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This Week in Virology

This Week in Virology

By: Vincent Racaniello
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TWiV is a podcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick.Vincent Racaniello 2022 Biological Sciences Natural History Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • TWiV 1307: My heart breaks for flu

    TWiV 1307: My heart breaks for flu
    Mar 22 2026

    TWiV reviews the structural basis for Rep-mediated adeno-associated virus DNA genome packaging, how influenza virus-infected myeloid cells travel to the heart and infect cardiomyocytes, leading to IFN-fueled heart damage.

    Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, 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
    • Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
    • Robin Weiss passes (ICR)
    • Judge strikes down RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies (NYTimes)
    • How Rep protein packages AAV DNA (Cell Rep)
    • How influenza virus causes heart damage (Immunity)
    • Influenza virus hitches a cellular ride to the heart (Cell Host Microbe)
    • Letters read on TWiV 1307
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
    Weekly Picks

    Brianne – The math of March Madness brackets
    Kathy – SpaceX launch plume, jellyfish APOD and Cleveland Meteor, map of meteorites fall and a doorbell cam photo
    Rich – After barista's tips were stolen, strangers showed up with $900
    Vincent – What Causes Gravitational Time Dilation? A Physical Explanation.

    Listener Pick

    Charles – They're Made Out Of Meat

    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 53 mins
  • TWiV 1306: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin

    TWiV 1306: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
    Mar 21 2026
    In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello chat about death of water fowl on Long Island, 'renaming' of the FDA adverse event monitoring system, lawsuits against RFK Jr and HHS for illegal changes in routine immunization practices, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into economic costs of not vaccinating against measles, the measles outbreak in South Carolina, Utah and ICE detention centers, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, where to find PEMGARDA, expansion of the RSV vaccine licensure to include high risk yound adults, association between lung cancer and respiratory illnesses, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, effectiveness of vaccination or supplemental vitamin D to reduce the risk of long COVID, 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 Local waterfowl die-off likely caused by bird flu (The Suffolk Times)East End officials respond as dead birds pile up on Long Island shorelines (news 12: Long Island)FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System(AEMS)(FDA)FDA Launches NewAdverse Event Look-Up Tool(FDA)FDA announces AEMS, new adverse-event database to replace VAERS (CIDRAP)US cuts broad recommendation for four childhood vaccines including flu (Reuters)US CDC deploys staff to curb South Carolina's measles outbreak (Reuters)US judge upends Kennedy's overhaul of childhood vaccine policies (Reuters)American Academy of Pediatrics, et al v. Robert F Kennedy, Jr, et al (Civil Action No 25-11916-BEM)White House Puts RFK Jr.'s HHS on Tighter Leash After MAHA Setbacks(Wall Street Journal) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan)Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola)Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard(South Carolina Department of Public Health)Utah measles outbreak response (Utah Department of Health and Human Services) Utah Measles Dashboard (Utah Department of Health and Human Services)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)US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses)Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Flu vaccine recommendations: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee March 12, 2026 Meeting Announcement (FDA)WHO updates all 3 viral strains to be included in fall flu shots(CIDRAP)Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) 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 Virus Infection (RSV)) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health)FDA expands approval for RSV vaccine to include younger adults at high risk (FDA)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)Respiratory viral infections prime accelerated lung cancer growth (Cell)2024–2025 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness Against Severe Disease (JID)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)Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro)Understanding Coverage Options (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 ...
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    44 mins
  • TWiV 1305: Lab leak idea called on the carpet

    TWiV 1305: Lab leak idea called on the carpet
    Mar 15 2026

    TWiV introduces sunshine virus of carpet pythons and its effect snakes after experimental infection, and development of a new tool to distinguish between naturally ocurring outbreaks and those that arise from lab accidents.

    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
    • Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
    • IgNobel Prize ceremony moved to Europe (Science)
    • Prasad is out of the FDA (again) (npr)
    • Sunshine virus in carpet pythons (J Virol)
    • Selection preceding epidemics and pandemics (Cell)
    • Letter read on TWiV 1305
    • Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!
    Weekly Picks

    Brianne – Galileo's handwritten notes found in ancient astronomy text
    Rich – Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
    Alan – High-resolution 3D imaging of the USS Monitor by NOAA's new µSAS system
    Vincent – The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli

    Listener Pick

    Douglas – Grandparents for vaccines

    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
All stars
Most relevant
Science first and yet entertaining.
Wonderful gang full of knowledge and joy for related topics.

Love it!

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I found TWiV through the recommendation of another podcast. Like many I am a post covid follower and I have really appreciated TWiV as a source of current and accurate information. The clinical updates with Dr. Griffin are so useful . Dr Gritting uses language that I, a custodian i.e. not a science professional am able to understand. I find the clinical updates really ease my anxieties because finally I understand what is going on around me. Sometimes the other episodes I struggle to totally follow along but I always finish having learned something I didn't know before listening. Turns out virology and immunology is quite fascinating!

Excellent Source

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You need a background in Bio to enjoy this podcast, but if you are on the in you should have a great time.

Fun team

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The content is really good and always interesting with many great guests. Good job guys!

Very good science podcast!

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I discovered TWiV during 2020 due to the desire for more accurate and unbiased information about the viruses and then stayed for the good and interesting science. I never liked biology before but have found the discussions to be reasons to get interested in not only virology but biology, microbiology, even medicine. Although I don’t understand all the science, to hear the unfamiliar multiple times made them less intimidating and I feel like I am sitting in the same room as the host and guest scientists week after week when different topics are being discussed. The weekly clinical updates are also keeping me well informed about the viruses that we should be aware of in a timely way. Love this podcast and many sister podcasts from microbe.tv

A good thing from the pandemic years

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