This Week in Virology

TWiV 1032: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

August 5, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1032 (25 MB .mp3, 35 min)

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Links for this episode

Predicting COVID-19 incidence using wastewater surveillance data (CDC) 8:10
Use of wastewater metrics to track COVID-19 in the US (JAMA) 8:29
Wastewater-based epidemiology predicts COVID-19-induced new hospital admissions (Nature) 9:55
Association between duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity and long COVID (JID) 12:10
Rapid direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols in exhaled breath at the point of care (ACS) 14:15
Effectiveness of oral Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir vs. intravenous three-day Remdesivir in preventing COVID-19 progression (Viruses) 16:58
NIH has launched several phase 2 long-COVID treatment trials (NIH) 19:30
Fatigue can shatter a person (Atlantic) 23:59
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 26:02
Letters read on TWiV 1032 26:35
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1031: Death on the West Nile

July 30, 2023

TWiV 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.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Alan Dove

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Download TWiV 1031 (90 MB .mp3, 125 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress 4:24
Position in Rosenfeld Laboratory (pdf) 5:58
XKCD on antivaxxers 12:11
RFK Jr. CDC or FDA head? (Politico) 13:02
Performance of rapid antigen tests (Ann Int Med) 17:25
Guidance on rapid antigen tests (FDA) 35:39
Autoantibodies to IFN in West Nile virus encephalitis (JEM) 45:14
Letters read on TWiV 1031 1:15:58
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:44:30

Rich – The Final Covid-19 Grand Rounds: What Have We Learned?
Alan – Teaching biology to Tibetan Buddhist monks
Vincent – I got it from Agnes by Tom Lehrer and Why Oppenheimer has important lessons for scientists today

Listener Picks

Ryan – Paul Offit on PBS Newshour to explain RFK Jr.’s Congressional Hearing

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiV 1030: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

July 29, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1030 (24 MB .mp3, 33 min)

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Links for this episode

Use of RSV vaccines in older adults (CDC) 1:24
Case report of leprosy in Central Florida (EID) 3:07
Blood group A enhances SARS-CoV-2 infection (Blood) 6:19
Predicting COVID-19 incidence using wastewater surveillance data (EID) 8:27
Common allele of HLA associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (Nature) 6:14
Prevalence of low-frequency antiviral resistance variants in SARS-CoV-2 isolates (JAMA) 12:08
Viral resistance analyses from the Remdesivir phase 3 treatment trial (JID) 15:14
Impact of Molnupiravir treatment on patient-reported COVID-19 symptoms (CID) 16:27
Molnupiravir for treatment of adults with mild or moderate COVID-19 (CMI) 18:06
Delayed intubation associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 (BMC) 20:01
Relationship between Azithromycin and cardiovascular outcomes in unvaccinated patients with COVID‐19 (JAHA) 22:16
The effects of COVID-19 on cognitive performance in a community-based cohort (eClinical) 24:03
Clinical phenotypes and quality of life to define post-COVID-19 syndrome (eClinical) 25:12
Contribute to our FIMRC fundraiser at PWB 26:33
Letters read on TWiV 1030 26:54
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1029: David Tuller on Long COVID and ME/CFS

July 27, 2023

David 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.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guest: David Tuller

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Download TWiV 1029 (44 MB .mp3, 61 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
David Tuller at virology blog 55:01, 58:18
CFS, a long tangled tale (virology blog) 2:41
Request for Correction of Prevalence Rates Cited in FND Paper (virology blog) 41:13
Estimates of long COVID prevalence (virology blog) 46:23
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiV 1028: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and T cells

July 23, 2023

TWiV 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.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

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Download TWiV 1023 (56 MB .mp3, 94 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
First gene therapy for hemophilia A approved (FDA) 4:37
Luxturna, gene therapy for vision loss (FDA) 7:05
Anti-RSV monoclonal antibody approved (FDA) 17:41
Trial of single-dose Nirsevimab (NEJM) 20:09
Common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (Nature) 25:59
Letters read on TWiV 1028 25:31, 1:21:01
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:35:48

