New theme aims to create a network of scientists with ability to leverage X-ray and neutron techniques to combat large virus and pandemic outbreaks

Acting fast to offer early treatment is key to saving lives in a public health emergency of international concern like a pandemic, where an infectious disease occurs over a large region or the world at a particular time. A new theme at LINXS, Pandemics and Alertness (PandA), aims to create a network of virologists, researchers and beamline scientists with ability to leverage X-ray and neutron techniques to combat large virus and pandemic outbreaks.

– Underlying our theme is the question: how can we be better prepared for the next pandemic? One way is to bring virologists and scientists at the beamlines closer together, says Dr. Wolfgang Knecht, theme leader, and senior lecturer at Lund University, and Head of Lund Protein Production Platform (LP3), Node Director - Protein Production Sweden (PPS), and SciLifeLab group leader.

LINXS PandA theme will divide its work across three working groups: WG1: Understanding the virus; WG2: Fighting the virus; and WG3: Complementary and enabling techniques. It is led by Wolfgang Knecht.

Wolfgang Knecht is involved in different initiatives and projects to improve pandemic alertness. He was motivated to start the theme at LINXS, as he emphasises how such relationships can accelerate the development of early treatment. Through closer collaboration, virologists can easier identify what type of experiments should be performed early in a pandemic at large scale X-ray and neutron facilities – to generate the knowledge needed to create a vaccine or cure. They can also help define a roadmap for necessary research and preparations before a pandemic.

Yet, currently, there are many challenges in performing experiments on viruses, due to health and safety concerns which demand high biosafety sample environments. Thus, one aim of the theme will be to discuss ways in which one can plan, perform and execute experiments at higher risk levels.

– To overcome barriers like this, we first need to increase understanding of what can be done at the facilities. Creating a platform for virologists and other scientists to meet is the first step to encourage development of new types of experiments and approaches.

Increase interaction between virus centers and beamlines

As part of the theme, he also aims to increase interaction between The Lund University Virus Centre and The Institute of Virology at the Philipps University of Marburg in Germany, a world-leading research institution with respect to the Bunya, Filo- and Arenaviridae viruses. These viruses can cause different types of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, and Lassa fever. These diseases are often fatal, and are on the WHO list for prioritised diseases for research and development in emergency contexts. The only university operated biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory in Germany is placed at Marburg, with a new BSL-4 laboratory (the Marburg Centre for Epidemic Preparedness) expected to go into operations in 2027. These laboratories provide top level security to enable scientists to handle viruses such as Marburg and Ebola which belong to the highest risk group, number 4.

– There are still many things we do not know about how viruses mutate and evade the immune system, how they get processed when leaving cells and what is needed for them to enter cells and spread. Several of the theme members, including myself, are involved in a Horizon Europe project VIGILANT with the aim to develop broad spectrum antivirals targeting the entry or exit of viruses from cells, says Wolfgang Knecht.

Explore how X-rays and neutrons can advance and accelerate knowledge

X-ray and neutron techniques offer many possibilities to study the molecular structure of viruses and accelerate finding treatment options; for example by analysing how the virus is infecting the cell in atomic detail.

– The question is not if, but when, the next pandemic will occur. With these techniques, we have possibility to advance and accelerate knowledge crucial for development of any type of treatment modality from vaccines to biopharmaceuticals or small molecule drugs, says Wolfgang Knecht.

The theme is open to anyone interested in exploring these issues emphasises Wolfgang Knecht. The overall aim is to produce a handbook of options on how to integrate these technologies in improving pandemic preparedness and, when possible, fast response.

– If we start working together now, we can implement what we have learnt fast when we have to. A cure or treatment does not have to perfect to prevent death or serious illness, says Wolfgang Knecht.

The theme will start in 2026 and divide its across three working groups: WG1: Understanding the virus; WG2: Fighting the virus; and WG3: Complementary and enabling techniques.