[
  {
    "start": 1.24,
    "end": 4.64,
    "text": "We usually only notice mucus when it's\ncausing a problem"
  },
  {
    "start": 4.64,
    "end": 8.68,
    "text": "with a runny nose or cold or allergies."
  },
  {
    "start": 9.28,
    "end": 12.76,
    "text": "That's when our nose runs,\nour airways feel congested"
  },
  {
    "start": 12.76,
    "end": 15.96,
    "text": "and our body visibly produces more of it."
  },
  {
    "start": 16.48,
    "end": 19.32,
    "text": "Yet mucus isn't just a symptom of illness."
  },
  {
    "start": 19.32,
    "end": 22.0,
    "text": "It's a permanent part\nof our mucous membranes"
  },
  {
    "start": 22.0,
    "end": 26.0,
    "text": "and an important protective barrier\nagainst infections."
  },
  {
    "start": 26.04,
    "end": 31.36,
    "text": "Even when we're healthy, the body\nproduces up to 1.5 l of mucus a day."
  },
  {
    "start": 31.6,
    "end": 36.12,
    "text": "It carries away\ndirt, bacteria, old cells and viruses"
  },
  {
    "start": 36.12,
    "end": 39.96,
    "text": "and makes it harder for pathogens\nto make initial contact with our cells."
  },
  {
    "start": 40.0,
    "end": 44.16,
    "text": "It is precisely this early phase\nof an infection that Professor"
  },
  {
    "start": 44.16,
    "end": 48.44,
    "text": "Christian Sieben and his Nanoinfection-\nBiology research group at the HZI"
  },
  {
    "start": 48.84,
    "end": 52.52,
    "text": "are studying using specialized\nmicroscopy."
  },
  {
    "start": 52.56,
    "end": 57.96,
    "text": "His team investigates how individual viral\nparticles interact with mucosal cells,"
  },
  {
    "start": 58.0,
    "end": 63.36,
    "text": "how they bind to cells, and what role\nthe mucus barrier plays in this process."
  },
  {
    "start": 63.4,
    "end": 68.04,
    "text": "The goal is to understand how viruses\novercome this natural protective layer,"
  },
  {
    "start": 68.04,
    "end": 71.4,
    "text": "and how this process\ncan be specifically disrupted."
  },
  {
    "start": 71.68,
    "end": 77.68,
    "text": "In this episode of InFact, our host Julia\nDemann talks to Professor Sieben"
  },
  {
    "start": 77.72,
    "end": 81.36,
    "text": "about how this research\ncould lead to new approaches for vaccines,"
  },
  {
    "start": 81.36,
    "end": 87.24,
    "text": "antiviral drugs, and better preparation\nfor future waves of infection."
  },
  {
    "start": 89.84,
    "end": 90.76,
    "text": "I'm sitting"
  },
  {
    "start": 90.76,
    "end": 94.6,
    "text": "here in Cologne, and I'm talking now\nto Professor"
  },
  {
    "start": 94.6,
    "end": 98.6,
    "text": "Christian Sieben\nin Braunschweig, at the HZI."
  },
  {
    "start": 99.6,
    "end": 100.4,
    "text": "Hi. Hi."
  },
  {
    "start": 100.4,
    "end": 103.24,
    "text": "You're Christian."
  },
  {
    "start": 103.24,
    "end": 107.92,
    "text": "Nanoinfection Biology involves\nworking with extremely small particles."
  },
  {
    "start": 107.96,
    "end": 112.92,
    "text": "You use a microscope to examine\nhow individual viruses attack our cells"
  },
  {
    "start": 112.92,
    "end": 117.04,
    "text": "and what individual proteins do\nin this process."
  },
  {
    "start": 117.08,
    "end": 119.32,
    "text": "Why do you choose this challenge?"
  },
  {
    "start": 119.32,
    "end": 121.32,
    "text": "I think there are much easier\nthings to look at."
  },
  {
    "start": 121.32,
    "end": 123.32,
    "text": "Under a microscope."
  },
  {
    "start": 123.32,
    "end": 128.88,
    "text": "Yeah, that's true, but we typically use\nmicroscopes to study small things."
  },
  {
    "start": 128.88,
    "end": 131.32,
    "text": "So I've always looked at cells."
  },
  {
    "start": 131.32,
    "end": 134.32,
    "text": "So I started with plant\ncells, plant cell biology"
  },
  {
    "start": 134.44,
    "end": 137.72,
    "text": "and then started to work on\nmammalian cells and viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 137.72,
    "end": 141.52,
    "text": "And that was really a fascinating\ntransition, sort of"
  },
  {
    "start": 141.56,
    "end": 146.68,
    "text": "to see a virus like a little dot\ninfecting a live cell."
  },
  {
    "start": 146.72,
    "end": 151.4,
    "text": "So looking under the microscope\nand seeing how cells,"
  },
  {
    "start": 151.48,
    "end": 155.08,
    "text": "you know, behave and what they do\nis already quite interesting."
  },
  {
    "start": 155.08,
    "end": 160.6,
    "text": "But once we infect them, it's\na whole new kind of fascination."
  },
  {
    "start": 160.6,
    "end": 162.36,
    "text": "And that's why we stuck to it."
  },
  {
    "start": 162.36,
    "end": 165.72,
    "text": "And then we started to to focus\neven on things"
  },
  {
    "start": 165.72,
    "end": 168.8,
    "text": "that are smaller than viruses,\nbecause that's what matters for them."
  },
  {
    "start": 168.8,
    "end": 170.8,
    "text": "So we wanted to understand."
  },
  {
    "start": 170.8,
    "end": 174.92,
    "text": "So we want to understand what happens\nat the scale of an infecting virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 174.92,
    "end": 176.0,
    "text": "And viruses are small,"
  },
  {
    "start": 176.0,
    "end": 179.2,
    "text": "so they only have a few proteins\nto interact with the target cell."
  },
  {
    "start": 179.2,
    "end": 181.12,
    "text": "And we want to understand\nexactly what happens"
  },
  {
    "start": 181.12,
    "end": 185.4,
    "text": "in this little patch of cell\nthat is in contact with the virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 185.44,
    "end": 190.12,
    "text": "And what magnifications do you use\nand what do you see there."
