TWiV 1297: Spillover squirrel
TWiV 1297: Spillover squirrel  
Podcast: This Week in Virology
Published On: Sun Feb 15 2026
Description: TWiV explains the observation that filamentous virions act as non-infectious interfering particles to modulate papillomavirus infection, and transmission of monkeypox virus from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Support science education at MicrobeTV Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email) FDA refuses to review Moderna flu mRNA vaccine (CIDRAP) Oz measles vaccine call, too little too late? (dw.com) Defective human papillomavirus interfering virus particles (J Virol) Fire-footed rope squirrel potential MPXV reservoir (Nature) Squirrels could be MPXV reservoir (Nature) Letters read on TWiV 1297 Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Weekly Picks Brianne – Silo TV series Kathy – Ancient RNA expression profiles from the extinct woolly mammoth and Ancient host-associated microbes obtained from mammoth remains Alan – Ubik, by Philip K. Dick Vincent – Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson Listener Pick Beth – Iceland crime fiction authors Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ragnar Jonasson Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your virology questions and comments to twiv@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.