Viruses: Breaking new grounds in research
Humans are particularly susceptible to viruses and it hasn’t taken the current pandemic to realise this. Viral epidemics have been humanity’s constant companion. Only over the last 40 years, we have had to deal with a range of viruses, from Zika to Ebola, dengue fever to SARS and of course, HIV. Whilst none of these examples have thankfully reached the same pandemic intensity as the virus that causes COVID-19, regional and global epidemics of many of these viruses have caused mass social and economic disruption and, most importantly, countless human casualties. Since its emergence in the early 1980s, 75 million people worldwide have been infected with HIV, with around 32 million dying. The 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa claimed 11 300 lives in just 2 years and right now, under the shadow of COVID-19, virologists are also fighting another resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From Spanish flu to COVID-19
However, no viral threat since the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic has caused as much worldwide disruption as we’re currently experiencing with COVID-19. Spanish flu is estimated to have claimed somewhere between 17 and 100 million victims. At the time of writing this editorial article, in May 2020, the death toll for COVID-19 is thankfully vastly smaller than even the lowest estimations of the numbers killed by the Spanish flu and most people suffer a mild illness and make a full recovery. Of course, scientific progress, particularly in viral biology, epidemiology and public health, over the past century is a big factor in the stark differences between casualty figures. Virologists have developed a much better understanding of pathogen transmission and its effects, mitigation strategies and the fundamental biology of viruses as a distinct family of organisms. But it is a constantly evolving field and even before the current pandemic, virologists were continuing their research to ensure more effective prevention and therapeutic tools (including vaccines) for the wide variety of viruses that infect humans around the world.
Showcasing EU-funded support for viral research
The European Union, through its Horizon 2020 programme, supports innovative virology research, and has stepped up its efforts during the COVID-19 crisis. In total, this equates to more than 100 projects worth more than EUR 200 million. In light of the current pandemic, this Results Pack, showcasing projects mostly funded by the European Research Council (ERC), aims to provide its readers with a distinct understanding of the current research trends in viral biology. Some of the projects featured focus on developing specific applications for use against certain viruses. Others are engaged in more fundamental research, aiming to gain a better understanding of specific genetic and other biological factors that define viruses. With such knowledge unlocked, the hope is that even more advanced treatments could be conceived, trialled and rolled out for use with patients in the very near future.