  },
  {
    "start": 190.16,
    "end": 192.6,
    "text": "So our we use light microscopes."
  },
  {
    "start": 192.6,
    "end": 196.68,
    "text": "So they have typically 1,000-\nor 2,000-fold magnification."
  },
  {
    "start": 196.68,
    "end": 197.48,
    "text": "So for comparison"
  },
  {
    "start": 197.48,
    "end": 201.2,
    "text": "maybe like a school microscope\nor one that you would have at home,"
  },
  {
    "start": 201.24,
    "end": 205.6,
    "text": "they all have a couple hundred-\nfold magnification, maybe 400 or 500."
  },
  {
    "start": 205.6,
    "end": 208.08,
    "text": "So that is already enough\nto see individual cells."
  },
  {
    "start": 208.08,
    "end": 211.32,
    "text": "So we have a bit more and that is enough."
  },
  {
    "start": 211.32,
    "end": 215.04,
    "text": "And then it's sort of a specific branch\nof light microscopy"
  },
  {
    "start": 215.04,
    "end": 216.44,
    "text": "that is fluorescence microscopy"
  },
  {
    "start": 216.44,
    "end": 219.44,
    "text": "where we label individual structures\nso that we can see them"
  },
  {
    "start": 219.44,
    "end": 223.12,
    "text": "with very high contrast,\nlike they carry a little light torch."
  },
  {
    "start": 223.48,
    "end": 227.52,
    "text": "And that is what sort of, for example,\nhow we look at viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 227.52,
    "end": 231.0,
    "text": "So they have a little light torch\nso we can see them in the dark."
  },
  {
    "start": 231.2,
    "end": 235.32,
    "text": "And then we have a specific sort of"
  },
  {
    "start": 235.32,
    "end": 239.4,
    "text": "expertise on super-resolution\nmicroscopy technologies."
  },
  {
    "start": 239.44,
    "end": 244.4,
    "text": "And those allow us then to go\neven further down with conventional light"
  },
  {
    "start": 244.44,
    "end": 248.88,
    "text": "microscopes to see individual molecules\nbasically, which is super cool."
  },
  {
    "start": 248.88,
    "end": 253.4,
    "text": "So you can see individual molecules\nkind of moving around inside live cells."
  },
  {
    "start": 253.56,
    "end": 256.2,
    "text": "And then we see the virus,\nlet's say, in another color."
  },
  {
    "start": 256.2,
    "end": 260.92,
    "text": "And we can detect and quantify\nhow individual receptor"
  },
  {
    "start": 260.92,
    "end": 265.24,
    "text": "proteins, for example, interact\nwith an infecting virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 265.24,
    "end": 267.48,
    "text": "And what happens next. Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 267.48,
    "end": 268.64,
    "text": "And what happens next."
  },
  {
    "start": 268.64,
    "end": 271.24,
    "text": "What happens when viruses enter the cell."
  },
  {
    "start": 271.24,
    "end": 271.6,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 271.6,
    "end": 274.76,
    "text": "So that is also something\nthat we want to understand."
  },
  {
    "start": 274.8,
    "end": 279.8,
    "text": "So we look at the cell surface the plasma\nmembrane viruses bind to receptors."
  },
  {
    "start": 279.8,
    "end": 283.88,
    "text": "And then there's somehow the virus\nneeds to signal into the cell right."
  },
  {
    "start": 283.92,
    "end": 285.88,
    "text": "The virus needs to tell the cell"
  },
  {
    "start": 285.88,
    "end": 290.08,
    "text": "look, I'm here I want to enter the plasma\nmembrane is quite is a barrier."
  },
  {
    "start": 290.08,
    "end": 292.96,
    "text": "Virus cannot get over so easily."
  },
  {
    "start": 292.96,
    "end": 293.96,
    "text": "So we want to understand"
  },
  {
    "start": 293.96,
    "end": 298.28,
    "text": "how this signal is transmitted\nand how the cell understands the virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 298.28,
    "end": 299.96,
    "text": "It has never seen a virus before."
  },
  {
    "start": 299.96,
    "end": 301.16,
    "text": "Right. So."
  },
  {
    "start": 301.16,
    "end": 303.6,
    "text": "But from a molecular point of view"
  },
  {
    "start": 303.6,
    "end": 307.28,
    "text": "these are signaling cascades\nor receptors become activated."
  },
  {
    "start": 307.28,
    "end": 310.4,
    "text": "So they change they become modified."
  },
  {
    "start": 310.44,
    "end": 314.32,
    "text": "The cell detects this modification\nand performs a certain action."
  },
  {
    "start": 314.32,
    "end": 315.88,
    "text": "And the viruses enter."
  },
  {
    "start": 315.88,
    "end": 317.24,
    "text": "They deliver their genome"
  },
  {
    "start": 317.24,
    "end": 321.0,
    "text": "and then make the cell basically\nto produce viral proteins."
  },
  {
    "start": 321.08,
    "end": 324.04,
    "text": "Which viruses are you examining then?"
  },
  {
    "start": 324.04,
    "end": 328.44,
    "text": "So we work on respiratory viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 328.44,
    "end": 332.76,
    "text": "So we have a long-\nstanding expertise on influenza."
  },
  {
    "start": 332.76,
    "end": 338.56,
    "text": "And we started to work on respiratory\nsyncytial virus recently, RSV."
  },
  {
    "start": 338.56,
    "end": 342.56,
    "text": "And in a more recent project\nsince last year we also work on"
  },
  {
    "start": 342.56,
    "end": 346.0,
    "text": "Marburg virus that is a highly"
  },
  {
    "start": 346.0,
    "end": 351.84,
    "text": "pathogenic virus, highly pathogenic\nfilovirus that where we have"
  },
  {
    "start": 352.0,
    "end": 357.16,
    "text": "low biosafety model systems to study\nthe cell biology of these viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 357.16,
    "end": 361.32,
    "text": "When we look at larger scale,\nmany researchers say that"
  },
  {
    "start": 361.36,
    "end": 365.32,
    "text": "influenza viruses pose the highest risk\nfor the next pandemic."
