The Evolution of Influenza Viruses: Seasonal Flu and Vaccines; Dr Chris Smith (Naked Scientists) and Dr Colin Russell (University of Cambridge)

Duration: 26 mins 54 secs

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Description:	10 February 2009 It’s Darwin’s 200 birthday! Please come and join us for an evening of informal science and chat. Dr Colin Russell will give a short presentation on the evolution of influenza viruses: seasonal flu and vaccines. The talk will be followed by an informal discussion facilitated by Dr Christopher Smith from the Naked Scientists. The audience in Cambridge will be joined by one from Bulgaria via a via a video conference link. On average, influenza viruses infect ~600 million people worldwide resulting in ~500,000 deaths each year. Influenza viruses are able to infect so many people year after year because of their seemingly endless capacity to “change their coats” to evade immunity built up through previous infections and vaccinations to infect us repeatedly during the course of our lifetimes. Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and although the influenza vaccine is normally very effective the viruses used to make the vaccine must be updated almost every year to keep pace with virus evolution. To understand and eventually predict the evolution of influenza viruses and to make better influenza vaccines we must understand where new viruses are most likely to arise and the factors that drive and limit virus evolution.

Description:

10 February 2009

It’s Darwin’s 200 birthday! Please come and join us for an evening of informal science and chat. Dr Colin Russell will give a short presentation on the evolution of influenza viruses: seasonal flu and vaccines. The talk will be followed by an informal discussion facilitated by Dr Christopher Smith from the Naked Scientists. The audience in Cambridge will be joined by one from Bulgaria via a via a video conference link.

On average, influenza viruses infect ~600 million people worldwide resulting in ~500,000 deaths each year. Influenza viruses are able to infect so many people year after year because of their seemingly endless capacity to “change their coats” to evade immunity built up through previous infections and vaccinations to infect us repeatedly during the course of our lifetimes. Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and although the influenza vaccine is normally very effective the viruses used to make the vaccine must be updated almost every year to keep pace with virus evolution. To understand and eventually predict the evolution of influenza viruses and to make better influenza vaccines we must understand where new viruses are most likely to arise and the factors that drive and limit virus evolution.

Created:

2009-05-08 15:27

Collection:

Cafe Scientifique Cambridge and the British Council as part of the Darwin 200 celebrations

Publisher:

University of Cambridge

D. Veldhuis

Language:

eng (English)

Keywords:

Cafe Scientifique; British Council; Influenza; virus; Darwin; Colin Russell; Chris Smith; Naked Scientists; Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies; infection; disease; evolution; Cambridge University; Darwin 200;

Credits:

Actor:	Dr Colin Russell
Actor:	Dr Chris Smith
Person:	Rebecca Burdon
Editor:	Djuke Veldhuis


Abstract:	Dr. Colin Russell is head of epidemiology at the Centre for Pathogen Evolution, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Clare College. His research focuses on how epidemiology shapes the evolution of viruses and he is actively involved in influenza vaccine strain selection and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization. His work on influenza viruses has been featured in New Scientist, National Geographic, the New York Times, and was recently ranked #14 in Discover Magazine’s “Top 100 Science Stories of 2008”. Dr. Chris Smith is a doctor and a clinical lecturer in virology at Cambridge University. Deciding that medicine wasn't soaking up enough of his free time, he started the Naked Scientists radio show, podcast and website. Chris also makes weekly appearances on ABC Radio National, Australia, and on BBC Radio Five Live; he also fronts the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World podcast, and presents the Nature Podcast for the journal Nature. Now and then he also pops up on telly, usually when the feathers hit the fan during a bird flu outbreak.

Abstract:

Dr. Colin Russell is head of epidemiology at the Centre for Pathogen Evolution, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Clare College. His research focuses on how epidemiology shapes the evolution of viruses and he is actively involved in influenza vaccine strain selection and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization. His work on influenza viruses has been featured in New Scientist, National Geographic, the New York Times, and was recently ranked #14 in Discover Magazine’s “Top 100 Science Stories of 2008”.

Dr. Chris Smith is a doctor and a clinical lecturer in virology at Cambridge University. Deciding that medicine wasn't soaking up enough of his free time, he started the Naked Scientists radio show, podcast and website. Chris also makes weekly appearances on ABC Radio National, Australia, and on BBC Radio Five Live; he also fronts the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World podcast, and presents the Nature Podcast for the journal Nature. Now and then he also pops up on telly, usually when the feathers hit the fan during a bird flu outbreak.

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