This painting depicts the influenza virus invading host cells, and a beam of light shines on the virions. The light is a metaphor, it will raise the alarm of the immune system and guide antibodies to destroy the virus. My research focuses on the evolution of influenza viruses. I am studying the immune escape and epistasis of neuraminidase. Neuraminidase is one of the two surface glycoproteins of the influenza virus, and it is also the main target of influenza antiviral drugs. My work may help design better and more protective influenza virus vaccines. At the same time, this painting is a work of this special period, the global pandemic of the COVID-19. 2020 was a tough year but not always the night. May the light of science finally lead us to victory.
