This Week in Virology

TWiV 1267: A cancer vaccine and an mpox treatment

TWiV discusses the impact of vaccinating with Gardasil-9 adult women who are human papillomavirus positive or with confirmed squamous intraepithelial lesions, and human monoclonal antibodies that target the monkeypox virus A35 protein which protect against lethal disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Imm...

TWiV 1266: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello ponder the nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General by President Trump, how mRNA vaccines may enhance effectiveness of check point inhibitor cancer therapies, if viral infection associates with cardiac disease, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and turkey farms, and the effectiveness of the COVID-19, RSV and influenza vaccines before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SA...

TWiV 1265: mRNA vaccines make cancer treatment great again

TWiV explains studies showing that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines improve life span of cancer patients on checkpoint immunotherapy, and broad immunity conferred by a vaccine central in A(H5) influenza antigenic space. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , 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 Immune 100 live at the Incubator SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumors to che...

TWiV 1264: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are distressed by the continuing government shutdown, first locally acquired chikungunya virus infection, President Trump's suggestion for removing aluminum from vaccines, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and turkey farms, and the suggestion of establishing an alternative to the CDC's MMWR and asymptomatic measles infections before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-Co...

TWiV 1263: Dementia vaccine?

TWiV reviews continuing US measles outbreak, host and genetic variations that regulate antibody responses to hepatitis C virus, and varicella-zoster reactivation and the risk of dementia. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Brianne Barker , and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Mass firings at CDC (Time) Measles cases continue to climb in US (NPR) Immune 100 at The Incubator ...

TWiV 1262: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are dismayed by the government shutdown, the firings at the CDC including EIS agents, H5N1 isolation from backyard birds and its stability in raw milk and cheese, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the quarantining of college students in the US due to measles, Japan's declaration of a...

TWiV 1261: Must-see TVs

TWiV covers a MacArthur Award for Jason McLellan, 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, first treatment for Huntington's Disease, structure of an archael dsDNA virus from head to tail, and discovery of a Legionella phage that explains a determinant of human disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Jason McLellan wins MacArthur Awar...

TWiV 1260: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about Jane Goodall's death and the Nobel prize in Physiology/Medicine for understanding immune system control before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, if 2 doses of the influenza vaccine are better for protection of first season children, if COVID-19 negatively impacts pregnancy and th...

TWiV 1259: Capricious flu and a tickborne clue

TWiV reviews experiments to understand infection, pathogenesis, and transmission of avian H5N1 influenza virus in goats, and identification of a cellular receptor for tick-borne encephalitis virus. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Public trust in science (Nature) Culling of H5N1 ostriches in Canada (Science) H5N1 in goats (Cell Rep) Recep...

TWiV 1258: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello chat about the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC, increases in screwworm diagnoses, a pertussis death in Mississippi before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, monoclonal antibody therapy against RSV, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID ...

TWiV Special: Searching plane poop for viruses

From ESCV 2025, Vincent speaks with Elke Wollants about a project to identify SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses in toilet waste from airplanes. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guest: Elke Wollants Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology (KU Leuven) Virologists in Greece ( TWiV 1255 from ESCV) Airplane wastewater surveillance for pathogens (SSRN) Timestamps by Jol...

TWiV 1257: Better cocktails and CRISPR chicken

TWiV explains experiments to create genetically modified chickens that are resistant to avian influenza infection, and discovery of combination antiviral therapy for HTLV-1 infection. 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 Creating avian influenza virus resistant chickens (Nat Comm) Antiretroviral therapy and apoptosis inhibition for HTLV-1 (Cell)...

TWiV 1256: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

TWiV 1256: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

TWiV 1255: Virologists in Greece

Vincent travels to Thessaloniki, Greece to attend the 27th meeting of the European Society for Clinical Virology, where he speaks with Pamela Vallely, ESCV President, and Piotr Kramarz, Chief Scientist, European CDC, about the activities of ESCV and ECDC. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Piotr Kramarz and Pamela Vallely Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in t...

TWiV 1254: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello lament the anti-vaccine, anti-science composition of the ACIP, US cases of Chagas disease, the Ebola vaccination campaign in the DRC, the death of an infant in LA due to measles complications (SSPE), before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, use of monoclonal antibodies against influenza, th...

TWiV 1253: Harvard virology is not retreating

Vincent travels to Waterville Valley, NH to attend the Harvard virology retreat, where he speaks with Aaron Schmidt, Ben Gewurz, and Tatum Sass about their careers and their research on influenza virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and CAR-T cells. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Aaron Schmidt , Ben Gewurz , and Tatum Sass Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Harvard Program in Virology Conserved sites on H...

