Podcasts - For your listening pleasure

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 689: COVID-19 clinical update #39 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 689 Daniel Griffin provides his weekly clinical report on COVID-19, including analysis of vitamin D levels in patients, information on Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, distribution plans suggested by ACIP, and more.

Links for this episode

• Vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients (Nature) 5:38
• ACIP recommendations for distribution of COVID-19 vaccine (MMWR) 11:47
• Updated CDC guidance on when to quarantine (CDC) 20:49
• Letters read on TWiV 689 29:22
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 690: This is your brain on SARS-CoV-2

In Episode 690, TWiV reviews the difficulties in predicting species susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection by only examining the ACE2 protein, and the olfactory mucosa as a portal of entry into the central nervous system in COVID-19 patients.

Links for this episode

• NYC will create pandemic response institute (NY Bus J) 3:21
• Comparison of ACE2 in vertebrates (PNAS) 14:10
• Olfactory transmucosal invasion of CNS by SARS-CoV-2 (Nat Neurosci) 40:28
• Letters read on TWiV 690 1:06:23
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 691: SciArt with Laura Splan

In Episode 691 SciArtist Laura Splan joins TWiV to reveal her transdisciplinary work that intersects science, technology, design and culture, then the team discuss an inverse correlation between mumps virus antibodies induced by MMR vaccine and COVID-19 severity, and whether ivermectin is indicated for treatment of COVID-19.

Links for this episode

• Laura Splan website 57:56, 1:05:08
• BSL-3 Assistant Manager position 1:07:35
• [url-https://mbio.asm.org/content/11/6/e02628-2=]MMR titers[/url] in recovered COVID-19 patients (mBio) 1:12:06
• Ivermectin and SARS-CoV-2 (TWiV 599) 1:30:55
• Treatment of COVID-19 with ivermectin (Int J Inf Dis) 1:32:08
• Ivermectin approved dosing (Mayo Clinic) 1:34:00
• Briefing document for Pfizer vaccine (FDA) 1:38:29
• Vaccinated? Wear a mask (NY Times) 1:44:19
• Efficacy of ChAdOx1 vaccine (Lancet) 1:47:43
• Mix & Match Pfizer & Oxford jabs (Times Long) 1:48:08
• SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Seattle (medRxiv) 1:50:04
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 692: COVID-19 clinical update #40 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 692 Daniel Griffin provides his weekly clinical report on COVID-19, including the anticipated EUA for the Pfizer mRNA vaccine, mitigation strategies in early care and education settings, expressive aphasia, and much more.

Links for this episode

• Mitigation strategies in early care and education settings (MMWR) 5:28
• WHO solidarity trial results (NEJM) 26:27
• Letters read on TWiV 692 31:30
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 693: Vax to the future

On TWiV 693, FDA EUA for Pfizer mRNA vaccine, efficacy of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccine, and an orally administered drug that blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 laboratory assistant manager position 1:51
• FDA advisory committee votes in favor of EUA for Pfizer vaccine (NY Times) 3:18
• Sanofi/Glaxo subunit vaccine steps back (Stat) 7:59
• Efficacy of ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccine (Lancet) 12:59
• Oral antiviral blocks SARS-CoV-2 transmission in ferrets (Nat Micro) 40:13
• Letters read on TWiV 693 59:12
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 694: Mitigating COVID-19

In Episode 694, TWiV makes Bloomberg Business News 2020 Jealousy List, crushing of CDC revealed by insiders, seasonal influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA briefing documents from Moderna, and three-quarters attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 during an unmitigated epidemic in Brazil.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 Assistant Manager position 3:39
• TWiV makes Bloomberg Business News 2020 Jealousy List (BBN) 5:25
• Crushing of the CDC (NY Times) 11:02
• Seasonal influenza during COVID-19 pandemic (jpg) 17:05
• Moderna briefing documents (FDA) 20:20
• Three-quarters attack rate in Brazil (Science) 27:39
• Outdoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (J Inf Dis) 1:27:43
• Rich Condit reminisces (YouTube) 1:48:46
• Letters read on TWiV 694 58:19
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 695: COVID-19 clinical update #41 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 695, Daniel Griffin provides his weekly clinical report on COVID-19, including thoughts on the first immunizations with Pfizer mRNA vaccine, the anticipated EUA for the Moderna vaccine, whether the vaccine prevents infection, not just disease, monoclonal antibody therapy, and much more.

