Zika virus – a Brazilian perspective on a global health emergency
Zika virus has been declared a global health emergency following an outbreak detected in Brazil last year, which has moved into more than 20 countries in Latin… Read more »
Dr Ben Johnson is Head of Communities & Engagement at Springer Nature. He runs all online community blogs, including the Nature Research and Springer Nature communities and the BMC blogs. He has a PhD in influenza virus from the University of Reading and Public Health England and was a postdoc at Imperial College London before entering publishing as an Acquisitions Editor and then Associate Publisher at BMC, where he launched new open access journals. He is based in our London office.
Latest posts by Ben Johnson (see all)
- Zika virus – a Brazilian perspective on a global health emergency - 4th February 2016
- Sun, Sand and Viruses – highlights from the Brazilian Congress of Virology - 28th October 2015
- Sealed with a kiss – and 80 million oral bacteria - 17th November 2014
Sun, Sand and Viruses – highlights from the Brazilian Congress of Virology
Brazil is renowned for many things: beaches, samba, carnival – and an increasing amount of top quality virology. So it was with great interest and excitement… Read more »
Sealed with a kiss – and 80 million oral bacteria
Christmas seems to come earlier each year. Our thoughts turn to the exchange of gifts, time with family and friends and the inevitable office party. But you may… Read more »
The diverse ecology of the Brazilian Amazon – spare a thought for the viruses
In February 1541, Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana led a force from modern-day Ecuador into the South American interior to discover the fabled land of… Read more »
Rabies – does it have to be fatal?
Rabies is a reliable killer – the only known infection with a near 100% fatality rate. That is until 2004 when a pediatrician in Milwaukee, USA, tried an… Read more »
Is cancer preventable? The role of diet and obesity
Cancer is a metabolic disease. So asserts a growing body of evidence, supported by twin pillars. On one hand is strong data from population studies showing that… Read more »
Who’s been sitting in my chair? The microbes that live indoors.
When the three bears returned to their house in the woods, they found that their porridge had been eaten, their chairs had been sat in and ultimately that… Read more »
Mosquito survey identifies reservoir of disease
Mosquito borne viruses are a major cause of mortality and morbidity, especially in the developing world. As warmer weather increases the habitat for these… Read more »
A novel coronavirus capable of causing fatal disease
In September 2012 a patient in Saudi Arabia died of acute respiratory illness and kidney failure due to an unknown infectious agent. A novel species of… Read more »
New journal Cancer & Metabolism launches today
New journal Cancer & Metabolism launches today with a selection of articles that highlight the altered metabolic pathways that drive cancer. Altered glucose… Read more »