Podcast · Tech & Science

This Week in Virology

by Vincent Racaniello · English · Tech & Science

TWiV is a weekly netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick. Brought to you by four university professors and a science writer.

New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 1 hr 10 min
Latest: 11 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026 · 57 min

TWiV 1365: Andes Virus Up Close

TWiV travels to Porto, Portugal for the annual meeting of the European Society for Clinical Virology, where he speaks with Catherine and Corinne about their work on the Andes virus outbreak on the MV Hondius. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Catherine Houlihan and Corinne Guerts van Kessel Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Transient Andes RNA detection in asymptomatic healthcare worker (Eurosurveill) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E1364 · 10 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
TWiV 1364: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss their continuing struggle to understand the ongoing outbreak of cyclospora, decimation of US public health including 30% or greater loss of personnel from the CDC, continuing measles outbreaks here and aboard, a mumps outbreak in San Diego and a Hib death in Montana, criminalization of pediatricians in Texas, dengue associated death in Florida, Ebola in Kenya, a new Legionnaires outbreak, screw worm cases, and a hearing in Florida to end requirements of four vaccines including Hib and chickenpox, before Dr. Griffin…
E1363 · 4 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 54 min
TWiV 1363: A Cauldron of Bats
TWiV explains a study testing how 16 hypothesized social and environmental drivers impact disease outbreaks, concluding that infectious disease spillover and emergence are multi-causal, and that no one-size-fits-all strategy can prevent epidemics and pandemics, and an analysis of Myotis bats, which shows that their remarkable longevity and immunity are linked through pleiotropic adaptations to viruses and aging-related disease. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Angela Mingarelli Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support…
E1362 · 3 Oct 2026 · 54 min
TWiV 1362: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello continue their ongoing exasperation over 5 deaths in Pennsylvania associated with measles infections, the absurdity of RFK Jr.'s statement that AI is better informed than physicians, the outbreak of cholera, more deaths by raw milk products, spread of dengue virus in Florida, Ebola in DRC, refusal to acknowledge the benefits of the HBV vaccine birth dose, how TORCH agent infections impact neurodevelopment and may lead to increase chances of autism diagnosis, Legionnaires disease and screw worm cases, before Dr. Griffin deep…
E1361 · 27 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 46 min
TWiV 1361: Ancient Viral Sword and Shield
TWiV explains discovery of a previously unknown mechanism of RNA-guided DNA recognition for genetic control that possibly predates the emergence of CRISPR pathways, and the possibility that Alzheimer's Disease neuropathology evolved as a host defense response to microbial infection in the brain. 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 Bob Tesh dies (Galv News) Comment on propsed changes to NIH peer review (NIH) NIH peer review proposed…
E1360 · 26 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
TWiV 1360: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello frustration continues over the increasing number of measles infections, Kennedy's undermining of vaccines, perpetuation of autism- vaccine, autism-tylenol myths, an outbreak of hepatitis A virus in the US, the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, changes in reporting of virus infection and vaccine recommendations, Legionnaires disease and screw worm cases, and before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics RSV, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 infections, economics of a measles outbreak in Chicago, what defines reactogenicity of the mRNA…
E1359 · 20 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
TWiV 1359: SSPE, the Long Shadow of Measles
Roberto Cattaneo and Kalpana Yadav join TWiV at the 2026 meeting of the American Society for Virology to discuss how the absence of measles virus receptors in the brain selects for hyperfusogenic variants that spread neuron-to-neuron and cause subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a rare but fatal long-term neurological sequela of measles infection. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Roberto Cattaneo and Kalpana Yadav Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV How measles virus adapts to the brain (Ann…
E1358 · 19 Sep 2026 · 54 min
TWiV 1358: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are angered by the continuous reporting of measles deaths in the US and around the world, the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, changes in reporting of virus infection and vaccine recommendations, establishing an NIH research center on vaccine harms, Legionnaires at Yankee stadium and the first time in more than half a century reporting of an equine screwworm case, and how HHS may prevent more than half of US children from getting the COVID-19 vaccine this season before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics RSV, influenza,…
E1357 · 13 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 44 min
TWiV 1357: Furin, Naturally with Paul Bieniasz
Paul Bieniasz joins TWiV to discuss his lab's discovery that the coronavirus nuclease NSP15 cuts viral RNA into oligonucleotides that are reinserted elsewhere in the viral RNA, generating insertion mutations at a frequency above 10⁻³ per genome, including new furin cleavage sites at the spike S1/S2 junction. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Alan Dove , and Kathy Spindler Guest: Paul Bieniasz Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Genetic innovation in coronaviruses driven by a viral nuclease (bioRxiv)…
E1356 · 12 Sep 2026 · 47 min
