The Viral Talk

Welcome to the 2nd season of 'Ask a Professional', the format of The Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly on the PEOPLE behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza, here is where we interview experts from the UK and the world on their research, career, aspirations and on how to prepare the next generation of scientists. In this epi...

How do our bodies remember a virus they haven't seen in a decade? What exactly makes the "adaptive" part of our immune system so much more specialized than our innate defenses? This and much more in this new episode of The Viral Talk. Key takeaways : - The adaptive immune response kicks in later compared to the innate immune response. - Its main actors are B and T cells. - B cells pr...

What do scientists mean when they talk about the innate immune system? What are the differences between innate and adaptive immunity? What is the immune system composed of? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk. Key takeaways: - Our immune system can be divided in 'innate' and 'adaptive'. - The innate immune system is quick and acts broadly. The adaptive immune syste...

This is 'Ask a professional', the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly on the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2 and vaccines, we're going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research, career, future prospects and tips for the younger generations of scientists. In this episode Federico interv...

What does the term co-infection mean? What happens when two viruses infect us at the same time and why is it important for our health? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk. But also, a new host joins the show, episodes take on a new structure, and we answer questions from the audience. Key takeaways: - A co-infection occurs when two or more pathogens infect the same host at the sam...

Welcome to the 2nd Special Episode of The Viral Talk. In this episode our host Federico interviews Faye Watson, Churchill Fellow and Public Engagement Officer for the School of Medicine and Veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh (although not for long!!). Faye is going to talk to us about her project on improving prevention and outreach for the communities affected by blood-borne viral...

Welcome to the 2nd season of ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scienti...

What are coronaviruses? How are they structured and what is being done to be more prepared next time another one emerges? This and much more in this new episode of The Viral Talk.   Join your usual host Federico and an old friend of the show Bobbie-Anne Turner from the University of Liverpool to hear about the dreaded coronaviruses!   Key points: The scientific community has known about coronaviru...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode...

This is the first SPECIAL episode of The Viral Talk. It was recorded in Liverpool at the UK-International Coronavirus Network Early Career Researchers symposium. The Viral Talk team was invited to take part to a fantastic initiative organized by the UK-ICN to encourage young scientists to share knowledge, hopes, dreams and to network in Liverpool on the 1st of March 2024. Three early career resear...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode...

How were viruses discovered? Who are the pioneers behind the establishment of virology as a branch of biology? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk. Key takeaways: - The first virus to ever be observed was the Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and it was discovered thanks the invention of the Chamberland filter. - The first mammal virus to be discovered was the Foot and Mouth Disease virus, wh...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode...

What are the ways in which our bodies protect us from viral infections? Is it easy for a virus to establish an infection? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.   Key takeaways: There are very few ways in which a virus can manage to infect us, and all of them require to surpass the skin in some way, such as getting through cuts, through the mouth, the nose, the eyes or the reproduct...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this episode...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this epis...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists. In this epis...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.   Join the h...

This is ‘Ask a professional’, the new format of the Viral Talk where the focus is on the science but most importantly the PERSON behind the science. From insect-borne viruses to SARS-CoV-2, we’re going to interview experts from the UK and the world on their research and then we’re going to talk about their career, future prospects and tips for younger generations of future scientists.   Join the h...

What are the differences between acute and persistent viral infections? How can certain viruses stay with us forever and never be cleared? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk.   Key takeaways: An acute infection is characterized by a sudden or rapid development of disease, that can either be resolved quickly or lead to death; In a persistent infection, the virus is not cleared by...

How can tiny viruses hijack a cell and make it do their bidding? How can they survive a whole organism trying to get rid of them? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk. Key takeaways: Viruses make three types of proteins. One type to replicate, one type to protect their genome once they're outside of the host, and one to modify the cell they infect at their 'whim'. The p...

How do viruses cause disease? What are the processes that make us sick and what can we do about it? This and much more in this episode of The Viral Talk. Takeaways: When viruses infect our cells they hijack them and sequester all the resources that the cell might need to stay alive, causing it to malfunction and die. Infected cells also recognize that they're infected and 'self-destruct&#3...

What are mRNA vaccines? How do they work and why are they considered revolutionary? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk. Key Takeaways: Vaccines work by introducing an element that resembles a pathogen into our body, so that our immune system can learn to counter it without the need to get infected first. Vaccination induces our body to produce antibodies, which are tiny proteins...

How many types of viruses are there? How do scientist classify them and why is it important to know? This and much more in this episode of the Viral Talk. Key takeaways: Scientists predict hundreds of millions of different viral species on our planet, but they can all be grouped in 'only' seven different groups. These seven groups have been theorized by virologist David Baltimore based on...

What are bacteriophages? Are they important for our ecology and what do we know about them? Join the host Federico De Angelis in understanding what these viruses are, what they do and how we can harness their potential.   Takeaways: -      Bacteriophages are bacterial viruses. They only infect bacteria. -      They are the most abundant biological entity on the planet. -      Phages are very speci...