Episodes

  • TWiV 1253: Harvard virology is not retreating

    TWiV 1253: Harvard virology is not retreating
    Sep 14 2025

    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 H1 and H3 HA (Sci Adv)
    • Antigenic drift expands viral escape (Immunity)
    • EBV LMP1 drives B cell oncometabolism (PLoS Path)
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

    Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

    Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

    Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • TWiV 1252: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

    TWiV 1252: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
    Sep 13 2025
    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 data demonstrating the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, states that increase access to COVID-19 vaccines, effective and availability to PAXLOVID, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, the beginning of numerous long COVID clinical studies 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 Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem (NYC Health)2 dead, dozens sickened by Legionnaires’ disease in Westchester County: Officials (NBC News) Invasive longhorned tick found for 1st time in New England (AP News)First person bitten by east Asian longhorned tick (AP News)Invasive, disease-carrying tick found in Maine, the farthest northeast it has been spotted (AP News)Suspected cases rise in DR Congo Ebola outbreak (CIDRAP) Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CDC: Travelers’ Health) Patricia Mazzei (NY Times)Florida Moves to End Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren (NY Times) 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) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))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)Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations During a High Severity Season — Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season (CDC: MMWR)US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season (FDA)RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)Risk factors for severe outcomes of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children (LANCET: Regional Health Europe)US respiratory 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)Evidence to Recommendations Framework (EtR): RSV Vaccination in Adults Aged 50–59 years (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases)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)Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 to domestic dogs in COVID-19–positive households: A one health surveillance study (Virus Research)Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Topline Data Demonstrating Robust Immune Response With Their LP.8.1-Adapted COVID-19 Vaccine 2025-2026 Formula (Pfizer) Minnesota, New York issue executive orders promoting access to COVID vaccines (CIDRAP)No. 52: Declaring a Disaster in the State of New York Due to Federal Actions Related to Vaccine Access(NY State: Executive Order #52)Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for 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) 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)Patient-Reported Outcomes of Nirmatrelvir Treatment for High-Risk, ...
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    47 mins
  • TWiV Special: David Baltimore, remembered

    TWiV Special: David Baltimore, remembered
    Sep 9 2025

    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 and Temin (pdfs)
    • Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1975
    • The David Baltimore asteroid belt
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

    Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

    Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

    Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • TWiV 1251: Swedish models and agent 007

    TWiV 1251: Swedish models and agent 007
    Sep 7 2025

    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 education at MicrobeTV
    • Florida will end all state vaccine mandates (Reuters)
    • New West Coast Health Alliance (Gov Newsome)
    • COVID vaccines to be more accessible in NY State (CBSNews)
    • Colorado makes COVID vaccines accessible (Denver Post)
    • Massachusetts makes COVID vaccines accessible (Boston dot com)
    • Viral interference disrupts RSV biennial pattern (Nat Comm)
    • Broad-spectrum antiviral carbohydrate receptors (Science Adv)
    • Pedantry about ‘in cellulo‘ (Protocol Online)
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
    Weekly Picks

    Angela – Revolutionary Bee “Superfood” Could Save Collapsing Colonies (U Oxford)
    Kathy – Margaret W. Rossiter, Who Discovered Women of Science, Dies at 81
    Rich – Scientists track humpback whale migration with help from AI (Happywhale)
    Alan – You’re probably using the wrong dictionary (Alan’s first work of fiction)
    Vincent – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection in a Child with No Known Exposure

    Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

    Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

    Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
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    1 hr and 56 mins
  • TWiV 1250: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

    TWiV 1250: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
    Sep 6 2025
    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 Hopkins measles tracker, cardia benefits of the influenza vaccine, presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in breast milk following vaccination, the use of antiviral nasal sprays to treat COVID 19, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, 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 Can You Still Get the Covid Shot? (NY Times)Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Federal Register)Cassidy Calls for Vaccine Committee Meeting to be Postponed Following CDC Departures(US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Catherine Stein (Brownstone Institute)CIP to review COVID, hep B, and MMRV vaccine recommendations at September meeting (CIDRAP)Kennedy plans to add new members to an influential vaccine advisory panel.(NY Times)Patricia Mazzei (NY Times)The Steep Cost of Ron DeSantis’s Vaccine Turnabout (NY Times)Florida Moves to End Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren(NY Times) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem(NYC Health) 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) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))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)US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2025–26 Influenza Season (CDC: MMWR)ACIP Recommendations Summary (CDC: Influenza (Flu))Flu vaccines show benefits for the heart in new studies (CIDRAP)Risk of Myocarditis or Pericarditis With High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine (JAMA: OPEN)High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Influenza Vaccine and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older Adults (JAMA: Cardiology)Influenza vaccination to improve outcomes for patients with acute heart failure (PANDA II) (LANCET)Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season(FDA)RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)Respiratory Syncytial Virus Immunization Coverage Among Infants Through Receipt of Nirsevimab Monoclonal Antibody or Maternal Vaccination (CDC: MMWR)US respiratory 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)Evidence to Recommendations Framework (EtR): RSV Vaccination in Adults Aged 50–59 years (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases)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 (biRxiV)SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Elicited Antibody Responses in Human Milk (Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society)Interferon-α Nasal Spray Prophylaxis Reduces COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial (CID)Azelastine Nasal Spray for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infections (JAMA Internal Medicine)Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD)Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (...
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    1 hr
  • TWiV 1249: Demented and crAss