TWiV 1356: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello delve into dengue virus infections in Florida, recent human rabies infections in the US, proposed changes in biomedical funding including "converting" the Department of War into NIAID, the continuing controversy over the deaths of 2 children in Pennsylvania from measles, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into recent statistics RSV, influenza, SARS-CoV-2 infections, approval of new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines by the FDA, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research.…
E1355 · 6 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 38 min
TWiV 1355: Four billion years of AI training data
TWiV reviews a landmark paper reporting the first generative design of complete viral genomes using AI, producing 16 viable bacteriophages that overcame antibiotic-resistant bacteria where natural phages could not, and a study suggesting that recombinant shingles vaccination reduces the risk of cardiovascular events. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , 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 Recombinant shingles vaccination reduces risk of cardiovascular events (Nat Med)…
E1354 · 5 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
TWiV 1354: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello remember Dolly Parton and her patronage of science, especially development of the COVID-19 vaccines, if the shingles vaccine protect against cardiovascular events as well as dementia, the continued national cyclosporiasis and screwworm outbreaks, size of the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, the death of 2 children in Pennsylvania from measles and the economic cost of the measles outbreak, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into how to determine the case fatality rate of measles as well as measles outbreaks, recent statistics RSV,…
E1353 · 30 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 52 min
TWiV 1353: Phage bet-hedging and EBV antibodies
TWiV explores how bacteriophages enable bet-hedge against bacterial immune defenses, and how transgenic mice engineered to produce human antibodies yielded potent anti-EBV candidates targeting gp350 and gp42, a promising step toward Epstein-Barr therapeutics. 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 Dolly Parton , and advocate for science (Nature) Phage bet-hedging (Nat Micro) EBV monoclonal antibodies (Cell Rep Med) Letters…
E1352 · 29 Aug 2026 · 49 min
TWiV 1352: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are disheartened by the suggested change in federal vaccine recommendations, how Florida rolled back 4 childhood vaccine school requirements, results from a clinical trial suggesting that IPV can be used for outbreak control in IPV only countries, the continued national cyclosporiasis and screwworm outbreaks, size of the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, the death of 2 children in Pennsylvania from measles and the economic cost of the measles outbreak before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the use of monoclonal antibodies and…
E1351 · 23 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 41 min
TWiV 1351: Ebola Virus Brains and Contagious Catfish Cancers
TWiV describes a human cerebral organoid model for Ebola virus persistence, and brown bullhead catfish melanoma, a novel transmissible cancer. 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 Revamp of how NIH scores research grant proposals (Nature) Kansas BSL-4 lab faces more delays (Science) Ebola virus persistence in a human cerebral organoid model (Nat Micro) Hidden cost of immune privilege (Nat Micro) Transmissible melanoma of catfish (Nature)…
E1350 · 22 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
TWiV 1350: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are perplexed by the state of global public health as malaria, cholera and other infectious diseases are spread by civil warfare, the lack of manpower at the CDC to implement Congressional health programs, the first cancer mRNA vaccine resulting from a Merck and Moderna collaboration, how cyclosporiasis and screwworm outbreaks continue, FDA approval of new drugs against screwworm and critical policy decisions to control the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent…
E1349 · 16 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 3 min
TWiV 1349: Smallpox and mummies
TWiV explains how liquid–liquid phase separation and a phage-encoded inhibitor cooperatively drive transcriptional transition during phage SPO1 infection, and the first smallpox virus genomes from an early outbreak in South America. 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 Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Fred Murphy , a pioneer in virology (J Virol) New midge-borne orthobunyavirus sickening cattle in Europe (Science) What…
E1348 · 15 Aug 2026 · 55 min
TWiV 1348: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are troubled by the latest executive order changing routine childhood vaccine recommendations, the call for nominations to join the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, West Nile virus transmission in South Carolina, a newly identified midge-transmitted virus sickening cattle, and development of a cold-chain free DPT vaccine, the national cyclospora and screwworm outbreaks,new screwworm and genomics of Ebola outbreak in the Congo, and use of a mismatch vaccine to combat the Bundibugyo virus outbreak before Dr.…
E1347 · 9 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 47 min
TWiV 1347: No Short Answers for Long COVID
TWiV explains research showing that Long COVID is associated with reactivation of numerous chronic viruses, including herpesviruses and anelloviruses, and with the production of autoantibodies that target neurological tissues. 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 Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Virus reactivation in acute and long COVID-19 (Cell) Association between autoantibodies and neurological symptoms in long COVID (Cell) Letters…
E1346 · 8 Aug 2026 · 54 min
TWiV 1346: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are distressed by Erica Schwartz' confirmation as CDC director, the GAO proposed pandemic preparedness plans, the national cyclospora outbreak and resulting two deaths, new screwworm and the scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, and clear results from some of President Trump's policies dismantling public health activites including water safety, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles…
E1345 · 2 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
TWiV 1345: Rocky Mountain Virology High
TWiV travels to Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, where he speaks with Angela Bosco-Lauth, Rebekah Kading, and Mark Stenglein about their careers and their virology research. Host: Vincent Racaniello Guests: Angela Bosco-Lauth , Rebekah Kading , and Mark Stenglein Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts , RSS , email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Susceptibility of wild and domestic songbirds to Usutu virus (PLoS NTD) Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 Infection in Snowshoe Hares (J Wildl Dis) SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant transmission…
E1344 · 1 Aug 2026 · 49 min
TWiV 1344: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss the numerous attempts by states to roll back vaccine laws, the recent surge of Dengue virus cases in Sri Lanka, the national cyclospora outbreak, new screwworm and Legionnaires cases, launching of the CHaT-Ox Ebola vaccine trail, scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and if cross-reactive Ebola antibodies are effective, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak including the new Pennsylvania dashboard, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns…
E1343 · 26 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 42 min
TWiV 1343: Batting averages and stolen bases
TWiV explains research which shows that Per os infectivity factors are essential for bracovirus infection and wasp parasitism, and that periodic shifts in viral load increase risk of Hendra virus spillover from Pteropus bats. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , 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 Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Susumu Tonegawa Dies ( Wikipedia ) Measles Cases Hit New Record in U.S., as Vaccination Rates Wane (NYTimes) Polydnaviruses on on TWiVs 372…
E1342 · 25 Jul 2026 · 40 min
TWiV 1342: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello explore the source/not source of the national cyclospora outbreak, trust in the FDA to correctly identify the source, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and development of a novel vaccine and antiviral before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak including the new Pennsylvania dashboard, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, difference between high and standard dose influenza…
E1341 · 19 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 40 min
TWiV 1341: Phage breaks and COVID origins
TWiV explains research that reveals dual activity of a phage-encoded lysin that modulates infection dynamics in a mycobacteriophage, and refutes a proposed link between the SARS-CoV-2 furin cleavage site and mouse-adapted MERS-coronavirus MA30. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Kathy Spindler, Angela Mingarelli, and Jolene Ramsey 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) Dual activity of phage-encoded lysin (mBio) Furin cleavage site and SARS-CoV-2 origins (PNAS) Theories…
E1340 · 18 Jul 2026 · 44 min
TWiV 1340: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello debate if Senator Mitch McConnell's recent hospitalization is due to post-polio syndrome or just old age, how air quality from Maine to Chicago has been affected by the Ontario wild fires, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and development of a novel vaccine and antiviral, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay…
E1339 · 12 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 51 min
TWiV 1339: Ebola up close with Tom Ksiazek
Tom Ksiazek, a world-renowned virus expert with 40 years of experience on the front lines of some of the worst outbreaks the world has ever seen, joins TWiV to discuss his career, ebolaviruses in general, and the current outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus in Africa. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello , Rich Condit , and Brianne Barker Guest: Tom Ksiazek 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) Fred Murphy passes ( pdf ) CJ Peters passes ( pdf ) Tom Ksiazek on TWiV 583 Letters…
E1338 · 11 Jul 2026 · 43 min
TWiV 1338: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are dismayed over the military deaths due to the voluntary influenza vaccination policy, FDA's first vaccine recommendations since 2023, the efficacy of influenza vaccines, new screwworm, Legionnaires and cyclosporiasis cases, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda and before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, publication of the blocked COVID-19…
E1337 · 5 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 53 min
TWiV 1337: The whitefly and the Red Queen
TWiV explains research that reveals an an alternative evolutionary path of antiviral signalling in a sea anemone, and how a bacterial symbiont and a plant virus enhance insect fitness by inducing physical defenses against fungal parasites. 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 Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) Springer-Nature retracted two papers by Max Planck , probably with a bot (Science) Alternative evolutionary path of antiviral…
E1336 · 4 Jul 2026 · 23 min
TWiV 1336: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello lament about the new ACIP charter, how administration of the HPV vaccine has eliminated cervical cancer deaths in young women, the global economic burden of infectious disease, restoring trust in vaccinology, new screwworm cases, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and Uganda and need for preparedness, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, publication…

About This Week in Virology

TWiV is a weekly netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick. Brought to you by four university professors and a science writer.

This Week in Virology is a English tech & science podcast from Vincent Racaniello. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Vincent Racaniello
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Daily
Typical length: 1 hr 10 min
Latest episode: 11 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1176779065
Rights: Vincent Racaniello 2022

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