Tracking down silent killers

Emerging viral diseases is a term used to refer to diseases caused by pathogens such as the Ebola virus. Whilst vaccines can protect people against these diseases, there is an urgent need for treatment options after infection. A new global research consortium has received 35 million dollars in funding from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA, within the context of the Centres for Excellence in Translational Research programme in order to carry out research in this very important area. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is involved in the international research consortium together with partners such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both USA, and industrial project partners. An infection with viruses such as Ebola, Lassa or hantaviruses can cause a haemorrhagic fever, leading to serious organ damage which, certainly in the case of the Ebola virus, often ends fatally. In recent years there have been frequent outbreaks of...