TWiV reviews a drug screen for inhibitors of syncytium formation, the fusing of cells caused by SARS-CoV-2, which reveals that the process is regulated by a calcium-activated ion channel and scramblase that is inhibited by the anti-parasite drug Niclosamide. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove,  Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode  TMEM16 inhibitors block SARS-CoV-2 driven syncytium formation (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 742 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Weekly Picks Brianne – COVID-19: a disaster five years in the making Alan – The Tyranny of Merit Rich –  Racism Makes Me Question Everything. I Got the Vaccine Anyway Kathy – The Transcontinental Burrito Tunnel Vincent – Trudy Rey’s YouTube Channel Listener Picks Jeff –  Rebecca Lee Smith on Left Right and Center Ryan – Perfect Strangers (clip) Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees  Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 742: De-fusing COVID-19

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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It has been a long time since TWiV has released an all listener email episode, and if you have been waiting for one, then this episode is for you! (and everyone else of course). Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free):  Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode  MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) The New City by Dickson Despommier (blog post) International Conference on Pandemic Preparedness Letters read on TWiV 1107 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Weekly Picks Brianne – Cats Are Perfect. An Evolutionary Biologist Explains Why Alan – Bardcore music by Hildegard von Blingin’ Vincent – A quote from Georgia O’Keefe: “I think it’s so foolish for people to want to be happy. Happy is so momentary – you’re happy for an instant and then you start thinking again. Interest is the most important thing in life; happiness is temporary, but interest is continuous”. From the dailyphilosopher Listener Picks Julia – Recent success in troubleshooting autoclave challenges Charmaine – Viruses, myelin, the evolution of complex life, and the Fermi paradox Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1107: Uncoating some envelopes

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles, potential risk factors for severe disease following influenza infection before and SARS-CoV-2 circulation, before discussing if SARS-CoV-2 infection impacts sperm fertility, the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC,continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and long COVID. For more information about this body of work, For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088. Subscribe (free):  Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV!  Links for this episode  Measles tracking (CDC) Influenza risk factors for potential severe outcomes (OFID) COVID-19 national trend (CDC) Does SARS-CoV-2 infection influence sperm quality (Scientific Reports)  Spring COVID-19 booster recommendations (CIDRAP)  Older adult spring booster available (CDC) Advisory committee for immunization practices slides (CDC)  Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)  Slide 19 (CDC)  EUA for pemgarda (FDA)  CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)  Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (IDSociety) Nirmatrelvir for vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (NEJM)  Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir vs. remdesivir for treatment of high risk outpatients (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety) Outpatient treatment with concomitant vaccine-boosted convalescent plasma (mBio) Updated respiratory virus guidances (CDC) What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)  Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088) Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB Letters read on TWiV 1106 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1106: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

TWiV reviews influenza H5N1 in North American cows and in birds throughout New York City, polio health emergency extended, ChatGPT to control vaccine hesitancy, increasing viral hepatitis worldwide, dengue public health alert in Puerto Rico, cherry trees drowning in Washington DC, death of iron lung Paul, origin and dispersal history of hepatitis B virus in Eastern Eurasia, and antibody-independent protection against heterologous SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free):  Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode  MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) The New City by Dickson Despommier (blog post) Navigating the U.S. Immigration System webinar International Conferene on Pandemic Preparedness Avian influenza in dairy cows North Carolina and South Dakota H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4 Pathogenic flu throughout NYC Polio from Afghanistan to Pakistan extending public health emergency  CHAT GPT to combat vaccine hesitancy  Viral hepatitis worldwide Dengue public health alert in Puerto Rico Cherry trees being drowned by water level rise in DC Paul in iron lung dies (NPR) Hepatitis B virus in Eastern Eurasia (Nat Comm) Antibody-independent protection against heterologous SARS-CoV-2 (Nature) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Weekly Picks Brianne – Do Other Planets Have Solar Eclipses? Kathy – Radcliffe Wave and Mt. Etna smoke rings with video  Rich – Spongy Oak Apple Gall Wasp (Amphibolips confluenta) Life cycle; Gall formation Alan – Rogue attempt to clone giant sheep for captive hunting Vincent – The Scientists Rock. Literally. Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 1105: All the T and B in China

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin reviews recent statistics on the circulation of measles before addressing results of Pfizer’s phase 3 RSV vaccine clinical trial for adults under 60, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 circulation, differences between rural and urban communities dealing with SARS-CoV-2 infections, the latest statistics on influenza and COVID-19 circulation, restates the guidelines for spring administration of COVID vaccines boosters, discusses the emergency use application of a pre-exposure prophylactic. revised guidelines for how to treat respiratory viral infection guidelines by the CDC, continues to dispel the myth of viral rebound, revised guidelines SARS-CoV-2 treatment and how to treat respiratory viral infections, when to use steroids and the benefits of convalescent plasma, what do when healthcare workers succumb to SARS-CoV-2 infection, how long COVID affects the brain and associates with an increase in allergic incidents as well as if post SARS-CoV-2 infected patients are unable to exercise or have functional limitations. For more information about this body of work, listen to TWiV 1088. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV!  Links for this episode  Measles tracking (CDC) Measles just this year (MMWR) ABRYSVO phase 3 results (Pfizer)  RSV surveillance (CDC) Influenza/flu surveillance  (CDC)  Provisional deaths due to COVID-19 (CDC) COVID-19 national trend (CDC) COVID-19 wastewater testing (biobot)  Variant tracker (CDC)  Rural-urban differences in COVID-19 mortality and hospitalizations (OFID)  Spring COVID-19 booster recommendations (CIDRAP)  Older adult spring booster available (CDC)  Advisory committee for immunization practices spring 2024 COVID-19 boosters (CDC)  EUA for pemgarda (FDA)  CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Nirmatrelvir for vaccinated or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients (NEJM) Assessment for clinical usefulness (NEJM) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (IDSociety) Updated respiratory virus guidances (CDC) What do when your heathcare provider is infected with SARS-CoV-2 (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Steroids,dexamethasone at the right time (OFID)  Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Long COVID evidence based review TWiV shout out (TWiV 1088)  Brian and cognitive changes in long COVID patients (BRAIN) Allergic disease incidents after COVID-19 (Nat Comm) Can post COVID patients exercise or do they have functional limitations (JAMA Network Open) Contribute to our ASTMH fundraiser at PWB 37:06 Letters read on TWiV 1102 37:56 Dr. Griffin’s COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv

TWiV 1104: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

Vincent travels to the University of Texas in Austin to speak with speak with Jason McLellan about his career and his research on the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, including the effect of adding two proline residues, its effect on other viral spike glycoproteins, and general approaches to vaccine design. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Rich Condit Guest: Jason McLellan Subscribe (free):  Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode  MicrobeTV Discord Server MicrobeTV store at Cafepress Become a member of ASV (asv.org) The New City by Dickson Despommier Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spikes (Science) Structure-based vaccine design (Curr Opin Immunol) Prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 S2-only antigen (Nat Comm) Stabilized coronavirus spike stem elicits broadly protective antibody (Cell Rep) Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!  Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

TWiV 742: De-fusing COVID-19

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