  },
  {
    "start": 365.36,
    "end": 368.08,
    "text": "What makes influenza viruses so dangerous?"
  },
  {
    "start": 368.08,
    "end": 370.52,
    "text": "So influenza viruses,\nthey're very variable."
  },
  {
    "start": 370.52,
    "end": 375.6,
    "text": "They have a very high genetic diversity,\nvery high mutation rate."
  },
  {
    "start": 375.6,
    "end": 380.72,
    "text": "So no virus is basically exactly identical\nto the other virus in nature."
  },
  {
    "start": 380.72,
    "end": 382.76,
    "text": "And then the lab\nis a little bit different."
  },
  {
    "start": 382.76,
    "end": 384.12,
    "text": "So that is one aspect."
  },
  {
    "start": 384.12,
    "end": 388.2,
    "text": "So that our immune system needs to adapt\nevery time"
  },
  {
    "start": 388.2,
    "end": 392.6,
    "text": "it sees an influenza virus\nto this new strain or new variant."
  },
  {
    "start": 392.76,
    "end": 393.68,
    "text": "This is one aspect."
  },
  {
    "start": 393.68,
    "end": 396.84,
    "text": "And there's of a quite\na large animal reservoir"
  },
  {
    "start": 396.88,
    "end": 401.88,
    "text": "where these viruses constantly\ncirculate and again constantly evolve."
  },
  {
    "start": 402.36,
    "end": 406.48,
    "text": "And so one needs to have a close\nkind of surveillance"
  },
  {
    "start": 406.48,
    "end": 410.2,
    "text": "of these animal reservoirs\nto know which strains currently circulate"
  },
  {
    "start": 410.2,
    "end": 412.48,
    "text": "and in which animals they circulate,"
  },
  {
    "start": 412.48,
    "end": 416.32,
    "text": "because there might be\nthe spillover events in other populations"
  },
  {
    "start": 416.32,
    "end": 419.72,
    "text": "and also into livestock, for example,\nwhich is quite critical."
  },
  {
    "start": 419.76,
    "end": 424.2,
    "text": "And then maybe the third sort of risk"
  },
  {
    "start": 424.24,
    "end": 428.84,
    "text": "or like a characteristic of influenza,\nis that it is a respiratory pathogen,"
  },
  {
    "start": 428.96,
    "end": 432.92,
    "text": "and those viruses just transmit easier"
  },
  {
    "start": 432.92,
    "end": 437.04,
    "text": "than other viruses that need\nto kind of close contact or other means."
  },
  {
    "start": 437.04,
    "end": 441.0,
    "text": "So it has it,\nyou know, it checks a couple of boxes"
  },
  {
    "start": 441.0,
    "end": 445.72,
    "text": "that would make it\nan could make it a pandemic virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 446.64,
    "end": 447.24,
    "text": "Okay."
  },
  {
    "start": 447.24,
    "end": 451.4,
    "text": "And we have an annual vaccine\nflu vaccine."
  },
  {
    "start": 451.4,
    "end": 456.44,
    "text": "But yeah\nyou just said that they are very variable."
  },
  {
    "start": 456.44,
    "end": 460.84,
    "text": "And I think this is one reason\nwhy the vaccine doesn't"
  },
  {
    "start": 460.84,
    "end": 465.24,
    "text": "protect against all influenza\nviruses or strains, isn't it?"
  },
  {
    "start": 465.56,
    "end": 466.56,
    "text": "Yes that's right."
  },
  {
    "start": 466.56,
    "end": 469.6,
    "text": "So the viruses are very dynamic."
  },
  {
    "start": 469.6,
    "end": 470.92,
    "text": "They mutate."
  },
  {
    "start": 470.92,
    "end": 472.32,
    "text": "We say they drift."
  },
  {
    "start": 472.32,
    "end": 474.36,
    "text": "They have a genetic drift."
  },
  {
    "start": 474.36,
    "end": 479.04,
    "text": "So when it comes to the seasonality\nof influenza, one has to make a certain"
  },
  {
    "start": 479.08,
    "end": 483.72,
    "text": "kind of yeah, look into the future\nprediction of which virus strain"
  },
  {
    "start": 483.76,
    "end": 487.44,
    "text": "might circulate in a certain area\nin the next winter season"
  },
  {
    "start": 487.44,
    "end": 491.04,
    "text": "and then make that respective vaccine."
  },
  {
    "start": 491.04,
    "end": 493.88,
    "text": "So that is there's some uncertainty there."
  },
  {
    "start": 493.88,
    "end": 497.56,
    "text": "But there's research to overcome this,\nof course."
  },
  {
    "start": 497.56,
    "end": 501.08,
    "text": "So there's many people working on vaccines\nthat try to."
  },
  {
    "start": 501.28,
    "end": 506.16,
    "text": "Prevent infection"
  },
  {
    "start": 506.24,
    "end": 510.88,
    "text": "or disease of a large diversity\nof different influenza virus strains."
  },
  {
    "start": 511.04,
    "end": 515.16,
    "text": "And they do this\nby focusing on sort of conserved epitopes"
  },
  {
    "start": 515.2,
    "end": 517.2,
    "text": "or parts of the virus\nthat are not so variable,"
  },
  {
    "start": 517.2,
    "end": 521.6,
    "text": "because only some parts of the viruses\nthat change all the time, some parts"
  },
  {
    "start": 521.64,
    "end": 524.76,
    "text": "the viruses cannot change\nand there wouldn't be infectious anymore."
  },
  {
    "start": 524.76,
    "end": 526.44,
    "text": "So they keep it constant."
  },
  {
    "start": 526.44,
    "end": 530.52,
    "text": "We say conserved,\nand if we could target those conserved"
  },
  {
    "start": 530.52,
    "end": 533.28,
    "text": "parts,\nwe would have a very effective vaccine"
  },
  {
    "start": 533.28,
    "end": 539.12,
    "text": "that would protect against a large number\nof different influenza virus strains."
