The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with a stark example of the sheer morbidity, mortality, and economic losses that respiratory infections contribute to. Each year, viruses like the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are responsible for extensive hospitalizations and deaths, in particular during the fall and winter months. Respiratory viral infections, which infect … Continue reading Masking Up Against Respiratory Infections
IMMUNOLOGY 101 – Fighting Viral Infections
Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens. In order to replicate, they need to gain access to host cells. Hallmarks of the viral life cycle including extracellular and intracellular elements. Virions bind extracellular structures on their target, before their genome enters and host cell processes are hijacked in favor of viral replication and assembly. In response to … Continue reading IMMUNOLOGY 101 – Fighting Viral Infections
Vector-borne Diseases: Infection Knowing no Borders
Mosquitoes are a common summer-time inconvenience, leaving behind welts and itchiness of the skin. More concerning, however, is their capacity to spread severe disease. For millions upon millions of years, these insects have developed the ability to silently and efficiently feed on human blood without notice. This ability is being taken advantage of to maximize … Continue reading Vector-borne Diseases: Infection Knowing no Borders