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This Week in Virology: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Vincent Racaniello
TWiV is a weekly netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick. Brought to you by four university professors and a science writer.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago1h 42m
TWiV 1343: Batting averages and stolen bases
TWiV explains research which shows that Per os infectivity factors are essential for bracovirus infection and wasp parasitism, and that periodic shifts in viral load increase risk of Hendra virus spillover from Pteropus bats. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Susumu Tonegawa Dies (Wikipedia) Measles Cases Hit New Record in U.S., as Vaccination Rates Wane (NYTimes) Polydnaviruses on on TWiVs 372 and 443 Per os infectivity factors essential for bracovirus infection and wasp parasitism (PNAS) Periodic shifts in viral load increase risk of Hendra virus spillover from Pteropus bats (Sci Adv) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Picks of the Week Kathy – A) Sign up for ScienceAdviser daily newsletter, free B) Goats DO get brain damage from head butting (Original bioRxiv preprint) Rich – This Star Just Ate a Planet, and It's Not Done Yet Alan – Schisto and Ladders educational board game story, and the original publication on it. Vincent – How female dolphins know which males to avoid (Original article) Listener Pick David – What's Under Your Feet in New York City? Ken – The usefulness of useless knowledge Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
- 4 days ago39 min
TWiV 1342: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello explore the source/not source of the national cyclospora outbreak, trust in the FDA to correctly identify the source, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and development of a novel vaccine and antiviral before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak including the new Pennsylvania dashboard, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, difference between high and standard dose influenza vaccines, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode How helpful is not up to date? CDC: cyclosporiasis Taylor Farms pulls Mexican Lettuce on Cyclospora Cases (Bloomberg) FDA retracts positive cyclospora test on Taylor Farms lettuce (NPR: WHYY) False-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation (X) FDA retracts test result but still links Taylor Farms lettuce to cyclosporiasis (Washington Post) Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Michigan: Health & Human Services) Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis) (NYC Health) Legionnaires' Disease (NYC Health) Chapter 8: Cooling Towers (NYC Health) You can verify ifa person is licensed on the New York State Office of the Professions website: (NSPE-NY) Board for global EHS Credentialing (American Board of Industrial Hygiene) Water treatment vendor (Association of Water Technologies) Cooling Towers: Information for Owners and Operators (NYC Health) Dashboard SCREWWORM.Gov (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for New World Screwworm Response (CDC Newroom) Ebola dashboard (ebola.fyi) EBOLA:The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2026(WHO) <a href= "https://www.af
- 1 weeks ago1h 39m
TWiV 1341: Phage breaks and COVID origins
TWiV explains research that reveals dual activity of a phage-encoded lysin that modulates infection dynamics in a mycobacteriophage, and refutes a proposed link between the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site and mouse-adapted MERS-coronavirus MA30. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, Angela Mingarelli, and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Dual activity of phage-encoded lysin (mBio) Furin cleavage site and SARS-CoV-2 origins (PNAS) Theories on SARS-CoV-2 origins (CR Biol) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Picks of the Week Angela – Pigeons. An underappreciated animal. Superparamagnetic macrophages, cancer detectors, mirror mark test Kathy – Wednesday's APOD and Graphene Jolene – Microbial Puppet Masters science exhibit, 3D-models linked in their paper Vincent – Beyond Inheritance by Roxanne Khamsi (TWiEVO 126) Listener Pick Lana – The Episodic Table of Elements Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
- 1 weeks ago44 min
TWiV 1340: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello debate if Senator Mitch McConnell's recent hospitalization is due to post-polio syndrome or just old age, how air quality from Maine to Chicago has been affected by the Ontario wild fires, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and development of a novel vaccine and antiviral, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, long term effects of COVID-19 immune dysfunction including ocular and gut and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Statement From Senator Mitch McConnell (Mitch McConnell US Senator for Kentucky) Polio(NY Department of Health: Polio) Global polio vaccination (CDC) For Some Survivors, Polio Casts a Long Shadow (GAVI) Former Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hospitalized (NPR) Hundreds of thousands of Americans live with the long-term effects of polio (CIDRAP) Child Care, Schools, Camps: Outdoor Air Quality Health Recommendations Based on Air Quality Index (NY City of Health: air quality) Current Air Quality (AirNow) Domestically Acquired Cyclosporiasis Cases in Multiple U.S. States, 2026 (CDC: Health Alert Network) How helpful is not up to date? CDC: cyclosporiasis Top 10 Cyclospora questions (Katelyn Jetelina: your local epidemiologist) Cyclospora, wildfire smoke, and another Legionella outbreak (Marisa Donnelly: your local epidemiologist in New York) Cyclospora keeps climbing, a bad West Nile season, truck spraying, and good news (Katelyn Jetelina and Marisa Donnelly: your local epidemiologists) Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Michigan: Health & Human Services) Cyclospora cases up dramatically in New York (Outbreak News Today) Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis) (NYC Health) Legionnaires' Disease (NYC Health) New York officials find Legionella in <a href= "https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/legionella/new-york-offi
- 2 weeks ago1h 50m
TWiV 1339: Ebola up close with Tom Ksiazek
