This Week in Virology

TWiV 1054: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

October 21, 2023

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin discusses high Influenza incidence and disease severity among children and adolescents aged <18 years, neurologic effects of SARS-CoV-2 transmitted among dogs, effectiveness of monovalent mRNA vaccines against Omicron XBB infection in Singaporean children younger than 5 years, the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine in the prevention of post-COVID conditions, incidence and impact of acute pericarditis in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, serotonin reduction in post-acute sequelae of viral infection, prevalence and risk factors for long COVID and post-COVID-19 condition in Africa, safety profile and clinical and virological outcomes of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and COVID-19, antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir vs ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in patients with early symptomatic COVID-19.

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Download TWiV 1054 (31 MB .mp3, 42 min)

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Links for this episode

High Influenza incidence and disease severity among children and adolescents aged <18 years (CDC) 5:00
Neurologic effects of SARS-CoV-2 transmitted among dogs (EID) 10:24
Effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against Omicron XBB infection in Singaporean children (JAMA) 17:11
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine in the prevention of post-COVID conditions (ASHE) 20:07
Incidence and impact of acute pericarditis in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 (JAHA) 22:07
Serotonin reduction in post-acute sequelae of viral infection (Cell) 28:09
Prevalence and risk factors for long COVID and post-COVID-19 in Africa (The Lancet) 33:00
Safety profile and clinical and virological outcomes of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment in patients with kidney disease and COVID-19 (CID)
Antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir vs ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in patients with early symptomatic COVID-19
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 34:42
Letters read on TWiV 1054 35:01
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1053: Bird flu in Baltimore

October 15, 2023

From 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.

Host: Vincent Racaniello

Guests: Ron Fouchier, Rafael Medina, and Louise Moncla

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Download TWiV 1053 (82 MB .mp3, 114 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Spike shirts at vaccinated.us (promo code Microbetv)
Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf)
Centers for Influenza Research and Response Network 00:44
Transatlantic spread of avian H5N1 influenza virus (Sci Rep) 12:49
In-host diversity of influenza H5N1 virus (PLoS Path) 42:45
Influenza H5N1 virus and mass mortality in sea lions (Vet Q.) 25:22
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1052: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

October 14, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1052 (32 MB .mp3, 45 min)

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Links for this episode

Disease severity of RSV compared with COVID-19 and Influenza among hospitalized adults 3:45
Antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir vs ritonavir-nirmatrelvir in patients with symptomatic COVID-19 (The Lancet)
Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir and COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization among patients with vulnerability to complications (JAMA) 10:54
Antibiotic use among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (OFID) 15:22
One week of oral Camostat vs placebo in non-hospitalized adults with COVID-19 17:11
Assessment of the available therapeutic approaches for severe COVID-19 (Nature) 21:22
Optimal duration of systemic Corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment (OFID) 28:07
Effect of monovalent COVID-19 vaccines on viral interference between SARS-CoV-2 and in patients with long-COVID syndrome (Nature) 25:08
Local budesonide therapy in the management of persistent hyposmia in suspected COVID-19 patients (JID) 27:47
Safety profile and clinical and virological outcomes of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir treatment in patients with Kidney disease and COVID-19
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 30:23
Letters read on TWiV 1052 30:43
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1051: Like SARS-CoV-2 in the headlights

October 8, 2023

TWiV 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.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Angela Mingarelli

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Download TWiV 1051 (82 MB .mp3, 114 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Spike shirts at vaccinated.us (promo code Microbetv) 4:13
Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) 3:39
2023 Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine (Nobelprize.org) 7:26
Evading a toll on the road to mRNA vaccines (TWiV 860) 7:57
Katalin Karikó‘s overlooked work (Wired)
Accelerated mutation of SARS-CoV-2 in deer (Nat Comm) 25:57
Letters read on TWiV 1051 1:18:47
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:32:42

Dickson – The New City. How to Build Our Sustainable Urban Future
Angela – 2023 Nobel Peace Prize
Alan – The Ruin of All Witches, by Malcolm Gaskill
Vincent – France kicks off bird flu vaccination despite trade backlash risk

Listener Pick

Charles – David Brooks and the $78 airport meal the internet is talking about
John – Periodic Table of the Elements: Origins of the Elements
AZ – Bronze statue of laboratory mouse knitting DNA in Russia

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1050: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

October 7, 2023

In 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 <6 months during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron predominance, COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and practices for women of reproductive age by health care providers, molnupiravir for intra-household prevention of COVID-19, delayed peak SARS-CoV-2 viral loads relative to symptom onset and implications for COVID-19 testing programs, viral kinetics of sequential SARS-CoV-2 infections, FDA authorizes updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine formulated to better protect against currently circulating variants, antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir versus ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir in patients with early symptomatic COVID-19, long-term cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and other thrombotic complications in COVID-19 survivors, SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers pro-atherogenic inflammatory responses in human coronary vessels, and the efficacy of gabapentin For post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction.

