It involves discovery of a human virus with a major impact on human health.

It describes the way to discover a new virus by combining classical and modern molecular virological techniques.

We discovered a human virus (human metapneumovirus: hMPV), that proved to be a major pathogen of the respiratory tract, causing mild to severe symptoms. Severe respiratory disease caused by hMPV is predominantly seen in young children, immunocompromised individuals (e.g. transplant recipients), and the elderly, whereas in healthy adults mainly milder respiratory symptoms are seen. Although the virus is closely related to a virus that causes respiratory disease in birds (avian pneumovirus: APV) the collective data indicate that hMPV did not recently spill over from an avian reservoir. Retrospective studies showed that hMPV has been in the human population for at least 50 years and probably much longer. It has been found all over the world and the burden of disease it causes is in the same order as that of infections with other major human respiratory viruses like RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), parainfluenza, and influenza viruses. By five years of age, all children have been infected with this virus at least once and subsequent infections later in life do occur. Current research focuses on the development of the establishment of adequate methods for routine diagnosis and the development of preventive (vaccination, antibodies) and therapeutic (antivirals) intervention strategies.

I became involved through contacts with pediatricians and the analysis of respiratory problems for which no etiology could be found with classical methods.