  },
  {
    "start": 539.12,
    "end": 540.12,
    "text": "Is it even possible"
  },
  {
    "start": 540.12,
    "end": 544.96,
    "text": "to develop vaccines or medications,\nfor example, against influenza"
  },
  {
    "start": 545.0,
    "end": 549.64,
    "text": "virus infections that can be quickly\nadapted in an emergency?"
  },
  {
    "start": 549.72,
    "end": 553.36,
    "text": "So vaccines\nyes, we have seen this also during corona"
  },
  {
    "start": 553.36,
    "end": 557.16,
    "text": "for therapeutics is much harder\nbecause the development of therapy"
  },
  {
    "start": 557.44,
    "end": 560.2,
    "text": "is already a quite long process"
  },
  {
    "start": 560.2,
    "end": 563.8,
    "text": "and also the identification of targets,"
  },
  {
    "start": 563.8,
    "end": 568.2,
    "text": "the identification of really antiviral\nmechanisms is a much longer process."
  },
  {
    "start": 568.2,
    "end": 571.08,
    "text": "So that is I think it is harder."
  },
  {
    "start": 571.08,
    "end": 574.76,
    "text": "But yes, there is\nof course a large, you know,"
  },
  {
    "start": 574.8,
    "end": 578.32,
    "text": "group of people who work on"
  },
  {
    "start": 578.32,
    "end": 581.36,
    "text": "antiviral development."
  },
  {
    "start": 581.36,
    "end": 586.24,
    "text": "So we we also involved in projects to do\nthis is one example."
  },
  {
    "start": 586.24,
    "end": 587.8,
    "text": "We have one collaboration"
  },
  {
    "start": 587.8,
    "end": 591.56,
    "text": "with one of the partner institutes of HZI,\nthe HIPS in Saarbrücken,"
  },
  {
    "start": 591.56,
    "end": 596.44,
    "text": "where we want to develop adhesion\ninhibitors or new sort of glycan-based"
  },
  {
    "start": 596.48,
    "end": 601.84,
    "text": "inhibitors that, for example,\ncould prevent virus cell binding."
  },
  {
    "start": 601.84,
    "end": 605.6,
    "text": "So that is something\nthat could be prepared kind of in advance"
  },
  {
    "start": 605.6,
    "end": 608.8,
    "text": "against newly or upcoming viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 609.08,
    "end": 611.96,
    "text": "But yeah, otherwise it's it's hard"
  },
  {
    "start": 611.96,
    "end": 615.92,
    "text": "to really specifically\nor in advance develop"
  },
  {
    "start": 615.96,
    "end": 622.32,
    "text": "kind of antiviral drugs\nthat could fit to a newly emerging virus."
  },
  {
    "start": 622.32,
    "end": 628.24,
    "text": "So I think the vaccines are the faster\nmechanism there."
  },
  {
    "start": 628.28,
    "end": 632.6,
    "text": "And how do you know which structures\nthe active ingredients need to target?"
  },
  {
    "start": 632.64,
    "end": 632.88,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 632.88,
    "end": 637.48,
    "text": "So on the virus side, this can\nof course this can be sort of tested."
  },
  {
    "start": 637.48,
    "end": 641.4,
    "text": "Many antiviral drugs target viral"
  },
  {
    "start": 641.4,
    "end": 645.6,
    "text": "enzymes for example,\nor the replication machinery."
  },
  {
    "start": 645.6,
    "end": 649.28,
    "text": "In our case, as I said we have\nwe focus on virus cell binding."
  },
  {
    "start": 649.28,
    "end": 653.36,
    "text": "So we try to develop\ncompetitive binding inhibitors."
  },
  {
    "start": 653.36,
    "end": 656.36,
    "text": "So try to prevent\nkind of synthetic particles"
  },
  {
    "start": 656.4,
    "end": 660.04,
    "text": "that viruses like to bind and that bind\nmore efficiently than the cell surface."
  },
  {
    "start": 660.04,
    "end": 663.44,
    "text": "So we can prevent very early interaction."
  },
  {
    "start": 663.44,
    "end": 666.08,
    "text": "And when it comes to the cellular side."
  },
  {
    "start": 666.08,
    "end": 667.2,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 667.2,
    "end": 671.04,
    "text": "So there we have also ongoing projects."
  },
  {
    "start": 671.04,
    "end": 674.2,
    "text": "We have launched an EU-wide project\nlast year."
  },
  {
    "start": 674.32,
    "end": 680.04,
    "text": "It's called COMBINE which has the virus\ncell binding and cell entry phase."
  },
  {
    "start": 680.04,
    "end": 682.12,
    "text": "And it's sort of a scientific focus."
  },
  {
    "start": 682.12,
    "end": 687.52,
    "text": "And we want to develop new pipelines\nto quickly identify virus"
  },
  {
    "start": 687.56,
    "end": 690.72,
    "text": "interacting factors and cellular factors"
  },
  {
    "start": 690.72,
    "end": 693.72,
    "text": "that are important for virus infection."
  },
  {
    "start": 693.72,
    "end": 697.16,
    "text": "So this is one aspect there to be"
  },
  {
    "start": 697.16,
    "end": 700.6,
    "text": "when a new pathogen,\nlet's say, comes up, pathogen X."
  },
  {
    "start": 700.6,
    "end": 706.4,
    "text": "We have a pipeline to under high\nbiocontainment, interrogate that specific"
  },
  {
    "start": 706.4,
    "end": 710.44,
    "text": "pathogen and identify cellular factors\nthat are involved in virus infection"
  },
  {
    "start": 710.44,
    "end": 715.64,
    "text": "so that we know how we can\nlook maybe into a catalog of drugs."
  },
  {
    "start": 715.68,
    "end": 718.88,
    "text": "Do we have something that targets\nthat particular protein."
  },
  {
    "start": 719.12,
    "end": 725.28,
    "text": "We can use that against this\nthis virus or against the disease."
  },
  {
    "start": 725.32,
    "end": 729.4,
    "text": "And we have another sort of branch\nin this project where we want to"
  },
  {
    "start": 729.4,
    "end": 734.16,
    "text": "we want to also identify\nantiviral drugs, small molecule drugs."
