Arturo 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.
In 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.
TWiV 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.
In 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.
Scott 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.
In 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.
TWiV 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.
In 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.
Paul 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.
TWiV 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.
