This Week in Virology

For the final episode of 2021, TWiV reviews an experimental infectious attenuated Lassa fever vaccine based on a codon-deoptimized glycoprotein gene, and SARS-CoV-2 infection of free-ranging white-tailed deer. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Codon-deoptimized Lassa fever vaccine (mBio) Attenuation of dengue virus by codon deoptimization (TWiV 351) Codon deoptimization of poliovirus and RS virus (TWiV 740) Codon deoptimization of DNA viruses (TWiV 362 letters) CEPI on TWiV 612 SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 847 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – EO Wilson (Ants and The Conversation) Brianne – The Best Fun Science Stories of 2021 Kathy – Using sound for data analysis; chemotactic bacteria and Moo loo story Alan – Owls of the Easern Ice, by Jonathan Slaght Vincent – TWiV 9: Fever! The discovery of Lassa virus and TWiV 548: Mice, shrews, and caterpillars Listener Picks Larry – Immunity Jeff – Daily Hospital Surveillance Report Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #95, Daniel Griffin discusses new CDC guidelines for isolation and quarantine, EUA for Molnupiravir, children and COVID, vaccine safety in 5-11 year olds, Omicron outbreaks in Nebraska and Denmark, Baylor's COVID vaccine, and COVID-OUT for ivermectin. Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Isolation and quarantine guidance (CDC) EUA for Molnupiravir (FDA) Children and COVID state data (AAP) Vaccine safety in 5-11 year olds (MMWR) Omicron and antigen tests (FDA) Omicron in Nebraska (MMWR) Omicron in Danish households (medRxiv) Baylor COVID vaccine (TCH) COVID-OUT for ivermectin (U Minn) Letters read on TWiV 848 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV explores the impact of the intestinal virome on seroconversion after rotavirus vaccination, and implications of the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant to infect wild-type laboratory mice. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Impact of enteric virome on rotavirus vaccine (Cell Host Micr) Beta variant infects wild type mice (Sig Transd Targ Ther) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – XKCD on Immune Responses and Immunity Kathy – UVA Rotunda astrophotograph with Heart and Soul Nebulae by Brennan Gilmore Rich – James Webb Space Telescope Videos: 29 Days On The Edge; Launch And Deployment Alan – Sokobond puzzle game Vincent – International Space Station shines in gorgeous fly-around photos by Crew Dragon astronauts Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #94, Daniel Griffin reviews the FDA EUA for Paxlovid, test to stay in school, immunity after infection, variants and therapeutics, quarantine and isolation guidelines, Molnupiravir in non-hospitalized patients, and convalescent serum in outpatients. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode FDA EUA for Paxlovid (pdf) Children and COVID-19 (pdf) Evaluation of test to stay in school, IL (MMWR) Evaluation of test to stay in school, LA (MMWR) Update on mRNA vaccine in under 5 yo (Pfizer) CDC endorses preference for mRNA vaccines (CDC) Natural immunity and protection against delta (Clin Inf Dis) Cross-neutralization post-vaccination infection (JAMA) Variants and therapeutics (NIH) Quarantine and isolation (CDC) Molnupiravir in non-hospitalized patients (NEJM) Convalescent serum for outpatients (medRxiv) Letters read on TWiV 845 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkee Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Paul Offit returns to TWiV to discuss new CDC guidance on J&J vaccine, why children should be immunized against COVID-19, and whether or not booster doses are scientifically justified. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, and Brianne Barker Guest: Paul Offit Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Paul Offit on TWiV 720 Are COVID-19 vaccine boosters needed? (virology blog) Letters read on TWiV 844 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne - Virus snowflakes Dickson - The Year in Pictures 2021 Vincent - Our Life is Plasticized Listener Picks Gerry - Dan Barouch: COVID-19 Vaccine Development Louise - Pandora's Lab by Paul Offit Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #93, Dr. Griffin summarizes Omicron fitness, S-gene target failure, monoclonal efficacy against Omicron, vaccination, monoclonals, and disease in children, persistence of memory B cells in the elderly, infection and vaccine induced immunity, protection against severe illness and death by a third mRNA vaccine dose, high flow oxygen versus intubation, and therapeutic anticoagulation. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Variant updates (CDC) List of diagnostic kits (Global Fund, pdf) B1.1.529 escapes most antibodies (bioRxiv) mRNA vaccine third dose and Omicron (medRxiv) Outpatient strategies children and adolescents (AAP) Memory B cells persist in elderly (J Clin Invest) mRNA booster effect against Delta (Clin Inf Dis) Azithromycin meta-analysis (J Antimicrob Chemo) High-flow oxygen vs intubation (JAMA) Therapeutic anticoagulation (Ann Int Med) Africa cases surge (CIDRAP) Letters read on TWiV 843 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews the results of serum neutralization assays which show that a third vaccine dose restores neutralization of the Omicron variant, and interaction of platelet factor 4 with the adenovirus capsid, suggesting a mechanism for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Third vaccine dose improves Omicron neutralization (medRxiv) ChAdOX1 interacts with PF4 (Sci Adv) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Vaccine Scientists: Time's 2021 Heroes of the Year Kathy – Snake dietary diversity Vincent – Alfred Wegener Institute on Instagram Listener Picks Niclas – Once upon a time… Life Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV provides an update on immunity to Omicron, results of a randomized controlled trial of face masks, and a study of correlates of protection against respiratory syncytial virus infection in the upper and lower respiratory tract of nonhuman primates. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Amy Rosenfeld Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Omicron escape from serum antibodies (pdf) Pfizer/BioNTech update on Omicron (Pfizer) Randomized trial of masking for COVID-19 (Science) Upper and lower respiratory tract correlates of protection for RS virus (Cell Host Micr) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Cities at Night Amy – I'm an E.R. Doctor in Michigan, Where Unvaccinated People Are Filling Hospital Beds Rich – International Dark Sky Association Vincent – SARS-CoV-2 variants Listener Picks Keith – Ventusky Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #92, Dr. Griffin reviews emerging data on the Omicron variant, much information about monoclonal antibody treatment, including expansion of EUA for Lilly's cocktail, FDA EUA for pre-exposure prophylaxis, outcomes after treatment, and investigation of subcutaneous or intramuscular administration; effect of adding immunomodulatory agents to usual care on thromboembolic events, and long COVID following infection in previously vaccinated individuals. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Risk associated with Omicron (medRxiv) Expansion of monoclonal EUA (FDA) Neutralization of Omicron by sera (medRxiv) Third dose sera neutralize Omicron (Pfizer) Monoclonals authorized for PreP (FDA) Patient outcomes after monoclonals (Open Forum Inf Dis) Subcutaneous or intramuscular monoclonals (medRxiv) WHO does not recommend convalescent serum (WHO) Immunomodulation and thromboembolic risk (J Clin Med) Long COVID after infection of vaccinated (medRxiv) Letters read on TWiV 840 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV reviews the impact of vaccination on SARS-CoV-2, the latest information on Omicron, West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation, and why a 16 week interval between doses of BNT162b2 vaccine is better than a shorter interval. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Coronavirus in the US (NY Times) Omicron variant (NY Times) West Nile virus transmission by organ transplantation (Emerg Inf Dis) Stronger antibody response after 16 week mRNA dose (Cell Host Micr) Higher antibody response with 7 week dosing (Clin Inf Dis) Immune response after recovery and 1 vaccine dose (Sci Transl Med) Booster guidance in Canada (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Kathy – CDC U-M flu report (lay version, MMWR) Rich – Thagomizer Alan – Descent into Darkness by Edward Raymer Vincent – Funding: Blinding peer review Listener Picks Lynne – ACE2 in chewing gum Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv