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REFINE PROJECT

REFINE is a collaboration between 4 European and 2 Australian partners that aims to enhance treatments for mosquito-borne orthoflavivirus infections by identifying new targets for antibodies, inhibitors, and vaccines. In addition, we will develop a platform to test the safety and effectiveness of these treatments before clinical trials.

The continuous spread and the intensifying outbreaks of mosquito-borne orthoflaviviruses are becoming a growing global concern. These viruses, including dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, cause severe diseases and can trigger widespread epidemics, with dengue alone infecting over 400 million people annually. Factors such as climate change, globalization, and the proliferation of invasive mosquito species have contributed to the worldwide dissemination of these pathogens. In Europe, the range of Aedes mosquitoes, vectors for some of these viruses, is expanding by approximately 100 km per year. Recently, Europe has witnessed an upsurge in cases of West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) infection, both transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. In 2024, the largest geographical distribution of WNV in Europe in a single year was observed, with 1436 human cases of WNV infection, with 91%  of cases hospitalized and 9% case fatality rate.

Publications

We will publish our publications here soon, so stay tuned.

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