Institut Pasteur

© Institut Pasteur - photo Charles Dauguet - One of the very first photographs of the HIV-1 (HIV-1) AIDS virus taken on February 4, 1983. View of part of a section of a virus-infected T lymphocyte isolated from a patient with generalized lymphadenopathy syndrome which precedes AIDS. Colorized image, the virus appears in blue. From identifying the virus to hopes for a cure, what are the new research challenges? Isolation and identification of the retrovirus, sequencing, mechanisms of pathogenesis… For 40 years, research teams at the Institut Pasteur have tirelessly examined the characteristics of HIV and possible cures. A great…

It has been demonstrated that patients with severe influenza virus respiratory infections are at high risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and susceptible to developing invasive aspergillosis, a secondary infection caused by microscopic fungi. SARS-CoV-2 infection can also cause severe ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation. COVID-19 patients are therefore at risk of developing invasive fungal infections (IFIs) such as invasive aspergillosis. Read the full Press Release here

Researchers from the Pasteur - TheraVectys joint laboratory have pre-published on BioRxiv the results of animal trials of a vaccine against COVID-19, using a lentiviral vector and administered intranasally. This study shows that the vaccine candidate induces very high antibody production, as well as an abundant cellular response and drastically reduces the viral load in the lungs. This work proves that an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine should make it possible to bring vaccine protection into the upper respiratory tract, at the gateway to the virus. Read full story here

What are the origins of SARS-CoV-2? This is the world’s most pressing scientific puzzle. Its pieces scattered throughout the world are currently being sought out by scientists. Their goal: to track down the culprit for the largest health crisis to hit the globe in the past century. Read the full Press Release here