    TWiV 1249: Demented and crAss
    Aug 31 2025

    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

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    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 senile (TWiV 519)
    • Epstein-Barr virus and MS (TWiV 869)
    • Taking a shot at dementia (TWiV 1207)
    • crAssphage is linear phage-plasmid (Cell Host Microbe)
    • Crassvirales (MDPI)
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
    Weekly Picks

    Brianne – Research posts on Bluesky are more original — and get better engagement
    Rich – Rabbits With Hornlike Growths Are Hopping Around Colorado. Are They OK? (Wiki on Shope papilloma virus)
    Jolene – Lessons Learned: Stories from Women Leaders in STEM
    Vincent – What Makes This Song Great? “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Nirvana

    Listener Picks

    Lori – Tolga bat hospital
    Emmett – An author recommendation: Peter Watts

    Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

    Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

    Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
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    1 hr and 58 mins
  • TWiV 1248: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

    TWiV 1248: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
    Aug 30 2025
    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 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, association Guillian-Barré syndrome with RSV vaccination, guidelines for using RSV vaccines, whether or not the NB.1.8.1 should be included in the fall 2025 vaccines, the American College Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations for the COVID, RSV and influenza vaccines, FDA approval letters for Pfizer, moderna and Novagax COVID vaccines including label changes for use in those between 5 through 64 years, where to find PEMGARDA, long COVID treatment center, 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 White House Says New C.D.C. Director Is Fired, but She Refuses to Leave (NY Times)CDC director refuses to leave after White House order (BBC) Legionnaires’ Disease: In Harlem(NYC Health)New York City Health Department Provides Update on Community Cluster of Legionnaires’ Disease in Central Harlem(NYC Health: Promoting and protecting the City’s health)FDA Update on the Safety of Ixchiq (Chikungunya Vaccine, Live) (FDA)Vimkunya (Bavarian Nordiac)U.S. and Panama for the control of the Screwworm pest (COPEG)Rare human case of flesh-eating parasite New World screwworm identified in US(CNN)USDA Announces Sweeping Plans to Protect the United States from New World Screwworm (USDA)HHS details New World screwworm response after human case(CIDRAP) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins)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) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola))Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg)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)US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView)Relative effectiveness of high-dose versus standard-dose influenza vaccine against hospitalizations and mortality according to frailty score (JID) FDA-CDC-DOD: 2025-2046 influenza vaccine composition (FDA)RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan)US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)ENFLONSIA: novel drug approvals 2025 (FDA)RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection)Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV))Evaluation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination Among Adults 65 Years and Older (FDA) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP)Evidence to Recommendations Framework (EtR): RSV Vaccination in Adults Aged 50–59 years (CDC: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases)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)Veering from CDC, ACOG recommends maternal vaccination against COVID-19 (CIDRAP)ACOG Releases Updated Maternal Immunization Guidance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV (American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists)COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric–Gynecologic Care (American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists)Pfizer and BioNTech’s COMIRNATY® Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Adults 65 and Older and Individuals Ages 5 through 64 at Increased Risk for Severe COVID-19 (Pfizer) COMIRNATY approval letter (FDA)Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Targeting LP.8.1 Variant of ...
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    47 mins
  • TWiV 1247: In the company of vaccines with Stanley Plotkin

    TWiV 1247: In the company of vaccines with Stanley Plotkin
    Aug 24 2025

    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 Vaccines)
    • Talking about vaccines with Dr. Plotkin (CHOP)
    • Path to eradication of rubella (Vaccine)
    • Status of cytomegalovirus vaccine (J Inf Dis)
    • Human diploid cell vaccines (Dev Biol Stand)
    • IPV an essential part of polio eradication (Clin Inf Dis)
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

    Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees

    Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv

    Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.
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    1 hr and 48 mins