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This Week in Virology

Vincent Racaniello
Covid-19
Measles
Vaccination
Public Health
Vaccines
Sars-Cov-2
Influenza
Long COVID
Hepatitis B
Virology
Ebola
CDC
Avian Influenza
Dementia
Polio
RSV
Norovirus
Hepatitis B Virus
Epstein-Barr Virus
FDA

This Week in Virology is a netcast about viruses - the kind that make you sick.

PublishesDailyEpisodes104Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceHealth & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for This Week in Virology

Latest Episodes

TWiV explains results of a dengue virus human challenge which reveals that preexisting immunity shapes viral replication and broadly protective responses, and how influenza virus antagonizes self-sensing by RIG-I to enhance viral replication.

Hosts... more

YouTube

In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are cautiously elated by results of election day 2026 on the backdrop of additional measles associated deaths in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New York, return of mpox, Chagas disease... more

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TWiV discusses an outbreak of H5N1 influenza viruses in Utah farmed mink, and divergent species-specific antiviral responses in Marburg virus infected cells from reservoir bats and humans.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit Subsc... more

YouTube

In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are distressed by the continued upheaval of leadership at the CDC, recent news of H5 highly pathogenic influenza virus found on mink farms in Utah and in the polar bear population o... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Catherine Houlihan
Researcher from University College London and UK Health Security Agency
University College London / UK Health Security Agency
Episode: TWiV 1365: Andes Virus Up Close
Corinne Guerts van Kessel
Researcher from Erasmus Medical Centre
Erasmus Medical Centre
Episode: TWiV 1365: Andes Virus Up Close
Daniel Griffin
Clinician and infectious disease expert
Columbia University? (Referenced as guest on TWiV)
Episode: TWiV 1362: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
Kalpana Yadav
Virologist from Mayo Clinic, expert on SSPE
Mayo Clinic
Episode: TWiV 1359: SSPE, the Long Shadow of Measles
Roberto Cattaneo
Virologist from Mayo Clinic, expert on SSPE
Mayo Clinic
Episode: TWiV 1359: SSPE, the Long Shadow of Measles
Paul Bieniasz
Guest virologist, Rockefeller University, expert on coronavirus genetics
Rockefeller University
Episode: TWiV 1357: Furin, Naturally with Paul Bieniasz
Jolene Ramsey
Gave paper overview and commentary on phage bet hedging and contingencies
Texas A&M University
Episode: TWiV 1353: Phage bet-hedging and EBV antibodies
Rebekah Kading
Laboratory researcher studying mosquito-borne and bat-borne viruses; CSU
Colorado State University
Episode: TWiV 1345: Rocky Mountain Virology High
Mark Stenglein
CSU researcher in Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
Colorado State University
Episode: TWiV 1345: Rocky Mountain Virology High

Hosts

Vincent Racaniello
Host of the show; prominent virologist and science communicator.
Kathy Spindler
Co-host / contributor; professor emerita with expertise in virology and science education.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.6k ratings
  • Disappointing

    I was excited to delve into great conversation about viruses and viral research, including gory details and critical analysis. You definitely get some of that in this podcast, to be sure, and I appreciate how they dissect publications rather than just parroting press releases. Unfortunately, what struck me the most was the host’s political vehemence. They treat a commenter dissenting on COVID origins, whose comments I thought were fair, with surprising levels of aggression. The guest lady was th... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Zootvine
    United States3 months ago
  • HEAR HEAR!

    Vincent’s in the moment righteous indignation is always a pleasure. You are all of us, my man!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RB9AVS
    United States5 months ago
  • It was great, but it devolves into politics

    Please, show less political anger and emphasize more science. Don't turn into just another partisan show. Focus on convincing rather than scolding.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MaximumZed
    United States6 months ago
  • Fantastically informative podcast

    Huge thanks to Vincent and the team and guests who put so much effort into this platform! I learn so much and find the discussion engaging. I’m a microbiologist, trained as a bacterial specialist, but for nearly 2 decades I’ve been doing bacteriophage research and that’s my team’s focus (so I guess I’m a viral guy too now). I have learned a great deal from this podcast and have been led to some super-informative papers by it. Gargantuan kudos for the way the podcast addressed the COVID-19 p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Family shared - Nik
    United States8 months ago
  • Love the weekly clinical update!

    One of my favourite podcasts! I look forward to the clinical updates every weekend and love learning about all things virology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    isla-june
    Canada8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners wish fewer political angles and more science-focused discussion.
Guests and hosts are praised for depth, accessibility, and engaging banter.
Listeners appreciate the rigorous, evidence-based science and clear clinical updates.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#62
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#107
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#143
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#123
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#229
Germany/Science
Apple Podcasts
#86
Taiwan/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

TWiV 1370: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
Q: Does a patient need a fifth rabies vaccine dose after receiving prednisone between the third and fourth doses?
Griffin recommends treating the patient as immunocompromised, giving the fifth dose, and checking rabies antibody titers three weeks afterward to determine whether further vaccination is needed.
TWiV 1370: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin
Q: What is the risk of eating cheese made from raw milk, especially cheese aged at least six months?
Griffin says U.S. rules treat cheeses aged more than 60 days as safe, but risk varies by cheese type, with hard cheeses generally safer than soft cheeses. For live cultures, he suggests foods such as live-culture yogurt.
TWiV 1371: How to Bat Away Marburg Virus
Q: Could there be a scenario that the new cases of rampant measles could develop a variant that will no longer be matched with the current vaccine?
The hosts said the measles vaccine has remained effective and no vaccine-escape variant is known; they attributed this stability to constraints on the virus's ability to accommodate mutations.
TWiV 1371: How to Bat Away Marburg Virus
Q: Could rampant measles cases develop a variant that will no longer be matched with the current vaccine, putting vaccinated people at risk?
The hosts considered vaccine escape unlikely because measles has remained antigenically stable and changes to its glycoproteins may carry substantial fitness costs, though they cautioned that increasing measles transmission is still a poor experiment.
TWiV 1369: Florida Model Makes Measles Great Again
Q: Which viruses are the most beneficial in history, since they can't all be bad?
The hosts suggest examples including horsepox, which contributed to smallpox vaccination, bacteriophages that help drive the carbon cycle, and ancient viral contributions to placental development and adaptive immunity.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Week in Virology

What is This Week in Virology about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorously science-focused show that covers virology, infectious disease, and public health with a strong emphasis on current outbreaks, vaccine discussions, and real-world clinical updates. Across episodes, listeners get deep dives into viruses, transmission dynamics, fieldwork insights, and the interplay between ecology and human health, often featuring expert guests and in-depth analysis of papers and data. Notable strengths include clear clinical context, accessible explanations of complex concepts, and a willingness to tackle policy and public messaging, all while maintaining a light, conversational tone that keeps dense science approachable for a knowledgeable audience.

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How many listeners does This Week in Virology get?

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How many subscribers and views does This Week in Virology have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This Week in Virology has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to This Week in Virology?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Week in Virology:

1. This Week in Virology
2. This Week in Microbiology
3. Infectious Disease Puscast
4. Immune
5. This Week in Parasitism

How many episodes of This Week in Virology are there?

This Week in Virology launched 18 years ago and published 104 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on This Week in Virology?

Recent guests on This Week in Virology include:

1. Catherine Houlihan
2. Corinne Guerts van Kessel
3. Daniel Griffin
4. Kalpana Yadav
5. Roberto Cattaneo
6. Paul Bieniasz
7. Jolene Ramsey
8. Rebekah Kading

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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