TWiV 628: Physical distance for COVID-19

June 18, 2020
CoV_bank

Vincent and Rich discuss the SARS-CoV-2 D614G amino acid change in the spike glyprotein, duration of infectious virus shedding from patients, virus transmission among hamsters infected in the laboratory, and tackle listener email.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit

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Download TWiV 628 (68 MB .mp3, 113 min)

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Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

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

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5 comments on “TWiV 628: Physical distance for COVID-19

  1. Jan Czarnecki Jun 18, 2020

    As a retired Canadian ophthalmologist, TWiV has been kept me sane in lockdown. Began listening early march 2020. Oh, the beauty of science.
    your discussions bring to mind (one translation of) Roger Bacon’s (1214-1292)
    Four barriers blocking the road to truth::
    1.Submission to unworthy authority,
    2.the influence of custom,
    3.popular prejudice,
    4.and concealment of one’s ignorance with a technical show of wisdom. (The Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
    Hard to believe this was said in the 13th century and its relevance still 700 years later.

  2. Blue Pilgrim Jun 18, 2020

    Having followed the political situation regarding Russia and Russiagate for years I can say that the Moscow Times is mot a very reliable source but very Western oriented and “liberal” source (a minority, anti-Putin, opposition in Russia), and Latvia in now an enemy of Russia. The letter read should be seen in the same light as Democrats criticizing Republicans or vice versa in the US, very politicized, and to be taken with a large grain of salt. Russia has a very free press and there are a great many dissenters in the press and media, supported by (or even owned by) other nations. Expect to see material similar to what is seen in the current trashing of anything Chinese, such as accusations of the sars-cov-2 being manufactured or released from the Wuhan BSL4 lab. Buyer beware!.

  3. Ed Dufour Jun 20, 2020

    Hello podcast friends
    June gloom has arrived in Escondido, California.
    Temperature is currently 63 F 17C
    I became interested in nanotechnology in the 80s when I read Eric Drexler’s “Engines of Creation”.
    I just encountered a fascinating article from UCSD nano lab concerning ‘nano sponges’.
    Recent studies indicate that these mimicking nano particles may cause the SARS-cov-2 to be tricked into attacking the nano sponge, possibly as much as 92%.
    I’m very interested in your thoughts on this.
    I really enjoy all of your podcasts

    Ed

  4. Marilyn Smith Jun 21, 2020

    Here is a NEJM paper I saw today (21June20) concerning human genetic association with COVID. Genomewide Association Study of Severe Covid-19 with Respiratory Failure
    https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2020283?query=C19&cid=DM94109_JW_Registered_Users_and_InActive&bid=219011109

    I enjoy your podcasts. I worked on mouse hepatitis virus many years ago! (also measles, rabies, HIV, KSHV). I, too, am blood type A…

  5. Re: The “amino acid change” (Scripps) and not a true mutation……

    I had just downloaded that report and was trying to parse it / work through it and something didn’t seem right.
    As my degree in Biology is decades old I’m having trouble trying to keep up with what’s going on so Vincent’s explanation and clarity was really helpful – TWIV is a real treasure.