Now that it’s getting colder, the sniffling in the Netherlands increases. Also, the flu season is just around the corner. This is even more unpleasant now that coronavirus is in the country as well, and the symptoms are similar. The way we get infected appears to play a role too.
At BPRC we study which cells are essential for the fight against infections and how we can stimulate these cells to swing into action. Modern equipment helps us in doing so, allowing us to collect more and more data from fewer animals. And this is important for animal research.
Last weekend, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment confirmed after reports from French and Dutch media that a Dutch tourist has contracted dengue fever in the South of France. She most likely contracted the infection from the Asian tiger mosquito.
Experts had long suspected, but now we know for sure. The West Nile virus has reached the Netherlands. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment reports that a warbler has been found carrying the West Nile virus in the Utrecht region.
An estimated 400,000 people die each year from malaria, especially children under 5 years old. This is comparable to the number of people who now die from Covid-19. That is why a vaccine has long been worked on for this disease (with far fewer funds than for Covid-19). Unfortunately, this is a long way off.
Tuberculosis (TB), it is the most deadly infectious disease in the world. ± 1.5 million people die every year as a result of TB. The only vaccine currently available is BCG, but this vaccine has serious limitations.
After successfully defending her thesis "Shedding light on malaria hypnozoites: Dissecting dormancy and activation", Dr Annemarie obtained her doctorate yesterday.
Everyone experiences the pandemic in their own way. Science journalist Chris van Mersbergen and video journalist Jelle Akerboom from Algemeen Dagblad wanted to know how BPRC researchers experience it and payed us a visit.
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day. A day to thank blood donors for their selfless and life saving gift. Did you know that not all donated blood goes to the ICs to save patients? Donors can indicate whether their blood may be used for scientific research. And that is important. For example, for the development of alternatives to animal testing.
