Ron Fouchier explains why increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2-variants has not been demonstrated, and their ability to displace ancestral variants is due to greater fitness, much like influenza virus antigenic variation leads to better fitness and replacement of previously circulating variants.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker

Guest: Ron Fouchier

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Links for this episode

• Ron Fouchier on TWiV 177, 291, 557
• Mutations driving H5N1 airborne transmission in ferrets (Cell)
• SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 transmission among ferrets (Nat Comm)
• Avian influenza virus transmission among seals (Cell Host Micr)
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Brianne – The Science News Cycle Kathy – mRNA Day Kariko & Weissman lectures and Q&A Vincent – Just Planes

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]