:30:39
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:42:40

Brianne – Xkcd: Geologic Periods
Rich – Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
Alan – The Broken Earth trilogy by N. K. Jemisin
Vincent – Cacio e pepe: Good Food pasta recipe sparks fury in Italy

Listener Pick

Linda – DNA captured in air could identify life forms

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1242: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

August 9, 2025

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello re-address the dangers of drinking raw milk, the Legionnaire’s outbreak in Harlem and results of a vaccine knowledge survey done by emergency departments before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, reports of influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy or neuropsychiatric events in children, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the effectiveness of Pfizer and MODERNA vaccines against the JN.1 variant, risk of children developing severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infection, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the association of “virus rebound” and post-acute sequelae among hospitalized patients, effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against long COVID, predictors for distinct COVID-19 sequelae including immune disturbances and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1242 (29 MB .mp3, 47 min)
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Links for this episode

Florida Department of Health Provides Update on Raw Milk (Florida Health) 3:46
Raw milk linked to 21 E coli, Campylobacter infections in Florida (CIDRAP) 3:46
Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health) 5:50
NYC health officials report Harlem Legionnaires’ outbreak (CIDRAP) 5:50
Emergency Department Survey of Vaccination Knowledge, Vaccination Coverage, and Willingness to Receive Vaccines in an Emergency Department Among Underserved Populations (CDC: MMWR) 7:55
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) 10:30
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 10:30
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) 11:16
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 11:55
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in US Children (JAMA) 12:20
Influenza With and Without Oseltamivir Treatment and Neuropsychiatric Events Among Children and Adolescents (JAMA Neurology) 16:53
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC) 21:41
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) 21:41
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) 21:41
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biorXiv)
Effectiveness of the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 JN.1-adapted vaccines against COVID-19-associated hospitalisation and death: a Danish, nationwide, register-based, cohort study (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) 22:39
Hospitalization for COVID-19 and Risk Factors for Severe Disease Among Children: 2022–2024 (Pediatrics) 26:22
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Metformin and Time to Sustained Recovery in Adults With COVID-19 (JAMA Internal Medicine) 29:15
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Paxlovid (Pfizer)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 rebound and post-acute mortality and hospitalization among patients admitted with COVID-19 (Nature Communications) 30:42
Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against post COVID-19 condition/long COVID (CMI: Clinical Microbiology and Infection) 35:38
Precision Symptom Phenotyping Identifies Early Clinical and Proteomic Predictors of Distinct COVID-19 Sequelae (JID) 38:43
Systemic and SARS-CoV-2 specific Immune Disturbances in Individuals With Post–COVID Syndrome (JID) 40:00
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1242 41:54
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1241: The most beautiful experiment

August 3, 2025

TWiV reports on the administration putting a choke hold on billions of NIH health research funding, US Senators tell scientists they want to protect the NIH budget, then review a classic experiment showing the mechanism of DNA replication, and explain how jumbo phage DNA is transcribed in a membrane-bound compartment before transfer into proteinaceous “nucleus” compartment.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, Brianne Barker, Jolene Ramsey, and Angela Mingarelli

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Download TWiV 1241 (70 MB .mp3, 117 min)
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Links for this episode

Support science education at MicrobeTV 5:03
Chokehold on billions in NIH funding (WSJ) 5:37
Senators want to protect NIH budget (Nature) 7:50
Replication of DNA in E. coli (PNAS) 14:21
Biography of Franklin Stahl (DNA Learning Center) 14:59
Franklin Stahl, 95 (Caltech Magazine) 14:28
FW Stahl dies (NY Times) 14:59
Requiem for a machine (Small Things Considered) 24:35
Membrane and protein bound organelles during phage infection (Cell Host Micr) 50:20
Letters read on TWiV 1241 1:27:48
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:29:57

Angela – Benefits of interacting with Nature
Brianne – “Why Trust Science” Essay
Kathy – Dental floss delivery of vaccines to mice
Rich – The Monk in the Garden
Jolene – JWST COSMOS-Web Interactive Map viewer
Vincent – New Injectable Recommended by Europe for HIV Prevention

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1240: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

