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In virus hell

Two experts tell in “The man shaped by viruses” * the fascinating story of the billions of viruses that have surrounded us since the dawn of time.

A masterful lesson in humility. Under the expert feathers of Frédéric Tangy, director of vaccinology at Pasteur, and that of Jean-Nicolas Tournier, head of the infectious diseases department at the Armed Forces Research Institute, here we are, weak humans, reduced to what we are: the helpless hosts of our invisible masters, these millions of billions of bacteria, viruses and parasites, the only decision-makers in our history. In this work, “The man shaped by viruses”, the scientific duo demonstrates, with brio, how viruses made and defeated dynasties, allowed the epics of the colonizers and designated winners and losers of all armed conflicts until the end of 19th century. Ardent defenders of vaccination, thanks to which two viruses – smallpox and rinderpest – were dominated, they explore the coronavirus epidemic, revealing that a genetic fragment inherited from Neanderthals increases, in certain populations, especially in Asia, the risk of dying of Covid 19. Not very reassuring, absolutely fascinating.

* “The man shaped by viruses” by Frédéric Tangy and Jean-Nicolas Tournier, Odile Jacob editions, 21.90 euros, 290 pages.

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