This Week in Virology

TWiV 899: COVID-19 clinical update #114 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

May 14, 2022

In 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.

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Download TWiV 899 (34 MB .mp3, 56 min)
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Links for this episode

Effects of early treatment with Ivermectin (NEJM) 36:01
Procalcitonin not a reliable biomarker (IDSA) 43:08
Evaluation of vaccine in children 6 to 11 years (NEJM) 2:40
FDA limits use of Janssen vaccine (FDA) 24:48
Recall of B cell memory on vaccination location (Science Immunology) 26:22
Persistence screening using sniffer dogs (Journal of Clinical Trials) 13:24
Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab for treatment of hospitalized patients (Lancet) 28:13
Infection detection by canine olfaction (OFID) 10:40
Diagnostic utility to differentiate patients (IDSA) 43:55
Prevalence of anosmia in pediatric cases (Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal) 7:22
Risk assessment for public events (University of Texas COVID-19 Modeling Consortium) 17:03
PAXLOVID patient eligibility screening checklist (FDA) 33:01
PAXLOVID drug interactions (IDSA) 34:36
Contribute to ASTMH fundraiser at PWB 48:05
Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 899 48:41
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 898: Immunity is skin deep

May 8, 2022

TWiV 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.

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

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Links for this episode

Herd immunity may not apply to COVID-19 (J Inf Dis) 2:58
Smallpox vaccination increases skin bacteria (PLoS Path) 27:29
The invinceable TWiV (TWiV 145) 36:29
By the pricking of my thumbs… (TWiV 284) 36:43
Letters read on TWiV 898 1:10:06
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:27:50

Brianne – Bacteria and Me Coloring Book
Kathy – Smarter 3D printing
Rich – Big Ben Restoring the Worlds Most Famous Clock 2021
Vincent – Scientific review articles as antivaccine disinformation

Listener Pick

Suellen – Your Fantastic Mind Season 3 Ep 2: Long COVID and Making of a Brain Surgeon (Full Episode)

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 897: COVID-19 clinical update #113 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

May 7, 2022

In 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.

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Download TWiV 897 (29 MB .mp3, 48 min)
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Timing of Tocilizumab Use in Hospitalized Patients (NIH) 34:28
Interleukin-6 inhibitors reduce mortality (European Journal of Internal Medicine) 35:58
Treatment Effect of Baricitinib on Hospitalized Patients (IDSA) 36:57
Post Infection Neurological Sequelae (Res Square) 38:09
Comparative Effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines (Nature Commun) 7:58
Results from Phase 2/3 Study of Paxlovid (Pfizer) 13:45
Infection Relapse Following Suppression by Paxlovid (Res Square) 19:55
Update on Paxlovid Usage (FDA) 25:02
Availability and Use of Treatments in Outpatients (CDC) 25:47
Pre-Hospital Administration of Remdesivir (IDSA) 26:56
Remdesivir and three other drugs for Hospitalized Patients (Lancet) 32:45
Guidelines on Usage of Anticoagulants (Am Soc Hematol) 30:22
Different Variants Hospitalization and Morality (Res Square) 3:30
Contribute to FIMRIC fundraiser at PWB 40:26
Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 897 41:25
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 896: Memory B cells, the way we were

May 1, 2022

TWiV 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.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Amy Rosenfeld

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Download TWiV 896 (65 MB .mp3, 108 min)
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Links for this episode

Climate change and viral zoonosis risk (Nature) 4:14
COVID-19 mRNA boost effect on memory B cells (Nature) 38:08
Letters read on TWiV 896 1:19:04
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:32:48

Dickson – Toots Thilelemans
Amy – Largest comet ever identified
Vincent – Scientific review articles as antivaccine disinformation

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 895: COVID-19 clinical update #112 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

April 30, 2022

In 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.

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Download TWiV 895 (33 MB .mp3, 54 min)
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Links for this episode

Seroprevalence of Infection-Induced Antibodies (CDC) 5:10
Authorization for Vaccine in Young Children Filed (Moderna) 9:04
Public Health Impact of Vaccines in US (BMJ) 13:47
FDA authorizes first approved treatment for children (FDA) 16:32
Phase 2 Data for Sabizabulin (Veru Pharma) 26:05
Clinical Characteristics of Post Infection Inflammation (The Lancet) 28:27
Fact Sheet for Providers on Evusheld (FDA) 1:32
Fact Sheet for Providers on Paxlovid (FDA) 1:32
Provider Referral for EvuSheld (Northwell Health) 16:00
Contribute to ASTMH fundraiser at PWB 30:44
Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 895 31:19
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 894: Dinner with the TMPRSS family

April 28, 2022

TWiV 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.

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

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Download TWiV 894 (60 MB .mp3, 100 min)
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Links for this episode

Severe hepatitis in children (WHO) 2:48
TMPRSS2 inhibitor (Nature) 18:45
Omicron less dependent on TMPRSS2 (TWiV 879) 20:46
Letters read on TWiV 894 54:37
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:25:29

Brianne – Apple AirTag
Kathy – Dental art/sculpture/mobile/chandelier
Alan – Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
Vincent – For the Love of Enzymes by Arthur Kornberg

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 893: Yellow fever virus escapes antibodies

April 24, 2022

Kartik, 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.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker

Guests: Kartik Chandran, Denise Haslwanter, and Gorka Lasso Cabrera

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Download TWiV 893 (65 MB .mp3, 108 min)
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Links for this episode

Prometheus project (TWiV 578) 3:55
Reduced neutralization of South American yellow fever virus (Cell Host Microbe) 11:31
Letters read on TWiV 893 1:23:43
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:13:29

Dickson – Earth Day and Earth Day History
Brianne – XKCD: Family Reunion
Vincent – Tokaido: A Journey (DVD)

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 892: COVID-19 clinical update #111 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

April 23, 2022

In 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.

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Download TWiV 892 (33 MB .mp3, 54 min)
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Links for this episode

Vaccine coverage and mortality, Hong Kong (MMWR) 6:53
Kids behind on routine vaccinations (Politico) 14:15
Immune response to booster, 5-11 year olds (Pfizer) 16:00
Children and vaccination (AAP) 17:20
Hospitalization of 5-11 year olds (MMWR) 18:00
Test using breath samples (FDA) 19:24
Influenza virus, adenovirus, RS virus co-infections (Lancet) 26:00
Booster crystal ball (TWiV 890) 28:54
Bivalent vaccine (Res Square) 29:22
Bivalent vaccine in mice (bioRxiv) 34:41
Intramuscular Evusheld (NEJM) 37:05
Global PASC (J Inf Dis) 45:23
Dr. Griffin’s treatment guide (pdf)
Letters read on TWiV 892 47:12
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 891: LLOV in the time of Ebola

April 21, 2022

Elke, 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.

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

Guests: Elke Muhlberger, Adam Hume, and Gabor Kemenesi

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Download TWiV 891 (65 MB .mp3, 108 min)
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Links for this episode

Elke on TWiV 200 and Threading the NEIDL 1:39
Infectious Lloviu virus from bats in Hungary (Nat Commun) 7:11
Infectious Lloviu virus from DNA (PloS Path) 7:11
Letters read on TWiV 891 56:01
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:11:01

Brianne – APod Stars and Globules in the Running Chicken Nebula
Kathy – BioRender Poster Builder
Rich – The Sins of Our Fathers: An Expanse Novella (The Expanse) by James S. A. Corey
Vincent – Baumgartner Restoration

Listener Pick

J – Time, Einstein, and the coolest stuff in the Universe

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 890: Looking into a booster crystal ball

April 17, 2022

This 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.