How Viruses Spread – Mpox, Transmission Immunology, and Global Health

In May 2022, alarming headlines emerged: A mysterious and deadly
disease was spreading in Central Africa. Was this the beginning of
a new pandemic? Today, we know that it was Mpox (formerly known as
monkeypox), a viral disease that has once again been declared a
public health emergency in 2024. In this episode of HZI InFact, Dr.
Julia Port, head of the Research Group “Laboratory of Transmission
Immunology” at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI),
discusses virus transmission and the role of the immune system. Her
research bridges immunology, viral ecology, and global health.
Topics covered in this episode: • Why the WHO has once again
declared a health emergency due to Mpox • How Mpox spreads through
different transmission routes • The role of the immune system in
viral transmission • Which professions and groups are particularly
at risk • Which protective measures are truly effective against
zoonotic viruses • How innovative research can help us better
understand future pandemics Exclusive insights Dr. Port explains
how she is developing new animal models for virus transmission, why
mucous membranes play a crucial role, and what we can learn from
the Mpox outbreak for other viruses such as influenza. She also
shares advice for young scientists and discusses the challenge of
bridging research and science communication. Tune in now to learn
more about the science behind pandemics and viral transmission.
Explanation of terms: Clade: In biology, a clade refers to a closed
community of descent that contains the last common ancestor and all
of its descendants. Preprint: Preprints are preliminary versions or
manuscript versions of scientific publications that are usually
made available to experts and the public before they have been
scientifically reviewed. This form of publication is primarily used
to accelerate the exchange of research results. Preprints are
published freely accessible on preprint servers. #Podcast #Science
#Virology #Mpox #VirusTransmission #InfectionResearch #Zoonoses
#PandemicPrevention #Immunology #Helmholtz #HZIInfact