TWiV 777: SARS-CoV-2 fitness with Ron Fouchier

<p>Ron Fouchier explains why increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2-variants has not been demonstrated, and their ability to displace ancestral variants is due to greater fitness, much like influenza virus antigenic variation leads to better fitness and replacement of previously circulating variants.</p> <p>Hosts: <a href= "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_Racaniello">Vincent Racaniello</a>, <a href= "https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/spindler-lab/">Kathy Spindler</a>, and <a href= "http://twitter.com/bioprofbarker">Brianne Barker</a></p> <p>Guest: <a href= "https://www.erasmusmc.nl/en/research/researchers/fouchier-ron">Ron Fouchier</a></p> <p>Subscribe (free): <a href= "http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=300973784">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL3R3aXYubWljcm9iZXdvcmxkLmxpYnN5bnByby5jb20vdHdpdg%3D%3D">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href= "http://twiv.microbeworld.libsynpro.com/twiv">RSS</a>, <a href="http://eepurl.com/Gcw59">email</a></p> <p>Become a <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/contribute">patron</a> of TWiV!</p> <h3><strong>Links for this episode</strong></h3> <ul> <li>Ron Fouchier on TWiV <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-177-live-in-dublin/">177</a>, <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-291-ft-collins-abuzz-with-virologists/"> 291</a>, <a href= "https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/twiv-557/">557</a></li> <li>Mutations driving H5N1 <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24725402/">airborne transmission</a> in ferrets (Cell)</li> <li>SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33712573/">transmission among ferrets</a> (Nat Comm)</li> <li>Avian influenza virus <a href= "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33031770/">transmission among seals</a> (Cell Host Micr)</li> <li>Timestamps by <a href= "http://www.twitter.com/jrrmicro">Jolene</a>. Thanks!</li> </ul> <h3>Weekly Picks</h3> <p><strong>Brianne</strong> – <a href= "http://phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1174">The Science News Cycle</a><br /> <strong>Kathy<