Links for this episode

• FDA EUA for Pfizer mRNA vaccine (FDA) 26:33
• Ellume at-home SARS-CoV-2 antigen test (Ellume) 10:07
• Pre-K through grade 12 COVID-19 mitigation costs (MMWR) 11:46
• Letters read on TWiV 695 37:45
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 696: Tear down that SARS-CoV-2 manuscript

In Episode 696, TWiV explains that COVID-19 is not harmless for young adults, FAA approval for Pfizer mRNA vaccine, lack of justification for the claim of reverse transcription of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and integration into the human genome, and lack of evidence for increased transmission by new variants in the UK.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 laboratory assistant manager position 3:08
• FDA authorizes EUA for Moderna mRNA vaccine (FDA) 29:08
• COVID-19 is not harmless for young adults (NY Times) 4:43
• Excess mortality 25-44 years (JAMA) 5:27
• Pfizer mRNA vaccine approved by FAA (AOPA) 27:46
• SARS-CoV-2 RNA reverse transcription (bioRxiv) 30:22
• Information on UK variant (GISAID, BMJ) 55:49
• US agency computers compromised (WaPo) 1:02:49
• DoD study on low risk of flying (WaPo) 1:14:19
• When can children be vaccinated? (Guardian) 1:40:16
• Letters read on TWiV 696 1:06:32
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 697: The sky is NOT falling

In Episode 697, TWiV reviews the latest data on the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2, including some properties of the variant and why it is being closely studied, development of liver cancer in a participant in a adenovirus-associated virus gene therapy trial, and answers to listener questions.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 Assistant Manager position 2:24
• NERVTAG meeting minutes (pdf) 6:41
• NERVTAG 5:55, 36:59
• Preliminary genomic characterization of UK variant (virological.org) 37:11
• PHE investigation of UK variant (pdf) 37:55
• N501Y does not affect antibody neutralization (Science, eLife) 47:52
• WHO notice on UK variant (WHO) 1:10:30
• Liver tumor during AAV gene therapy (Science) 1:13:02
• Letters read on TWiV 697 1:18:29
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 698: COVID-19 clinical update #42 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 698, Daniel Griffin provides his weekly clinical report on COVID-19, including his own experience with vaccination, guidelines for vaccine distribution, reasons for under-utilization of monoclonal antibody therapy, and much more.

Links for this episode

• Phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines (ACIP slides) 19:57
• How CDC is making COVID-19 vaccine recommendations (CDC) 20:37
• Letters read on TWiV 698 32:58
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 700: ‘Twas COVID and the aerosols

In Episode 700, TWiV reviews additional data on the UK variant of SARS-CoV-2, the distinct variant spreading in South Africa, association of afucosylated antiviral IgG with severe COVID-19, approval of AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK, and winners of the pandemic poem contest.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 Assistant Manager position 1:24
• PHE update #2 (pdf) 2:46
• South African variant (medRxiv) 37:12
• CDC cautious in conclusions on variant
• Afucosylated IgG and severe COVID-19 (Science) 1:07:31
• AstraZeneca vaccine EUA in UK (BBC) 59:21
• Letters read on TWiV 700 1:37:26
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 701: COVID-19 clinical update #43 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 701, Daniel Griffin’s final clinical report for 2020, he summarizes what we have learned about the clinical management of COVID-19 patients in the past year.

Links for this episode

• Attributes and predictors of long COVID-19 (medRxiv) 28:18
• Letters read on TWiV 701 30:16
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 702: Year of the Pandemic

In TWiV's first episode of 2021, the complete TWiV team reviews compelling virology stories of 2020, and thanks the multitude of guests who have helped us to navigate the pandemic, and our many listeners who turn to us for scientific facts.

Links for this episode

• Poems are at Twiverse 1:17:48
• This little virus went to market (TWiV 582) 5:39, 14:46
• Host genetics initiative TWiV 628 27:29
• Inborn errors of immunity & serious COVID TWiV 671 28:04
• Lisa Gralinski TWiV 674 29:20
• Tragic gene flow from Neanderthals TWiV 676 30:05
• Ivermectin and COVID-19 (TWiV 599) 32:40
• DC and Galveston road trips: TWiV 625, 643, 646, 589, 580, 583, 587) 5:48, 36:28
• Fauci and Hotez interviews (TWiV 641, 687) 43:09
• Long-haul COVID, pro-thrombotic autoantibodies (TWiV 680, 683) 49:09
• Minority health and disparities (TWiV 655) 58:49
• Diversity in science (TWiV 672, 670) 59:29
• SeXX matters (TWiV 624) 1:00:00
• Kate Rubins (TWiV 682) 1:08:11
• Laura Splan (TWiV 691) 1:11:58
• Protective immune responses (TWiV 693, 685, 683) 1:13:50
• Immune memory/cross-reactivity (TWiV 684, 681, 650, 631) 1:14:23
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 703: Does dose matter?

