Office Hours with Earth's Virology Professor Livestream 7/10/24 8 pm EDT

Join Vincent Racaniello for Office Hours to answer your questions about viruses - including SARS-CoV-2, Mpox virus, poliovirus, influenza virus, and more - on this livestream on Wednesday 7/10/24 at 8:00 PM eastern US.

Office Hours is the name for my weekly meeting with students in my virology course. With this livestream I'm opening Office Hours for everyone else.

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– Who Am I? –

I’m Vincent Racaniello, Earth’s Virology Professor.

I’m also a professor of virology at Columbia University in New York. I’ve been doing research on viruses since 1976, and teaching virology in classrooms and online since 1999. On this YouTube channel I share videos of my lectures, podcasts, and more.

New videos are uploaded multiple times a week.

I do not run ads on our work as it is disruptive to learning. We depend on your support.

[stormwalker]

So GO FOR IT....!!! Super honest show ...., No need to calm down...we Need you- as is....!!! Great TO LEARN FROM THIS CHANNEL...!!!👍 👍

[GIBKEL]

Thanks for keeping a lookout! Always appreciate your sober, well earned and informative takes on the madness of our big dumb world.

[DerrithWieman]

Arte Mis had a very good suggestion on how to approach Coniff. " Don't tell Coniff he is uniformed or doesn't understand. Just say you want to share with him some "not so well known information" about polio.'

[stormwalker]

Wha a fantastik show!!! Dr tackle it straight on!!!

[wolpumba]

*Summary*

*Main Topic: Polio Eradication - A Failure?*

* *0:00:00** Introduction and Welcome*
* *0:21:00** Polio Eradication - A Failure?*
* *0:21:30** Misconceptions:* Vincent argues against the narrative that polio eradication is near, highlighting that it ignores the widespread issue of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV).
* *0:25:29** History & Pathogenesis:* Vincent reviews the history of polio, emphasizing how modern sanitation changed its epidemiology by delaying infection and the role of maternal antibodies. He explains how poliovirus infects, replicates, and can lead to paralysis in a small percentage of cases.
* *0:36:00** OPV Issues:* While acknowledging the initial success of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), Vincent criticizes its continued use due to its ability to cause vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAP) and its tendency to revert to virulent forms. He specifically calls the 2016 withdrawal of OPV2 a "disaster" that led to a resurgence of cVDPV2.
* *0:50:33** nOPV2 Failure:* Vincent criticizes the "new and improved" nOPV2 vaccine as a billion-dollar failure, demonstrating its susceptibility to recombination with enteroviruses, rendering its engineered safety features ineffective.
* *0:58:53** Eradication Challenges & Solutions:*
* Eradicating the *virus* is likely impossible due to asymptomatic spread, cVDPV, and inadequate surveillance.
* Eradicating *poliomyelitis* (the disease) might be possible with a global, sustained switch to inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), but this presents logistical and political hurdles.
* *1:01:43** Call for Research & Transparency:* Vincent criticizes the decision to restrict polio research, arguing that the lab poses a minimal risk compared to the existing circulation of cVDPV. He calls for increased environmental surveillance and criticizes the lack of transparency from organizations like the CDC.

*Other Discussion Points:*

* *~**0:10:00** Immune Boosters:* Vincent promoted the new "Immune Booster" series of short interviews recorded at conferences.
* *~**0:14:13** Gain-of-Function Research:* Following up on a previous discussion, Vincent reiterated his stance on the importance of gain-of-function research, advocating for informed discussion and responsible regulation instead of outright bans.
* *~**1:17:59** Attenuation & Adjuvants:* Vincent answered questions about virus attenuation techniques and the role of adjuvants in vaccines.

*General Sentiment:*

Vincent expressed strong opinions about the failures of the current polio eradication approach, advocating for a shift in strategy and a renewed focus on scientific research and transparency.

*1:02:45** Q&A Begins*

*General Themes:*

* *Polio-Specific Questions:* Many viewers sought clarification and further insights on the polio eradication issues raised in Vincent's lecture. This included:
* *~**1:03:20**, ~**1:07:49**, ~**1:13:54** Vaccine details:* (sugar cube memories, administration methods, effectiveness)
* *~**1:07:15**, ~**1:30:54** Reasons for policy decisions:* (OPV2 withdrawal, research restrictions)
* *~**1:17:16** Specific outbreaks:* (Nigeria, Rockland County, NY)
* *~**1:26:05**, ~**1:26:53** Scientific mechanisms:* (reversion, recombination, neurovirulence)
* *~**1:13:47**, ~**1:41:55** Personal Experiences:* Viewers shared their memories of receiving polio vaccines, particularly the sugar cube method, highlighting the long history and personal impact of this disease.
* *~**1:18:07**, ~**1:37:39** Broader Vaccine and Immunology Discussions:* Questions touched upon:
* *~**1:19:05** Adjuvants and their role in inflammation and immune response*
* *~**1:49:59** Durability of immunity* from different vaccine types (mRNA vs. protein-based)
* *~**1:23:39** Natural immunity* and individual variations in response to viruses
* *~**1:03:45**, ~**1:47:01** Science Communication & Advocacy:* Viewers expressed appreciation for Vincent's science communication efforts and his willingness to challenge the status quo, with some suggesting ways to reach a wider audience.

*Specific Takeaways & Noteworthy Moments:*

* *Throughout:* Vincent's frustration with misinformation surrounding polio eradication was evident. He encouraged viewers to be critical of simplistic narratives and to advocate for evidence-based policies.
* *~1:25:01 The discussion revealed the complexity of public health decisions*, acknowledging the challenges of balancing scientific knowledge, logistical constraints, and societal factors.
* *~1:25:31 Several viewers were surprised to learn about the continued circulation of poliovirus in the environment*, even in countries like the US that primarily use IPV.
* *~1:26:38 There was a shared concern about the potential consequences of restricting poliovirus research*, with viewers recognizing the need for ongoing scientific inquiry to address evolving challenges.

*Overall Impression:*

The Q&A session was a dynamic and informative exchange that allowed viewers to engage directly with complex scientific concepts and public health issues. It highlighted the importance of clear communication, critical thinking, and ongoing research in tackling infectious disease threats.




i used gemini 1.5 pro to summarize the transcript

[theunb]

Still not hearing much about the supposed new mpox strain. Supposedly it is derived from the more aggressive version and could be worse again. There is a lot of spread. The media seem to worry about it being spread by contact, but then isn't it spread that way anyway? It would be good to know if it really is more easily spread by contact than other forms.

[traianliviudanciu]

Maybe precaution against some prion disease must be used if we modified RNA.
Prion diseases need years to induce clinical effects.

[traianliviudanciu]

Mucouseal immunity must be enhanced, even did not persist.
Maybe inradermic or intramucouseal way of vaccination can do that ?

[traianliviudanciu]

Who descrbed first Babeș- Negri corpucule

[traianliviudanciu]

Can use adjuvants when we use mRNA vaccination ?

[traianliviudanciu]

Did You know who was Victor Babeș ?
Did You know why Babeș did use serotherapy to treat rabies ?