  },
  {
    "start": 734.16,
    "end": 739.72,
    "text": "That is another collaboration here at HZI\nwhere we use Marburg virus as a model."
  },
  {
    "start": 739.76,
    "end": 744.12,
    "text": "So on this project we use Marburg virus\nbecause it's a highly pathogenic virus"
  },
  {
    "start": 744.12,
    "end": 747.88,
    "text": "that is only handled under high-biosafety\ncontainment that we don't have here"
  },
  {
    "start": 747.92,
    "end": 748.88,
    "text": "actually at HZI."
  },
  {
    "start": 748.88,
    "end": 751.36,
    "text": "So we use other model\nsystems, surrogate systems."
  },
  {
    "start": 751.36,
    "end": 754.96,
    "text": "But we want our pipelines\nand our workflows to be ready"
  },
  {
    "start": 755.0,
    "end": 758.4,
    "text": "for this bio,\nfor this high biocontainment."
  },
  {
    "start": 758.92,
    "end": 762.88,
    "text": "So all assays, we develop a sort of ready"
  },
  {
    "start": 762.88,
    "end": 766.68,
    "text": "to use in this biocontainment\nfor pathogen X."
  },
  {
    "start": 766.72,
    "end": 767.88,
    "text": "Very interesting."
  },
  {
    "start": 767.88,
    "end": 772.04,
    "text": "But let's say at the respiratory"
  },
  {
    "start": 772.08,
    "end": 776.04,
    "text": "viruses, before such a virus can infect us"
  },
  {
    "start": 776.12,
    "end": 779.12,
    "text": "they first have to pass\nthrough our mucous membranes."
  },
  {
    "start": 779.12,
    "end": 782.08,
    "text": "You are also looking into\nhow they do that."
  },
  {
    "start": 782.08,
    "end": 786.88,
    "text": "And in a brand new research project\nyou do this."
  },
  {
    "start": 786.88,
    "end": 789.76,
    "text": "How do they get through this mucus?"
  },
  {
    "start": 789.76,
    "end": 791.68,
    "text": "That is a very interesting point."
  },
  {
    "start": 791.68,
    "end": 795.4,
    "text": "So yeah, as you say,\nour respiratory tract is lined"
  },
  {
    "start": 795.4,
    "end": 799.48,
    "text": "with a thin layer of this mucus,\nwhich is kind of a viscous gel"
  },
  {
    "start": 799.56,
    "end": 803.6,
    "text": "that is kept under flow\nby ciliary movements."
  },
  {
    "start": 803.6,
    "end": 806.76,
    "text": "Or our cells\nhave kind of small extensions,"
  },
  {
    "start": 806.8,
    "end": 809.64,
    "text": "little fingers,\nand they move the mucus constantly."
  },
  {
    "start": 809.64,
    "end": 811.28,
    "text": "So that's kind of moved out of the way."
  },
  {
    "start": 811.28,
    "end": 813.72,
    "text": "And it can really trap particles."
  },
  {
    "start": 813.72,
    "end": 819.36,
    "text": "Anything that we inhale and move it away\nfrom our respiratory cells to protect."
  },
  {
    "start": 819.36,
    "end": 823.48,
    "text": "So and it is a really effective barrier\nthat prevents really."
  },
  {
    "start": 823.52,
    "end": 824.36,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 824.36,
    "end": 826.84,
    "text": "Irritation and infections all the time."
  },
  {
    "start": 826.84,
    "end": 829.92,
    "text": "So in this new project,\nwhich is called ONEMUC that we started"
  },
  {
    "start": 829.92,
    "end": 834.2,
    "text": "just this year, we want to understand\nthis barrier from a zoonotic perspective."
  },
  {
    "start": 834.2,
    "end": 836.2,
    "text": "So we have a zoonotic"
  },
  {
    "start": 837.32,
    "end": 837.96,
    "text": "transmission."
  },
  {
    "start": 837.96,
    "end": 841.72,
    "text": "So viruses that spill over\nfrom an animal reservoir like influenza."
  },
  {
    "start": 841.76,
    "end": 848.48,
    "text": "So there we want to study if the animal\nmucus is different from the human mucus."
  },
  {
    "start": 848.48,
    "end": 853.76,
    "text": "And if viruses are sort of adapted\nto interact and penetrate"
  },
  {
    "start": 853.76,
    "end": 857.52,
    "text": "the respective mucus barrier\nmore efficiently and ideally"
  },
  {
    "start": 857.52,
    "end": 861.12,
    "text": "then downstream,\nwhich molecular characteristics"
  },
  {
    "start": 861.12,
    "end": 865.16,
    "text": "and which molecular factors\nare responsible for,"
  },
  {
    "start": 865.16,
    "end": 869.0,
    "text": "you know, a better or worse interaction\nwith viruses"
  },
  {
    "start": 869.56,
    "end": 873.0,
    "text": "so that we can ideally maybe test for this"
  },
  {
    "start": 873.0,
    "end": 877.28,
    "text": "specific property of mucus\nor even change it in the future."
  },
  {
    "start": 877.32,
    "end": 880.84,
    "text": "And in this project you are working\ntogether with, with the research"
  },
  {
    "start": 880.84,
    "end": 885.12,
    "text": "group of Dr. Port, Transmission\nImmunology."
  },
  {
    "start": 885.16,
    "end": 890.12,
    "text": "And I talked to her about virus spread,\nlike mpox."
  },
  {
    "start": 890.24,
    "end": 892.08,
    "text": "Feel free to give it a listen."
  },
  {
    "start": 892.08,
    "end": 893.88,
    "text": "Season two, episode two."
  },
  {
    "start": 893.88,
    "end": 896.24,
    "text": "It was really, really interesting."
  },
  {
    "start": 896.24,
    "end": 898.08,
    "text": "But back to the mucus."
  },
  {
    "start": 898.08,
    "end": 900.92,
    "text": "What is the goal of these studies?"
