Ancient herpesviruses and modern dementia

TWiV explain the tracing of 2500 years of human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B diversity through ancient human DNA, the effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course.

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

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Links for this episode

• Support science education at MicrobeTV
• ASV 2026
• Positions in Rosenfeld Lab (email)
• Ancient human herpesvirus 6 (Sci Adv)
• First through sixth diseases (Merck Manual)
• Effect of shingle vaccination on different stages of dementia (Cell)
• Letters read on TWiV 1287
• Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks!

Brianne – TWiM Annotations and Resources Book for Teaching Alan – Starter Villain, by John Scalzi Rich – Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, by John Scalzi Vincent – Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa

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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.