What could possibly go wrong?
Professor Colin Crump joined The Naked Scientists Podcast to unpack the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, explaining what hantaviruses are, how they spread, and why scientists are watching closely.
From rodent reservoirs to rare human transmission events, Colin breaks down the science behind the headlines in this fascinating episode: “Hantavirus outbreak: cruising for a biological bruising”
Professor Colin Crump leads a research programme exploring how viruses interact with and reprogramme human cells to establish infection and spread.
His laboratory focuses on the assembly and release of viruses and the diverse cellular pathways viruses hijack to create efficient factories for producing new viral particles.
The team studies several important viral families, including herpesviruses, polyomaviruses and bunyaviruses, with particular interest in herpes simplex virus, BK polyomavirus and Oropouche virus. By uncovering how these pathogens manipulate host cells, the group aims to deepen understanding of viral disease and identify new opportunities for intervention.
The laboratory combines advanced microscopy imaging, proteomics and genome-wide genetic screening approaches, working collaboratively across disciplines to build a detailed picture of virus replication and virus–host interactions.