A recent article in Der Standard highlights the work of Professor Doris Wilflingseder, one of the Semmelweis Professors at the Ignaz Semmelweis Institute, focusing on emerging research on the dual role of animals in infectious disease. While many species act as reservoirs for viruses, their immune systems may also inspire new therapeutic approaches for humans. Animals such as bats and rodents can harbour pathogens without developing severe illness. The article uses Hantavirus as an example – it is transmitted by mice, and while infections cause only mild symptoms in Europe, different virus strains can cause severe illness in other parts of the world. Drawing on insights from the work performed at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna and the team of Professor Robert Krause at the Medical University of Graz, the article presents the use of advanced in vitro models (3D cell culture, organoids) for studying the immune response of animals and proposes the use of broadly neutralizing antibodies derived from mild infections for the treatment of more severe cases. This is especially important since a preventative strategy for this type of infection does not yet exist.
The article highlights the growing importance of the “One Health” approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health in a shared framework and positions animal-based research as a promising frontier in medicine, where understanding how other species coexist with viruses could inform the next generation of treatments for human disease.
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