Tom Ksiazek, a world-renowned virus expert with 40 years of experience on the front lines of some of the worst outbreaks the world has ever seen, joins TWiV to discuss his career, ebolaviruses in general, and the current outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Africa. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Guest: Tom Ksiazek Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Fred Murphy passes (pdf) CJ Peters passes (pdf) Tom Ksiazek on TWiV 583 Letters read on TWiV 1339 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Picks of the Week Brianne – APoD July 7: Dragons of Ara Rich – The Iconic Bass Riff That NOBODY Can Play; Riff (Wiki) see "Riff-Driven" Vincent – The song that made Carlos Santana a rock legend Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
- 2 weeks ago42 min
TWiV 1338: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are dismayed over the military deaths due to the voluntary influenza vaccination policy, FDA's first vaccine recommendations since 2023, the efficacy of influenza vaccines, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporiasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda and before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, publication of the blocked COVID-19 vaccine findings, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, use of antivirals in children with COVID-19, severe West Nile disease and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode A1C Keon Talik McDaniel (Bexar Memorial) Hegseth: Flu Vaccine Optional (US Department of War) Air Force trainee in San Antonio, Texas, died from flu(CIDRAP) Key FDA committee unanimously recommends its first vaccine since 2023(NPR) Efficacy and Safety of an mRNA Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Adults (NEJM) Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Pediatric Death in the United States: 2016–2025 (Pediatrics) Dashboard SCREWWORM.Gov (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for New World Screwworm Response (CDC Newroom) Upper East Side Legionnaires' Outbreak Source Remains Unknown (Bloomberg) Outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite grows to more than 1,000 cases (AP) Cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan exceeds 1,000 cases (WOODTV+) Ebola deaths top 500 as DR Congo health workers threaten to strike (CIDRAP) Ebola deaths in Congo top 500 as health workers threaten to strike (AP) Ebola dashboard (ebola.fyi) EBOLA:The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2026 (WHO) Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak Democratic Republic of the Congo (WHO: Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation (CDC:Ebola) <a href= "https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts
- 3 weeks ago1h 52m
TWiV 1337: The whitefly and the Red Queen
TWiV explains research that reveals an an alternative evolutionary path of antiviral signalling in a sea anemone, and how a bacterial symbiont and a plant virus enhance insect fitness by inducing physical defenses against fungal parasites. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Springer-Nature retracted two papers by Max Planck, probably with a bot (Science) Alternative evolutionary path of antiviral signalling in sea anemone (Nat Ecol Evol) Bacterial symbiont and plant virus protect whitefly against fungal parasites (PNAS) Letters read on TWiV 1337 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Picks of the Week Rich – The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey; Livesuit by James S. A. Corey Alan – Climate.us, run by former NOAA scientists after Trump gutted their agency's climate site Vincent – A Chemically Defined Synthetic Cell Capable of Growth and Replication Listener Pick Lana – The Episodic Table of Elements Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
- 3 weeks ago23 min
TWiV 1336: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello lament about the new ACIP charter, how administration of the HPV vaccine has eliminated cervical cancer deaths in young women, the global economic burden of infectious disease, restoring trust in vaccinology, new screwworm cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and Uganda and need for preparedness, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, publication of the blocked COVID-19 vaccine findings, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode New ACIP charter broadens criteria for members, calls for review of alternatives to vaccines (STAT News) ACIP Charter (CDC: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) HPV vaccination eliminated cervical cancer deaths in young UK women in recent years, study suggests (CIDRAP) Cervical cancer mortality trends following HPV vaccination in England, 2001–24: an analysis of population-based mortality data (LANCET) Dashboard SCREWWORM.Gov (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for New World Screwworm Response (CDC Newroom) Ebola dashboard (ebola.fyi) EBOLA:The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2026 (WHO) Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak Democratic Republic of the Congo (WHO: Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation (CDC:Ebola) Size of the 2026 Ebola outbreak and risk of cross-border spillover from Bundibugyo virus in Ituri Province, DR Congo, and its implications for preparedness: a recalibrated stochastic modelling study (LANCET Infectious Diseases) US CDC raises Ebola outbreak response to highest level (Reuters) Construction of US-backed Ebola quarantine unit in Kenya is stopped (CIDRAP) ASPR Supports Global Ebola Response While Strengthening U.S. Preparedness (Administration for Strategic Preparedness & Response) <a href= "https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CuUJCidNZWFzbGVzLCBQYXJ0aWNpcGF0aW5nIFNpdGVzIE5hdGlvbndpZGUQASABQAFIAFIGZTEzNmMxUgYwN2NlZDdSBjE3MzU2MFIGMGZlYWRlUgZiNzIzYWVSBjEyZDJiNlIGYjllMzIyUgY3MWJhZTdSBjMxZWQzY1IGZDFhNGI4UgYxNGVmMDdSBmUwMGExYlIGOWY4OTgwUgY4MDA5ZTBSBmQzZmYxM1IGNmMwNTdiUgY1MDBmOWFSBjhiZWQ5MFIGY2E5MGI1UgY3YThiZTJSBjRlODhiM1IGZDEzYjI2UgZhM2E5MmRSBmE0ZTM5NFIGYmJjYTFhU
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TWiV is a weekly netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick. Brought to you by four university professors and a science writer.
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