This Week in Virology

TWiV notes the passing of Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, and reviews data on maximizing fit for cloth and medical procedure masks, SARS-CoV-2 total and subgenomic viral load in hospitalized patients, and effect of changes in spike protein on efficacy in a mouse model of infection. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Mavis Agbandje-McKenna dies (UF) Mavis on TWiV 448 Maximizing mask fit (MMWR) Genomic and subgenomic RNA in COVID-19 patients (medRxiv) Effect of spike changes on protection of mice (mBio) Letters read on TWiV 728 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Wild animal photos Brianne – Greater than COVID Alan – WHO report on infodemic response Rich – Reference Guide to the International Space Station Vincent – 3D Molecular Designs Listener Picks Lisbeth – Have the new jab Karen – Cholera exhibit at Museum of Trades and Crafts Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #52, Daniel Griffin reviews differences in attack rates between children and adults, J&J vaccine phase III data, G6PD deficiency and vaccines, NIH halts convalescent plasma trial, dexamethasone in hospitalized patients, data on tocilizumab, and long COVID in children. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 attack rates in children and adults (Clin Inf Dis) Documents for J&J COVID-19 vaccine review (FDA) Convalescent plasma and clinical outcomes (JAMA) NIH halts convalescent plasma trial (NIH) Dexamethasone in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (NEJM) Tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients (NEJM) Update on long COVID prevalence (UK ONS) Letters read on TWiV 727 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Janet Iwasa joins TWiV to recount how she became a molecular animator, including a pivot during her Ph.D. thesis research, the value of animations in science, and their latest animation of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Brianne Barker and Kathy Spindler Guest: Janet Iwasa Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode The Animation Lab SARS-CoV-2 animation Documents for J&J COVID-19 vaccine review (FDA) Phase III data (pdf) Slide presentation of data (pdf) Addendum (pdf) Summary of v-Safe data (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – How T cells see SARS-CoV2 Rich – Ice bubbles in Lago Bianco, Switzerland Kathy – Music in COVID-19 control tents Vincent – Perseverance runs on processors used in 1990s iMacs Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

Eva Harris and Janet Smith join TWiV to discuss how an antibody against dengue virus NS1 protein blocks endothelial dysfunction and the potential of treating infections by multiple flaviviruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Eva Harris and Janet Smith Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Eva Harris on TWiV 228 Zika virus in Nicaragua (virology blog) How an antibody block NS1-mediated endothelial dysfunction (Science) Broadly protective antibody against NS1 (Science) Letters read on TWiV 725 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Alan – Science Photographer of the Year Awards Rich – Bar Keeper's Friend Kathy – Perseverance secret message and other Easter eggs, 11 million Earthlings' names, "Name the Rover" essay contest. Sign up to send your name on a future Mars mission. Vincent – COVID-19 dataset Listener Picks Matthew - Remembering the colleagues we lost to COVID-19 Lori - Iceberger Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #51, Daniel Griffin reviews use of two masks, effectiveness of testing in nursing homes, updates on vaccines, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, little effect of vitamin D and remdesivir in clinical studies, and a long COVID research initiative from NIH. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Updated NYC mask guidance (NYC Health) Two masks recommended (CDC) Effectiveness of testing in nursing homes (Clin Inf Dis) Vaccine reactogenicity and antibody response after COVID-19 (medRxiv) Bamlanivimab alone or with Etesevimab (JAMA) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and death (BMJ) Budesonide and COVID-19 (medRxiv) No effect of vitamin D high dose (JAMA) Remdesivir little effect on hospitalized patients (NEJM) Sequelae 6 months after infection (JAMA) Long COVID initiative (NIH) Letters read on TWiV 724 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Ginger Campbell joins TWiV to discuss palliative care for COVID-19 patients, and how to approach the disease from a goals of care perspective. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Guest: Ginger Campbell, MD Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Brain Science Podcast Dr. Campbell's video on palliative care (YouTube) Resources on palliative care (WHO) Interviews with Paul Offit (one, two) Being Mortal by Atul Gawande Letters read on TWiV 723 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Soapbox Gallery Brianne – Cell Picture Show Rich – Perseverance Rover's Descent and Touchdown on Mars (Official NASA Video) Vincent – Our World in Data (see COVID-19 vaccinations) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

The entire TWiV team assembles to discuss resurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil, discovery of SARS-CoV-2 related viruses in bats in Southeast Asia, and increased Ct values after administration of mRNA vaccine. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, 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 Resurgence of COVID-19 in Manaus (Lancet) SARS-CoV-2 related viruses in Southeast Asian bats (Nat Comm) Increased Ct following COVID-19 vaccination (medRxiv) Letters read on TWiV 722 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – What is the polar vortex? Brianne – Cloning of the black-footed ferret Alan – Explaining mRNA vaccines with Star Wars Rich – Brighton Collaboration (BRAVATO); Ad26 vector template Kathy – Target public health ads to zipcodes Vincent – And Then the Gorillas Started Coughing Listener Pick Kim – Virus getting the shot (jpg) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #50, Daniel Griffin discusses CDC guidance on school opening, decreased viral load after vaccination, randomized clinical trial of vitamin D treatment, a study of zinc plus vitamin C, anticoagulation therapy effect on mortality, and multi system inflammatory phase in children. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Guidance on school openings (CDC) Calcifediol Treatment and COVID-19 (Lancet preprints) Zinc and vitamin C for COVID-19 (JAMA) Early anticoagulant therapy (BMJ) Multisystem inflammatory phase in children (CDC) Letters read on TWiV 721 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

Paul Offit joins TWiV to discuss all things vaccine, including how COVID-19 vaccine development was accelerated, whether the vaccines are safe and efficacious, the difference between an EUA and a licensed vaccine, sterilizing immunity, herd immunity, and much more. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Guest: Paul Offit Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Vaccine education center Letters read on TWiV 720 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks Dickson – Life in a Day 2020 Brianne – Microcosms in Glass Alan – NEJM article on promoting vaccination, interview with lead author Rich – The Microbescope Vincent – Autism's False Prophets by Paul Offit Listener Pick Earl – Science is Real Pins Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

In COVID-19 clinical update #49, Daniel Griffin discusses CDC guidelines on mask use, drop in test frequency in the US, resurgence of COVID-19 in Brazil, possible impact of Pfizer vaccine on viral load, EUA for bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together, and preliminary results of Tocilizumab in hospitalized patients. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Resurgence of COVID-19 in Brazil (Lancet) Pfizer vaccine reduces viral load (medRxiv) EUA for bamlanivimab plus etesevimab (pdf) Tocilizumab in hospitalized patients (medRxiv) Bacterial superinfections in COVID-19 (Open For Inf Dis) Letters read on TWiV 719 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv