TWiV 1133: Gain of function makes us safer

TWiV reviews cases of measles in Brooklyn NY and Washington DC, stalling of global childhood vaccination, licenses H5N1 vaccines protect against circulating strains, viruses traveling without passports. OC43 SARS-CoV- 2 spike replacement virus as an improved BSL-2 proxy virus for SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assays, and deep mutational scanning reveals functional constraints and antibody-escape potential of Lassa virus glycoprotein complex.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler

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Links for this episode

• MicrobeTV Discord Server
• Measles in Brooklyn NY (ABC)
• Measles in Washington DC (DC Health)
• Global childhood immunization stalls (WHO)
• Licensed H5N1 vaccines protect against circulating strains (Nat Med)
• Viruses moving without passports (European CDC)
• OC42-SARS-CoV-2 replacement spike virus (PNAS)
• Deep mutational scanning of Lassa virus glycoprotein (Immunity)
• Letters read on TWiV 1133
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Picks

Dickson – Elemental sulfur found on Mars
Kathy – Lennette Lectures at ASV, including Gail Wertz, ASV 2024
Rich – Electricity maps (Opinions: Nuclear Waste Is Misunderstood; Should We Be Worried About Nuclear Waste?)
Alan – Nature sent an investigative reporter to a predatory conference
Vincent – Coal-filled trains are likely sending people to the hospital

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.