  },
  {
    "start": 900.92,
    "end": 902.36,
    "text": "Do we need more mucus?"
  },
  {
    "start": 902.36,
    "end": 905.48,
    "text": "So more mucus is is probably not so good."
  },
  {
    "start": 905.52,
    "end": 909.84,
    "text": "So there are some kind of diseases\nlike cystic fibrosis for example,"
  },
  {
    "start": 909.84,
    "end": 915.0,
    "text": "where the mucus is very thick and that is\nvery difficult for those patients."
  },
  {
    "start": 915.12,
    "end": 919.6,
    "text": "But it's more about the, the,\nthe properties of the mucus."
  },
  {
    "start": 919.68,
    "end": 921.52,
    "text": "So those we want to understand"
  },
  {
    "start": 921.52,
    "end": 925.44,
    "text": "from a, from a molecular virology\nand then biochemical point of view."
  },
  {
    "start": 925.44,
    "end": 929.92,
    "text": "So what is in the mucus\nproteins glycans antibodies"
  },
  {
    "start": 929.92,
    "end": 932.92,
    "text": "and what are the biophysical properties"
  },
  {
    "start": 932.92,
    "end": 936.52,
    "text": "viscosity density these kind of things."
  },
  {
    "start": 936.52,
    "end": 939.84,
    "text": "And if then if these properties\nsort of affect"
  },
  {
    "start": 939.84,
    "end": 942.84,
    "text": "virus penetration and virus infection."
  },
  {
    "start": 943.0,
    "end": 945.76,
    "text": "So once we have these this information"
  },
  {
    "start": 945.76,
    "end": 949.0,
    "text": "we can probe for these specific properties"
  },
  {
    "start": 949.0,
    "end": 952.0,
    "text": "in, in sort of"
  },
  {
    "start": 952.08,
    "end": 955.64,
    "text": "for a new virus or for a specific"
  },
  {
    "start": 956.64,
    "end": 960.2,
    "text": "animal\npopulation or even a specific person."
  },
  {
    "start": 960.24,
    "end": 963.32,
    "text": "So this goes towards kind of diagnostics\nand towards"
  },
  {
    "start": 963.32,
    "end": 965.08,
    "text": "the development of a biomarker."
  },
  {
    "start": 965.08,
    "end": 968.56,
    "text": "So can we relate certain\ncharacteristics of mucus"
  },
  {
    "start": 968.68,
    "end": 972.92,
    "text": "to, you know, more."
  },
  {
    "start": 973.16,
    "end": 978.56,
    "text": "For the person or the animal\nbeing more likely to be infected."
  },
  {
    "start": 979.0,
    "end": 981.8,
    "text": "So basically saying maybe your mucus"
  },
  {
    "start": 981.8,
    "end": 985.8,
    "text": "is different from my mucus or your mucus\nis more antiviral than my mucus."
  },
  {
    "start": 985.88,
    "end": 988.84,
    "text": "We might understand why that is."
  },
  {
    "start": 988.84,
    "end": 991.84,
    "text": "And if we can change these properties on."
  },
  {
    "start": 991.92,
    "end": 995.88,
    "text": "Yeah, the the big I think the big bottom\nline is that we want to understand"
  },
  {
    "start": 995.88,
    "end": 1001.08,
    "text": "that barrier, how it works\nand how we can understand"
  },
  {
    "start": 1001.08,
    "end": 1005.4,
    "text": "and maybe focus on specific properties\nto make it more efficient."
  },
  {
    "start": 1005.44,
    "end": 1006.52,
    "text": "As we heard,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1006.52,
    "end": 1011.44,
    "text": "you have many collaborative projects\nwith national and international partners."
  },
  {
    "start": 1011.6,
    "end": 1013.52,
    "text": "What does collaboration mean to you"
  },
  {
    "start": 1013.52,
    "end": 1017.92,
    "text": "and what can we maybe learn from research\nfor our society?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1017.96,
    "end": 1021.72,
    "text": "Collaboration is very central\nin the scientific community."
  },
  {
    "start": 1021.76,
    "end": 1023.8,
    "text": "So this really starts here in the group."
  },
  {
    "start": 1023.8,
    "end": 1025.76,
    "text": "So we collaborate with each other."
  },
  {
    "start": 1025.76,
    "end": 1029.2,
    "text": "People have different projects,\ndifferent interests, different expertise."
  },
  {
    "start": 1029.2,
    "end": 1030.8,
    "text": "And that is very important"
  },
  {
    "start": 1030.8,
    "end": 1034.08,
    "text": "to have this diversity\nbecause then we really get new ideas."
  },
  {
    "start": 1034.36,
    "end": 1037.48,
    "text": "We can really fill our knowledge gaps."
  },
  {
    "start": 1037.48,
    "end": 1039.72,
    "text": "We fill gaps in our projects."
  },
  {
    "start": 1039.72,
    "end": 1042.04,
    "text": "I don't know how to do this.\nCan you help me?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1042.04,
    "end": 1047.56,
    "text": "So this really starts, you know, here\nclose by and then it is really transferred"
  },
  {
    "start": 1047.56,
    "end": 1051.8,
    "text": "into the scientific community\nwhere we need really dedicated expertise."
  },
  {
    "start": 1051.96,
    "end": 1055.04,
    "text": "So let's say\nour group is good in microscopy."
  },
  {
    "start": 1055.04,
    "end": 1055.88,
    "text": "So we do that."
  },
  {
    "start": 1055.88,
    "end": 1060.08,
    "text": "We we need other groups\nthat maybe can work with animals or people"
  },
  {
    "start": 1060.08,
    "end": 1063.8,
    "text": "that work in the clinics,\nor they have contact with human patients"
  },
  {
    "start": 1063.8,
    "end": 1066.52,
    "text": "and can give us\nmaybe human mucus, for example."
  },
  {
    "start": 1066.52,
    "end": 1071.32,
    "text": "So these projects really live\nand only live because of collaborations."
  },
  {
    "start": 1071.32,
    "end": 1073.2,
    "text": "And that is very central."
  },
  {
    "start": 1073.2,
    "end": 1078.92,
    "text": "And I try to give this\nthis kind of spirit also into our group."
