Understanding and Combatting the Pandemic Coronavirus
Arntzen Grand Challenges Lecture Series
Britt Glaunsinger, PhD
University of California Berkeley
Title: Understanding and combatting the pandemic coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic has upended society and dramatically changed the face of scientific research. This unprecedented global shift towards the singular goal of understanding how this novel coronavirus works and how to stop it has contributed to a remarkably rapid and deep understanding of the viral lifecycle. In this context, Glaunsinger will describe the latest findings on how SARS-CoV-2 slips past our cells’ barriers, hijacks the cellular machinery, is amplified to form new progeny virions and escapes detection by the immune system. Glaunsinger will also highlight the viral components that are targets for therapeutic interventions and vaccine design, whose degrees of success may ultimately define the duration of this pandemic.