In Episode 703, a discussion of why modifying the dose schedule of the mRNA vaccines in the US is not a good idea, evidence that lower Ct values on hospital admission is associated with higher mortality, and dose-dependent response to SARS-CoV-2 infection of ferrets.

Links for this episode

• BSL-3 Assistant Manager position 1:49
• Follow authorized vaccine dosing schedule (FDA) 12:28
• Mina suggests one vaccine dose (NY Times) 13:57
• UK decision document on vaccine dose (pdf) 19:30
• Ct linked to COVID-19 mortality (Open Forum Inf Dis) 43:51
• Dose-dependent infection of ferrets (Nat Comm) 58:50
• Letters read on TWiV 703 1:19:08
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 704: COVID-19 clinical update #44 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In TWiV 704's COVID-19 clinical update, Daniel Griffin summarizes current status of vaccination in the US, discusses a study on convalescent sera from Argentina, use of remdesivir in patients with kidney disease, and provides further considerations on the use of Ct values in patient management.

Links for this episode

• Argentine study on plasma therapy (NEJM) 9:52
• Ct values and clinical outcome (Open Forum Inf Dis) 17:27
• Bamlanivimab fact sheet (FDA pdf) 12:08
• Cognitive defects in recovered COVID-19 patients (medRxiv) 22:16
• Letters read on TWiV 704 24:03
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 705: Rocky Mountain COVID with Emily Travanty

In TWiV 705, Emily Travanty from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment joins TWiV to discuss how her laboratory was the first in the US to detect the SARS-CoV-2 variant VOC 202012/01.

Links for this episode

• VOC detected in Colorado (WaPo) 19:07
• US has sequenced only 50,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes (CDC) 40:46
• Human CoV evolves to escape immunity (bioRxiv) 1:08:47
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 706: Do as Dr. Fauci says

In Episode 706, TWiV answers listener questions about pandemic response, excess deaths in 25-44 year olds, vaccines, vaccines, and vaccines.

Links for this episode

• Poems are at Twiverse 3:57
• 2020 US traffic deaths (Car & Driver) 27:54
• National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (HRSA) 51:30
• Jet injector (Wikipedia) 1:04:01
• Letters read on TWiV 706 12:58
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 707: COVID-19 clinical update #45 with Dr. Daniel Griffin

In COVID-19 clinical update #45 (TWiV 707), Daniel Griffin discusses J&J Ad26 vaccine results, reactogenicity after the second dose of mRNA vaccines, expansion of vaccine eligibility, and the finding that encephalitis after SARS-CoV-2 infection is a cytokine release syndrome.

Links for this episode

• J&J Ad26 vaccine phase 1/2 results (NEJM) 7:08
• SARS-CoV-2 encephalitis is a cytokine release syndrome (CID) 25:49
• Letters read on TWiV 707 30:26
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 708: Alpaca llama full of nanobodies

In Episode 708, the TWiV team deconstructs CoronaVac, the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech, and production of multivalent camelid nanobodies that block infection with the virus and suppress selection of neturalization-resistant variants.

Links for this episode

• David Kessler to head Operation Warp Speed (NY Times) 3:51
• Phase 1/2 results of Sinovac inactivated vaccine (Lancet) 6:09
• beta-propiolactone (Wikipedia) 13:11
• Multivalent anti-SARS-CoV-2 nanobodies (Science) 50:02
• Letters read on TWiV 708 1:17:16
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

 

[Dr_SLO]

TWiV 709: COVID cherry picking

In Episode 709, President Biden elevates his science advisor to his Cabinet, a review of the current flu season, the scientific goals of the WHO-convened Global Study of the Origins of SARS-CoV-2, and answers to listener questions.

Links for this episode

• President’s science advisor to Cabinet (NY Times) 1:34
• Letter from Biden to Lander (pdf) 2:16
• Weekly flu (CDC) 5:42
• Weekly NY flu (NYDOH)
• WHO study on SARS-CoV-2 origins (WHO) 10:11
• Letters read on TWiV 709 28:48
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!