  },
  {
    "start": 1078.96,
    "end": 1082.56,
    "text": "Our group is also diverse\nand people work in diverse projects."
  },
  {
    "start": 1082.56,
    "end": 1085.92,
    "text": "They have all kinds of collaborations\nwhere they work with other people"
  },
  {
    "start": 1085.92,
    "end": 1090.28,
    "text": "from other disciplines also so\nvery interdisciplinary, so that you learn"
  },
  {
    "start": 1090.28,
    "end": 1095.08,
    "text": "how to speak each other's language\nand really advance scientific projects."
  },
  {
    "start": 1095.08,
    "end": 1097.88,
    "text": "I think this is very, very much the key."
  },
  {
    "start": 1097.88,
    "end": 1102.56,
    "text": "Otherwise we would not really\nmove forward that quickly."
  },
  {
    "start": 1102.56,
    "end": 1106.08,
    "text": "So we couldn't really entertain\nthese projects that I mentioned"
  },
  {
    "start": 1106.16,
    "end": 1110.56,
    "text": "without having, you know, diverse\ninterdisciplinary collaborations."
  },
  {
    "start": 1110.56,
    "end": 1115.44,
    "text": "So this is something that we could take\nwith us for our society, for our."
  },
  {
    "start": 1115.8,
    "end": 1117.52,
    "text": "Yeah, living together."
  },
  {
    "start": 1117.52,
    "end": 1121.04,
    "text": "I think, you know,\nit's being open to other ideas,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1121.04,
    "end": 1124.04,
    "text": "to what other people think,\nwhat they have to say,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1124.16,
    "end": 1127.16,
    "text": "and also what they are good at\nand what they know."
  },
  {
    "start": 1127.2,
    "end": 1130.92,
    "text": "So that we yeah,\nwe try to be open, communicate, open."
  },
  {
    "start": 1130.92,
    "end": 1131.88,
    "text": "We don't judge."
  },
  {
    "start": 1131.88,
    "end": 1135.48,
    "text": "And that brings us forward,\nthat allows these collaborations."
  },
  {
    "start": 1135.48,
    "end": 1137.68,
    "text": "And that's really what brings the. Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 1137.68,
    "end": 1141.48,
    "text": "Also the fun in our daily life\nbecause we can we have a diverse"
  },
  {
    "start": 1141.76,
    "end": 1145.4,
    "text": "group of people, you know, here at HZI\nwe have a number of different people"
  },
  {
    "start": 1145.44,
    "end": 1147.28,
    "text": "next door. We just talked to each other."
  },
  {
    "start": 1147.28,
    "end": 1149.16,
    "text": "We see each other at lunch"
  },
  {
    "start": 1149.16,
    "end": 1152.52,
    "text": "and then, you know,\nfrom one to the other things happen."
  },
  {
    "start": 1152.52,
    "end": 1156.76,
    "text": "And suddenly we have maybe a new,\nyou know, a new angle"
  },
  {
    "start": 1156.8,
    "end": 1159.88,
    "text": "to study\na certain aspect of infection biology"
  },
  {
    "start": 1159.88,
    "end": 1163.52,
    "text": "that was not really able,\nthat was not really possible before."
  },
  {
    "start": 1163.56,
    "end": 1165.8,
    "text": "What is the long-term\ngoal for your research?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1165.8,
    "end": 1168.28,
    "text": "What do you like to have achieved someday?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1168.28,
    "end": 1168.52,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 1168.52,
    "end": 1172.04,
    "text": "So our our team is still fairly young\nand our group is fairly young."
  },
  {
    "start": 1172.04,
    "end": 1178.76,
    "text": "So we have developed some new concepts\nand we push we try to push those forward."
  },
  {
    "start": 1178.8,
    "end": 1181.2,
    "text": "You know we talked about Nano\nInfection Biology."
  },
  {
    "start": 1181.2,
    "end": 1184.28,
    "text": "So we want to understand how viruses work"
  },
  {
    "start": 1184.28,
    "end": 1187.92,
    "text": "at the scale of sort of of a virus\nand of single proteins."
  },
  {
    "start": 1187.92,
    "end": 1192.76,
    "text": "So that we want to establish\nthat in the scientific community."
  },
  {
    "start": 1192.76,
    "end": 1196.08,
    "text": "There will be one,\nI think, wish and then it's the transfer."
  },
  {
    "start": 1196.12,
    "end": 1198.24,
    "text": "Also on the translation,\nwe have talked a lot"
  },
  {
    "start": 1198.24,
    "end": 1201.48,
    "text": "about the mucus project,\nwhich is a very translational project,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1201.52,
    "end": 1204.32,
    "text": "or it has sort of stronger\ntranslational aspect."
  },
  {
    "start": 1204.32,
    "end": 1205.32,
    "text": "I think most of what we do"
  },
  {
    "start": 1205.32,
    "end": 1208.52,
    "text": "is still very much\nbasic science understanding virus entry."
  },
  {
    "start": 1208.52,
    "end": 1214.08,
    "text": "So some of these aspects\ncould manifest themselves in kind of,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1214.4,
    "end": 1218.72,
    "text": "you know, other directions,\nmaybe become either an antiviral"
  },
  {
    "start": 1218.72,
    "end": 1223.48,
    "text": "or a new diagnostic tool\nor things like that."
  },
  {
    "start": 1223.52,
    "end": 1228.44,
    "text": "That will be that would be nice to have\nin maybe 5 or 10 years,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1228.44,
    "end": 1232.6,
    "text": "maybe we'll have a mucus chip, you know,\nwe can sample your mucus and analyze it"
  },
  {
    "start": 1232.64,
    "end": 1237.76,
    "text": "and we can tell, you know, very quickly\nif we should get a flu vaccine or not."
  },
  {
    "start": 1237.8,
    "end": 1242.08,
    "text": "I think that will be there\nwill be a nice goal to achieve science."
  },
  {
    "start": 1242.08,
    "end": 1242.88,
    "text": "Really nice."
