Join for this Café Scientifique event and explore the latest in science.

Most of us think of infections as happening one at a time—but that’s not always what happens. Sometimes, one infection can change the body in ways that make another infection more likely or more serious. In this talk, we’ll look at what happens when infections collide in the lungs, using influenza and COVID-19 as examples. We’ll explore how viruses can quietly change lung cells and the immune system, sometimes making it easier for bacteria to cause problems. These hidden interactions are often what turn an illness that might have been manageable into one that requires hospital care. By thinking about infections as connected events rather than isolated illnesses, we can better understand why respiratory diseases can become severe—and why treating just one infection isn’t always enough.

Speaker: Mariya Goncheva, Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Microbiology and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Virology

Café Scientifique is an initiative from UVic’s Faculty of Science that bridges the research-to-public gap with casual community lectures inspired by the early coffeehouses of 18th century France. These free evening cafés provide an opportunity to learn about exciting new discoveries in modern science and meet experts in the field. Each event begins with a 45 minute talk followed by a moderated question and answer session.

This event will take place at The Mint, 1414 Douglas St. Registration is required to attend in-person (see below). 

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and you are welcome and encouraged to come early for dinner. The talk starts at 7 p.m.

This event will also be livestreamed on our UVic Science YouTube channel. No registration is required to join the livestream.

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