Microbes and men : war and peace on mucous surfaces (4)

The fourth lecture was highly topical, and even anticipated it, as it dealt with the emergence of infectious diseases, the conditions under which it occurs, and its molecular, cellular and immunological bases. In particular, it was part of an attempt to define the molecular program represented by the crossing of the species barrier, the current primary condition for viral emergence from domestic or wild animals. This lecture was complemented by a seminar given by Dr. Antoine Gessain of the Institut Pasteur on epidemiological, molecular and anticipatory surveillance of the crossing of the species barrier by viruses and retroviruses, from monkeys to humans, mainly in Africa.