Jun 19, 2020
Professor Nicolas Vabret has had an almost lifelong interest in
viruses, and has been studying them since obtaining his PhD in
2011.
He joins the show to discuss a number of interesting topics,
including the following:
What happens as soon as a virus enters the body? What allows the body to recognize non-self cells and to respond accordingly? Some cells have the ability to detect the presence of viruses and bacteria that enter the body, and activate the first step in the innate immune response, which eventually leads to the activation of the second phase of the immune response. Vabret is particularly interested in understanding the early molecular mechanisms that make this possible.
He describes the differences between the innate immune response
and adaptive immune response, the role and function of pattern
recognition receptors, RNA production, the importance of cytokines
in the response to virally-infected hosts—in particular those
infected with
COVID-19, viral strategies for counteracting immune responses,
characteristics of the HIV virus and chimpanzee versus human immune
responses to it, current research in the field of immunology, and
so much more.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK