TWiV 1021: Nextstrain with Trevor Bedford

[@circa1890]

Trevor is wonderful! I do research at Fred Hutch... knew by Jan 20, 2020 that we were in big trouble (I started writing urgent letters to WHO, CDC, and NIAID on that day). Was part of the SCAN study as participant and volunteer. February 2020 was such a frustrating time because hands were tied by CDC, etc. and their tests not working (also they needed to be sent into them 🙄). Two of our patients had symptoms and we couldn't do a thing. It was messy and hard to imagine it being handled any worse. 😔 We truly need to have the correct individuals in public health and better communication methods since confusion breeds in a vacuum. It's unfortunate that it looks like we've learned very little from this pandemic since we'll most likely be having another in the next few years. 😕

[@amyrugala246]

Another great TWiV, thank you all!

[@jamesmadison4834]

Excellent guest choice, I really enjoy hearing the computational side of the pandemic.

[@simontemplar404]

The best Americans, the best virologists. Enjoyed from the UK. Good job Vincent and friends.

[@marg716]

Thank you! 👏👏👏

[@lismartinez5363]

Fabulous TWiV

[@susanne5803]

Thank you all very much! I just wish you had more comfortable seats ...

[@brahimbelhaouaridjamal2008]

It was very great ! Thank you so much !

[@donnamunro2090]

Super good session, thanks, TWIVlies!

[@lisajones1091]

Congratulations Dr. Spindler!!!

[@lindascanlan6317]

Love these peeps!

[@trashtrashisfree]

Great episode. Okinawa is having a new outbreak with a rapid rise in hospitalizations, straining the health care system. New variant?

[@immortaltyger1569]

Thanks! I discovered Trevor Bedford sometime during the pandemic.

[@tomorrow6]

This is the first time we’ve ever documented a genome under such rapid evolution worldwide so comprehensively - the resultant graphs are very interesting at showing how rapidly anything novel can mutate once a breakout event occurs. The same may apply to macro fauna in new environments such as rabbits released into Australia.

[@haydock18]

I don't understand the discussion on transmissibility and relative rates at around 36-39 minutes. Can someone explain the logic? How can innate transmissibility of the virus be distinguished from the effects due to changes in social distancing and prior immunity?

[@fredlindberg]

How fast one strain replaces another tells you about their relative fitness in the current population, which is affected by immunity. Assuming social distancing, masking, etc affects all strains in the same way, changes in those should not affect the strain replacement rate. "Innate transmissibility" is still in some hosts, typically some who have previously been infected.

[@tomorrow6]

I think social distancing had near stuff all relevance to an endemic airborn indoor virus - as did masks. The main inhibitor was immune function and sunshine for those informed - but any time people ventured indoors and there was an infected person present they were impacted. Especially through the waves of both summer and winter infections. Winter in cold climates which forces people indoors and out of sunlight , and summer in richer countries where people congregate in air conditioned shopping centres

[@JillKnapp]

Thanks for asking this, I was fuzzy on this, too. 👍

[@Hardiarm]

I presume that Omicron and its early immediate descendants did not spread because it was likely a long-term immunocompromised patient in hospital who had limited exposure to others. There are several published studies showing what an incubator of immune escape variants such patients are.

[@luismatheu4226]

Persistan infected of Polio virus genomic... Waiting from the first case report of clearence

[@DC-wt2vi]

Maybe look up WM Bermingham - 2023 Case Report in NIH? TWiV covered it earlier this year. Remdesivir worked to rid that patient of longterm persistent polio infection, if that's what you are referring to.

[@luismatheu4226]

@@DC-wt2vi yes I am all ready in touch with the authors. Their Polio genomic sequences still not published. Hopping soon a NEW publication

[@brianmckerrow817]

THIS WEEK IN VIROLOGY WE FINAL ISOLATE A VIRUS!!!! LOL

[@PifflePrattle]

After the Brexit vote I concluded the Scotts weren't quite as mad as their friendly neighbours to the south. You are single handedly doing a pretty good job persuading me to reevaluate that opinion..

[@kiwichickie1975]

Speaks to the Gates Foundation..says it all,this guy should be locked up

[@dogblessamerica]

Can you explain why?

[@Patrick_Ross]

@@dogblessamerica- ignore the trolls