  },
  {
    "start": 1242.88,
    "end": 1246.32,
    "text": "So when I'm talking to you\nand when I'm listening to you,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1246.32,
    "end": 1250.4,
    "text": "I really hear in your voice\nand how you're talking"
  },
  {
    "start": 1250.4,
    "end": 1254.8,
    "text": "that you're really into your research,\nbut you need to have some."
  },
  {
    "start": 1254.88,
    "end": 1257.08,
    "text": "Yeah. Free time, I think."
  },
  {
    "start": 1257.08,
    "end": 1260.36,
    "text": "What do you do to to relax from work?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1260.36,
    "end": 1262.8,
    "text": "My family is sort of the big counterpole."
  },
  {
    "start": 1262.8,
    "end": 1266.44,
    "text": "So we spend a lot of time together."
  },
  {
    "start": 1266.44,
    "end": 1271.92,
    "text": "We do things together\nwith my wife and my kids."
  },
  {
    "start": 1271.96,
    "end": 1275.44,
    "text": "And so I wouldn't say I have really active\nhobbies at the moment."
  },
  {
    "start": 1275.48,
    "end": 1279.24,
    "text": "I'm interested in sports,\nso I do sports to to work out."
  },
  {
    "start": 1279.28,
    "end": 1282.16,
    "text": "I'm interested in comics and video\ngames, this kind of stuff."
  },
  {
    "start": 1282.16,
    "end": 1285.72,
    "text": "I wouldn't call it a hobby,\nbut it's like interest where I try to get,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1285.8,
    "end": 1289.36,
    "text": "you know, away from\nor put the thoughts on other things."
  },
  {
    "start": 1289.6,
    "end": 1293.64,
    "text": "But I think the big counter,\nthe big pole is the counterpart is the"
  },
  {
    "start": 1293.68,
    "end": 1297.32,
    "text": "is the family that naturally brings\nus, brings you to other,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1297.36,
    "end": 1300.6,
    "text": "you know, things or puts your mind\non other things at the end."
  },
  {
    "start": 1300.64,
    "end": 1304.68,
    "text": "Do you have a\nyeah like take-home message for us all?"
  },
  {
    "start": 1305.24,
    "end": 1305.76,
    "text": "Yeah."
  },
  {
    "start": 1305.76,
    "end": 1311.48,
    "text": "I think it's it's important for us\nto, to appreciate the world we live in,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1311.52,
    "end": 1316.52,
    "text": "you know, in terms of infectious diseases\nfor now and that, you know, we live"
  },
  {
    "start": 1316.6,
    "end": 1321.36,
    "text": "in this world together with other people,\nwith animals and our environment."
  },
  {
    "start": 1321.36,
    "end": 1324.16,
    "text": "And it's important\nto keep an eye on all those"
  },
  {
    "start": 1324.16,
    "end": 1328.64,
    "text": "and that they are interconnected\nand that we have seen this, you know,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1328.68,
    "end": 1333.04,
    "text": "we have these spillover events,\nfor example, if we think about viruses."
  },
  {
    "start": 1333.56,
    "end": 1336.32,
    "text": "So this is one part\njust to appreciate this"
  },
  {
    "start": 1336.32,
    "end": 1338.76,
    "text": "and how they affect each other."
  },
  {
    "start": 1338.76,
    "end": 1341.12,
    "text": "We haven't really talked\nabout climate change for example."
  },
  {
    "start": 1341.12,
    "end": 1346.64,
    "text": "So environment you know, is also part\nof this whole global"
  },
  {
    "start": 1346.64,
    "end": 1352.24,
    "text": "environment that really determines\nhow virus or infectious diseases spread."
  },
  {
    "start": 1352.28,
    "end": 1355.52,
    "text": "So that's maybe one thing\njust to think about and to appreciate,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1355.52,
    "end": 1360.16,
    "text": "and then also to appreciate that\nthere is a large scientific"
  },
  {
    "start": 1360.16,
    "end": 1364.56,
    "text": "research community that tries\nto understand how these things work."
  },
  {
    "start": 1364.92,
    "end": 1368.36,
    "text": "So we know what we are doing."
  },
  {
    "start": 1368.36,
    "end": 1369.68,
    "text": "We are good at this."
  },
  {
    "start": 1369.68,
    "end": 1374.04,
    "text": "We have large centers like HZI,\nwhich have really a large collaborative"
  },
  {
    "start": 1374.04,
    "end": 1379.12,
    "text": "communities where we can be very focused\nand very interdisciplinary drive"
  },
  {
    "start": 1379.16,
    "end": 1384.04,
    "text": "projects forward to understand\ninfectious diseases very quickly."
  },
  {
    "start": 1384.04,
    "end": 1387.04,
    "text": "So to really help each and every one."
  },
  {
    "start": 1387.24,
    "end": 1392.48,
    "text": "So I would hope that people yeah,\njust know this, appreciate this"
  },
  {
    "start": 1392.52,
    "end": 1396.48,
    "text": "and have trust in what we do and that we"
  },
  {
    "start": 1397.28,
    "end": 1401.56,
    "text": "yeah, we'll try to make the next pandemic"
  },
  {
    "start": 1401.6,
    "end": 1405.96,
    "text": "less severe or, you know, faster,\nunderstand and develop countermeasures."
  },
  {
    "start": 1405.96,
    "end": 1410.44,
    "text": "Thank you for your time and the exciting\ntalk about viruses and mucus."
  },
  {
    "start": 1410.48,
    "end": 1411.2,
    "text": "No, you're welcome."
  },
  {
    "start": 1411.2,
    "end": 1411.88,
    "text": "Thank you very much."
  },
  {
    "start": 1411.88,
    "end": 1412.72,
    "text": "It was a lot of fun."
  },
  {
    "start": 1412.72,
    "end": 1417.76,
    "text": "Professor Christian Sieben researches\nhow viruses interact with the cells"
  },
  {
    "start": 1417.76,
    "end": 1421.6,
    "text": "of our mucous membrane to infect them\nso we can get ahead of them,"
  },
  {
    "start": 1421.6,
    "end": 1422.8,
    "text": "maybe in the future."
  }
]