Dickson – Phoenix hits 110 degrees for the 19th day in a row, setting national record
Brianne – James Webb Telescope One Year Anniversary Photo
Kathy – Drone awards photos
Alan – WHO Film Festival winners
Vincent – Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Listener Picks

David – The Mass Extinction Debates: A Science Communication Odyssey

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiV 1027: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

July 22, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1025 (23 MB .mp3, 38 min)

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Links for this episode

Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer in the United States (Nature) 6:45
Omicron subvariant BA.5 efficiently infects lung cells (Nature) 7:28
COVID-19 scent dog research highlights during the pandemic of December 2019 (JOM) 9:59
T-Cell Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 measured by an interferon-γ release assay is strongly associated with patient outcomes (JID) 14:00
Common allele of HLA is associated with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (Nature) 19:45
Immunology of long COVID (Nature) 29:55
Contribute to our FIMRC fundraiser at PWB 32:01
Letters read on TWiV 1027 32:29
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1026: Debunking RFK Jr.’s vaccine funk with Dan Wilson

July 16, 2023

Dan Wilson returns to TWiV to debunk vaccine misinformation by RFK Jr. during his recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

Guest: Dan Wilson

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Download TWiV 1023 (56 MB .mp3, 94 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
Joe Rogan’s worst misinformation yet, with RFK Jr. (YouTube) 12:26
Every first vaccine has been tested in placebo-controlled trials before going to market. 14:08
- Polio
- Measles
- HPV
- COVID-19
- HepB
- Haemophilus influenzae B
- Pertussis
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Pneumococcal
- Mumps
- Meningococcal
- Chickenpox
- HepA
KiGGS Study results on atopic diseases after vaccination (Vaccine) 21:58
Vaccine history by year (CHOP)
Financing vaccines in the 21st Century (Nat Acad Press) 39:46
DALY rates from non-communicable diseases (Our World in Data) 38:30
Science loses one to creationism (WaPo) 1:09:44
Children’s Health Defense (Wikipedia) 11:52
COVID-19 vaccines saved 3 million US lives (CIDRAP) 33:50
Beyond the Noise with Paul Offit (YouTube) 4:24
Letters read on TWiV 1026 10:26, 1:54:37, 1:58:20
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:41:42

Dickson – Jazz G.O.A.T.S – Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald
Brianne – Defining the Anthropocene?
Kathy – How to use your thermostat on A/C
Rich – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Vincent – Step Aside, Joe Biden

Listener Picks

Kim – Virus found in a boreal lake links ssDNA and dsDNA viruses and Structure of ssDNA bacteriophage ΦCjT23 provides insight into early virus evolution

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiV 1025: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

July 15, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1025 (21 MB .mp3, 35 min)

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Links for this episode

New risk assessment for H5N1 avian flu viruses (CDC) 2:13
Development of monoclonal antibody-based blocking ELISA for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure (Virology) 5:38
Repeated antibiotic exposure and risk of hospitalization and death following COVID-19 infection (eClinicalMedicine) 7:48
COVID-19 Rebound Study (CID) 11:39
Exaggerated blood pressure elevation in response to orthostatic challenge (AN) 17:11
Long term follow-up of a multicenter cohort of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary embolism (TR) 19:13
Risk of Cardiovascular disease after COVID‐19 diagnosis among adults with and without Diabetes (JAHA) 21:47
Contribute to our FIMRC fundraiser at PWB 24:39
Letters read on TWiV 1025 25:11
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1024: The Chumakoviridae

July 14, 2023

Vincent 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.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guest: Kostya Chumakov

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Download TWiV 1024 (72 MB .mp3, 120 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
Mikhail Chumakov (Wikipedia) 00:27
MAPREC (WHO pdf)
Kostya Chumakov Symposium (YouTube) 1:33
Maprec and monkey neurovirulence of OPV (PNAS) 1:18:13
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]

TWiV 1023: Covering science with Katherine Wu

July 9, 2023

Katherine 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 the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her craft.