TWiV 1252: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discuss the continued Legionnaire's outbreak in Harlem, invasive Asia longhorned tick and associated disease, potential Ebola outbreak in the Congo, Florida ending childhood vaccine mandates, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, SARS-CoV-2 spillover into household/domestic dogs, real da...

TWiV Special: David Baltimore, remembered

TWiV re-issues our 100th episode which featured a discussion of viruses with David Baltimore, an exemplary scientist and Vincent's exemplary mentor, who passed on 6 September 2025. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Rich Condit Guest: David Baltimore Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV David's early papers on poliovirus and mengovirus RNA synthesis Reverse transcriptase found by Baltimore a...

TWiV 1251: Swedish models and agent 007

TWiV reviews a study showing that the 2009 influenza pandemic virus disrupted biennial respiratory syncytial virus epidemics in northern Stockholm, and development of broad-spectrum synthetic carbohydrate receptors that inhibit viral entry of coronaviruses, filoviruses, and paramyxoviruses. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science educ...

TWiV 1250: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello is shocked by COVID vaccine restrictions and uncertainties such as pharmacy stock, the ACIP meeting roster and whether it guidance is legal, 3 new ACIP members all anti-vaccine, ending of childhood vaccine mandates in Florida, the continued Legionnaire's outbreak in Harlem, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns ...

TWiV 1249: Demented and crAss

TWiV reviews the major shakeup in CDC leadership, herpes simplex virus infection doubles the risk of dementia, and the prototypic crAssphage is a linear phage-plasmid. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Brianne Barker , and Jolene Ramsey Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV CDC director ousted? (CNN) Herpes simplex infection doubles risk of dementia (J Alzheimers Res) Fishing for viruses in se...

TWiV 1248: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello are dismayed about the recent attack on public health the firing of the director of the CDC as well as resignation of 3 others members of the agency's leadership, the continued Legionnaire's outbreak in Harlem, suspension of Ixchiq the Chikungunya virus attenuated infectious vaccine, the first US case of New World screwworm before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2...

TWiV 1247: In the company of vaccines with Stanley Plotkin

Stanley Plotkin joins TWiV to recount his career as a vaccinologist, having participated in the development of vaccines for polio, rabies, and rubella, and his thoughts on the current anti-science, anti-public health, and anti-vaccine climate. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , and Kathy Spindler Guest: Stanley A. Plotkin Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Stanley Plotkin (History of Vaccine...

TWiV 1246: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses outbreaks of Vibrio vulnificus and Legionnaire's disease in Harlem, the role of the American Association of Pediatrics defining immunization practices, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, effective of the high and low does influenza vaccines, association Gullian-Barre syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vacc...

TWiV 1245: Grabbing herpesvirus with both arms

TWiV reviews fradulent science becoming an industry, FDA may not authorize Pfizer COVID vaccine for young kids, Kennedy won't push strict pesticide regulations conserved betacoronavirus sequences recognized by human T cells, and Bispecific antibodies protect against herpes recurrent disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Frontiers in C...

TWiV 1244: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello discusses Vijay Prasad's return to the FDA, revoking of COVID vaccine authorization for young children, the Legionnaires' outbreak in Harlem, the new labeling requirements for Ixchiq, the infectious attenuated Chikungunya vaccine and the importation of H5 influenza virus in Antarctica, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, guidelines for t...

TWiV 1243: Capitalism, COVID, and cancer

TWiV discusses the latest worrisome Executive Order on oversight of federal grantmaking, RFK Jr winds down mRNA viral vaccine development, Lenacapavir, a drug for AIDS prevention and treatment, and how respiratory virus infections awaken dormant metastatic breast cancer cells in lungs. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , Rich Condit and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Oversigh...

TWiV 1242: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin with Vincent Racaniello re-address the dangers of drinking raw milk, the Legionnaire's outbreak in Harlem and results of a vaccine knowledge survey done by emergency departments before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, reports of influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy or neuropsychiatric events in children, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be includ...

TWiV 1241: The most beautiful experiment

TWiV reports the administration putting a choke hold on billions of NIH health research funding, US Senators tell scientists they want to protect the NIH budget, then review a classic experiment showing the mechanism of DNA replication, and explain how jumbo phage DNA is transcribed in a membrane-bound compartment before transfer into proteinaceous "nucleus" compartment. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , Kathy Spindler , Brianne Barker , Jolene Ramsey , and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (f...