August 2, 2025

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about the recent Salmonella typhimurim outbreak, the ousting of another CBER director, confirmation of a new CDC director and results of a recent pool about vaccine safety and trust before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, a new anti-influenza antibody that can be combined with neuraminidase inhibitors, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the effectiveness of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, safety of the JN.1 updated vaccine, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the prevalence of cardiac and pulmonary abnormalities found via medical imaging following COVID-19 and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Download TWiV 1240 (29 MB .mp3, 48 min)
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Commercially Distributed Raw Milk (CDC: MMWR) 8:00
Top F.D.A. Official Resigns UnderPressure (NY Times) 12:03
In a first, the Senate confirms a new CDC director (NPR) 14:41
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Vaccine Safety and Trust (KFF) 16:50
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) 21:35
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 21:35
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) 21:50
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts(ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 22:10
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 22:10
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) 21:10
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
Effects of baloxavir marboxil plus neuraminidase inhibitor versus neuraminidase inhibitor in high-risk patients hospitalized with severe influenza: a post hoc analysis of the Flagstone trial (OFID) 23:08
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 25:27
COVID-19 deaths (CDC) 25:27
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV)
Safety of JN.1-Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (JAMA) 26:39
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Paxlovid (Pfizer)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Prevalence of Persistent Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Abnormalities on PET/MRI and DECT Imaging in Long COVID Patients (Journal of Nuclear Medicine) 32:50
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1240 36:36
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1239: Aluminum and antibodies

July 27, 2025

TWiV explains a cohort study of over one million Danish children which shows no evidence supporting an increased risk for autoimmune, atopic or allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders associated with early childhood exposure to vaccines with aluminum-base adjuvants, and a study of antibodies induced by mRNA-1273 and NVX-CoV2373 COVID-19 vaccines which show that polyclonal antibodies against a single site on the
spike N-terminal domain show immunodominance, high diversity, and limited crossreactivity, indicating the need to direct antibody responses away from this site.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker

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Download TWiV 1239 (67 MB .mp3, 111 min)
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

Support science education at MicrobeTV 5:13
No chronic effects of aluminum-based adjuvants in vaccines (Ann Int Med) 7:22
Aluminum in vaccines (CHOP) 8:22
Structural serology of antibody responses to COVID vaccines (Cell Rep) 27:50
Letters read on TWiV 1239 1:12:02
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:42:56

Brianne – MHC Class I Antigen Presentation Video
Alan – We Become What We Behold
Vincent – New Injectable Recommended by Europe for HIV Prevention

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV 1238: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

July 26, 2025

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about how flies and milk-snatching might contribute to influenza virus H5N1 among dairy cattle, the recent pertussis oubreak and measles epidemic before Dr. Griffin discusses monoclonal antibody therapy can enrich for RSV variants before deep diving into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the effectiveness of Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine, where to find PEMGARDA, provides information for Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, how mast cell activation can enhance long COVID and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.

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Links for this episode

Flies, ‘milk snatching’ among H5N1 transmission contributors in dairy cattle (CIDRAP) 5:06
H5N1 virus invades the mammary glands of dairy cattle through “mouth-to-teat” transmission (NSR: National Science Review) 5:41
Mississippi warns of steep increase in pertussis cases (CIDRAP) 9:00
MSDH Issues Pertussis Alert (Mississippi State Department of Health) 9:11
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) 11:38
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) 12:07
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Respiratory Syncytial virus Strain Evolution and Mutations in Western Australia in the Context of Nirsevimab Prophylaxis (OFID) 13:18
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) 15:49
COVID-19 deaths (CDC) 15:49
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) 15:49
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (biorXiv)
Real-world Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Sinopharm COVID-19 Vaccine Against Symptomatic COVID-19 in an Omicron-Dominant Setting in Mozambique (CID) 18:30
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Paxlovid (Pfizer)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Steroids, dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)
Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin’s evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Mast cell activation symptoms are prevalent in Long-COVID (International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Using the Right Criteria for MCAS (Current Allergy and Asthma Reports)
Utility of glucagon-like-peptide-1-receptor agonists in mast cell activation syndrome (The American Journal of the Medical Sciences) 24:25
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1238 29:50
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!