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Download TWiV 1050 (32 MB .mp3, 45 min)

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Links for this episode

Effectiveness of maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy against COVID-19–associated hospitalizations in infants (CDC) 6:09
COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and practices for women of reproductive age (CDC) 9:26
Molnupiravir for intra-household prevention of COVID-19 (JOI) 11:28
Delayed peak SARS-CoV-2 viral loads relative to symptom onset and implications for COVID-19 testing programs 14:46
Viral kinetics of sequential SARS-CoV-2 infections (Nature) 21:45
FDA authorizes updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (FDA) 23:22
Antiviral efficacy of molnupiravir vs ritonavir/nirmatrelvir in patients with COVID-19 (The Lancet) 24:53
Long-term cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and other thrombotic complications in COVID-19 survivors (CID) 40:06
SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers pro-atherogenic inflammatory responses in coronary vessels (NCR) 42:36
Efficacy of gabapentin For Post–COVID-19 47:15
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 47:56
Letters read on TWiV 1050 48:24
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1049: Long COVID’s book of homeostatic cats

October 1, 2023

TWiV 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.

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

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Download TWiV 1049 (78 MB .mp3, 108 min)
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Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Spike shirts at vaccinated.us (promo code Microbetv) 7:24
Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) 6:29
Features of Long COVID (Nature) 12:48
ERV envelope mediates feline copper homeostasis (Cell Rep) 40:43
Letters read on TWiV 1049 1:16:52
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:35:17

Brianne – Webb spots a building block of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa
Rich – Are we really made of ‘star stuff?’ Learn about your body’s elements
Alan – Avian flu has reached the Galàpagos
Vincent – Why the US can’t have nice things

Listener Pick

Az – Free solo

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1048: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

September 30, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1048 (32 MB .mp3, 45 min)

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Links for this episode

Molnupiravir-associated mutational signature in global SARS-CoV-2 genomes (Nature) 9:46
Inhaled fluticasone furoate for outpatient treatment of COVID-19 (NEJM) 13:41
Optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment (OFID)
Distinguishing features of Long COVID identified through immune profiling (Nature) 6:11
Early antibody treatment, inflammation, and risk of post-COVID conditions (mBIO) 29:14
Autonomic dysregulation in long-term patients suffering from post COVID-19 syndrome (SR) 30:47
Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalization with COVID-19 in the UK (The Lancet) 33:07
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 35:44
Letters read on TWiV 1048 36:13
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1047: Long COVID and avian flu in ferrets

September 24, 2023

TWiV explains a study of postacute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years, and respiratory droplet transmission of human-isolated avian H3N8 influenza virus between ferrets.

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

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Download TWiV 1047 (78 MB .mp3, 109 min)
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

MicrobeTV Discord Server
MicrobeTV store at Cafepress
Research assistant position in Rosenfeld Lab CBER/FDA (pdf) 10:04
Postacute sequelae of COVID-19 at 2 years (Nat Med) 12:50
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (WHO) 28:52
Respiratory droplet transmission of H3N8 virus (Cell) 41:25
Letters read on TWiV 1047 1:23:53
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks 1:31:20

Dickson – UN Climate Action and California sues oil companies for exacerbating climate change
Brianne – COVID Drugs are a Miracle Cure for Cats
Rich – American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
Vincent – Free Carl Zimmer writings

Listener Pick

Anne – She wrote to a scientist about her fatigue. It inspired a breakthrough.
Alan – This Tiny Parasitic Wasp Can Drill Through Plastic

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1046: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

September 22, 2023

In 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.

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Download TWiV 1046 (34 MB .mp3, 47 min)

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Links for this episode

Wastewater surveillance data as a complement to tracking incidence of influenza A and RSV (CDC) 1:52
Chatbot-delivered online intervention to promote seasonal influenza vaccination (JAMA) 4:28
Temporal assessment of disparities in California COVID-19 mortality by industry (AOE) 8:19
CDC/HICPAC’s plan to weaken guidance for health care respiratory protection and infection control (NNU) 15:43
Modelling the impact of a high-uptake bivalent booster scenario on COVID-19 burden (The Lancet) 18:52
Can high COVID-19 vaccination rates in adults help protect unvaccinated children? (ES) 19:38
Paxlovid use and hospitalizations or death in previously uninfected high-risk population with COVID-19 (JID) 26:02
Optimal duration of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 treatment (OFID)
Vaccination after developing long COVID (IJID) 28:41
Contribute to our Floating Doctors fundraiser at PWB 33:24
Letters read on TWiV 1046 33:51
Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

TWiV 1045: Less Lassa, CRISPR RNA viruses

September 17, 2023

TWiV 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.