This Week in Virology

TWiV explains emergence of a neurovirulent double recombinant from the 'improved' nOPV2 in Uganda, and efficiency of viral entry determined whether cells are latently or lytically infected with cytomegalovirus.
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
ASV 2026
Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
nOPV2 neurovirulent recombinant in Uganda (Nat Micro)
2023 IMB report on polio eradication
Viral entry shapes HCMV latency establishment (Nat Comm)
Letters read on TWiV 1291
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Weekly Picks
Brianne – Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Rich – Sequoiadendron giganteum; Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
Alan – The Murderbot Diaries book series, by Martha Wells
Vincent – Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!
Listener Picks
Rocky – Cheetah mummies found in cave (Nature, National Geographic)
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss screwworm, how the shingles vaccination slows biological aging (for all of you who want to reset 'the clock' and live forever…..you know who you are Musk, Bezos) and getting one dose of the HPV vaccine, then Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how losing our elimination status is the cost of doing business (going for broke is never a good business model !) where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions 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 World Screwworm: Outbreak Moves into Northern Mexico……with an official tag "This is an official CDC Health Advisory" (CDC: Health Alert Network)
Association between shingles vaccination andslower biological aging: Evidence from a U.S. population-based cohort study (The Journals of Gerontology series A)
Noninferiority of One HPV Vaccine Dose to Two Doses (NEJM)
Herd effect of human papillomavirus vaccination on incidence of high-grade cervical lesions: (LANCET: Public Health)
Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
Delaware, Georgia see major commercial avian flu outbreaks (CIDRAP)
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Notes from the Field: Wastewater Surveillance for Measles Virus During a Measles Outbreak — Colorado, August 2025 (CDC: MMWR)
Notes from the Field: Retrospective Analysis of Wild-Type Measles Virus in Wastewater During a Measles Outbreak — Oregon, March 24–September 22, 2024 (CDC: MMWR)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)
Utah measles total rises to 216; CDC deputy director says losing elimination status'cost of doing business' (CIDRAP)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Assessing MMR vaccination coverage gaps in US children with digital participatory surveillance (Nature Health)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)
Effectiveness of influenza vaccination to prevent severe disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of test-negative design studies (CMI: Clinical Microbiology and Infection)
Interim vaccine effectiveness against influenza virus among outpatients, France, October 2025 to January 2026 (Eurosurveillance)
Moderate protection from vaccination against influenza A(H3N2) subclade K in Beijing, China, September to December 2025 (Eurosurviellance)
Current flu vaccine provides moderate protection against severe disease, interim analyses suggest (CIDRAP)
OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option (xofluza)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virusnfection (RSV))
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)
UnderstandingCoverageOptions (PAXCESS)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Anticoagulationguidelines (hematology.org)
Daniel Griffin's evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1290
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV explains how the dengue virus protein NS1 alters Aedes aegypti midgut permeability and favors virus dissemination, and achieving a complete hepatitis B virus cure in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected humanized mice by using a capsid assembly modulator.
Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Angela Mingarelli
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiV!
Links for this episode
Support science education at MicrobeTV
ASV 2026
Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
Dengue virus NS1 alters mosquito midgut permeability (mBio)
HBV cure with a capsid assembly modulator (Cell Host Microbe)
Letters read on TWiV 1289
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Weekly Picks
Angela – How hibernating bears maintain muscle mass
Alan – The flood of Chinese grad students in the 2000s was a boon to US students.
Vincent – Feynman Lectures on Physics
Listener Picks
David – Stewart Cheifet, Host of TV's 'Computer Chronicles,' Dies at 87
Charles – Last Year, and the Year to Come
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are bewildered and dismayed by RFK Jr's announced changes in the routine childhood immunization schedule, though not unpredicted, and highlight the science and evidence which eviscerate these changes, then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic- in particular in South Carolina, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, estimated societal burden of COVID-19 illness, deaths and hospitalizations, benefit of maternal COVID-19 vaccination, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, neurodevelopmental consequences of in-utero SARS-CoV-2 infection 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
7 great Danish cheeses you should know (Cheese Professor)
Norovirus in on the rise! (WasterWater Scan)
Maternal Vaccine Receipt and Infant Hospital and Emergency Visits for Influenza and Pertussis (JAMA Open)
TUESDAY MEASLES UPDATE: DPH Reports 124 New Measles Cases in Upstate, New Public Exposures, and Upcoming Vaccination Opportunities (South Carolina: Department of Public Health-they have one?)
Measles cases soar in South Carolina, top 400 (CIDRAP)
Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)
Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)
Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)
Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)
Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada)
Measles (WHO)
Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health)
Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola))
Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC)
Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC)
Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM)
Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America)
Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine)
Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
Weekly surveillance report: cliff notes (CDC FluView)
North Dakota confirms pediatric flu deaths as some states note surge in flu activity (CIDRAP)
OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option (Xofluza)
The Best Flu Drug Americans Aren't Taking (The Atlantic)
Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA)
RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)
Impact of universal nirsevimab prophylaxis in infants on hospital and primary care outcomes across two respiratory syncytial virus seasons in Galicia, Spain (NIRSE-GAL): a population-based prospective observational study (Lancet: Infectious Diseases)
Interim Safety of RSVpreF Vaccination During Pregnancy (JAMA)
Pfizer's RSV vaccine safe to use during pregnancy, study suggests (CIDRAP)
USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)
RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)
Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))
Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)
Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)
COVID-19 deaths (CDC)
Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses)
COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC)
COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC)
SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain)
Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV)
Evaluating the Effectiveness of 2024–2025 Seasonal mRNA-1273 Vaccination Against COVID-19-Related Hospitalizations and Medically Attended COVID-19 Among Adults Aged ≥ 18 years in the United States: An Observational Matched Cohort Study (Infectious Diseases and Therapy)
Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda)
EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)
Infusion center (Prime Fusions)
CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC)
NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH)
Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool)
Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)
UnderstandingCoverageOptions (PAXCESS)
Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society)
Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV)
Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society)
Use of corticosteroids in influenza-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe pneumonia: a systemic review and meta-analysis(Scientific Reports)
What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC)
Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC)
Anticoagulationguidelines (hematology.org
Daniel Griffin's evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID)
Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center)
The answers: Long COVID
Incidence and Severity of Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Omicron Era: A Prospective Cohort Study (JID)
Reaching out to US house representative
Letters read on TWiV 1288
Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf)
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

TWiV explain the tracing of 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient human DNA, the effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course.
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
ASV 2026
Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
Ancient human herpesvirus 6 (Sci Adv)
First through sixth diseases (Merck Manual)
Effect of shingle vaccination on different stages of dementia (Cell)
Letters read on TWiV 1287
Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
Weekly Picks
Brianne – TWiM Annotations and Resources Book for Teaching
Alan – Starter Villain, by John Scalzi
Rich – Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi
Vincent – Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa
Listener Picks
Rona – Maggie and Millie and Molly and May by Natalie Merchant
Owen – How to get the vaccines you need now
Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees
Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]
Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.