TWiV 679: Mink, mutation, and myocytes

Daniel Griffin provides a clinical report on COVID-19, Slovlakia’s plan to test all adults for SARS-CoV-2 infection, viral variants arising in Danish mink and their potential threat to humans, why it is unethical to carry out challenge trials, Nipah virus dynamics in bats and spillovers into humans, and direct cardiac damage by spike-mediated cardiomyocyte fusion.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Brianne Barker

Guests: Daniel Griffin and Amy Rosenfeld

Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email

Become a patron of TWiV!

Links for this episode

• Denmark will cull mink (Reuters)
• State Serum Institute statement in Danish
• Unethical to use SARS-CoV-2 human challenge studies (PNAS)
• Nipah virus dynamics in bats (PNAS)
• Spike-mediated cardiomyocyte fusion (ResearchSquare)
• SARS-CoV-2 infects engineered heart tissues (bioRxiv)
• You cannot lock up all risks groups (Das Coronavirus)
• Letters read on TWiV 679
• Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks!

Weekly Science Picks

Dickson – CNN News Amy – I voted and Grace for President Alan – The Story of More by Hope Jahren Rich – OSIRIS-REx and 101955 Bennu Vincent – The Vexed Muddler

Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to [email protected]