Immuno-pharmacology and interactomics

The Immuno-Pharmacology and Interactomics group focuses on the mechanisms that lead to cellular signaling disregulation and their impact in health and disease. 

Activities

Altered cellular signalling and immune dysregulation are hallmarks of most auto-immune, inflammatory and chronic viral diseases. The expression, signalling and activity of chemokines and IFN are often altered in these pathologies but the molecular mechanisms and fine regulation at play are not completely understood. Most viruses have evolved strategies to hijack, bypass or lure these signal transducers and cellular effectors to favour their replication and/or to corrupt or evade immunity. 

Our research interests revolve around two axes: 

  • Fundamental research aiming at gaining new insights into the complex structural and cellular mechanisms that lead to altered cellular signalling and cell transformation. 
  • Translational research aiming at developing novel tools and therapeutic approaches to interfere or modulate these processes and viral replication. 
Andy
Chevigne
Martyna
Szpakowska

Projects & clinical trials

Some of the group’s research projects include: 

  • Studying the structure and function of human chemokine receptors CXCR4, CXCR7 and CXCR3 and viral receptors and deciphering homeostatic and pathogenic molecular interactions, signalling and intracellular trafficking induced by their endogenous and viral ligands. 
  • Designing novel chemokine-receptor inhibitors interfering with chemokine receptor signalling as well as with HIV entry and developing viral tools for applied research and for determining viral tropism as well as resistance to entry inhibitors. 
  • Studying the molecular mechanisms of HIV assembly and viral protein trafficking, paying particular care to the impact of subtype-related variability. 
  • Investigating the molecular mechanisms leading from chronic inflammation to cancer development in chronic viral infections, focusing on the role of the Interferon-induced proteins APOBEC3 and SAMHD1 in cellular DNA damage, viral integration of DNA viruses and cellular homeostasis. 

Featured team members

  • Ana
    Alonso Bartolomé
    PhD Student
  • Nadia
    Beaupain
    Laboratory Technician
  • Ester
    Cassano
    PhD Student
  • Andy
    Chevigne
    Group Leader
  • Manuel
    Counson
    Laboratory Technician
  • Giulia
    D’Uonnolo
    PhD Student
  • Joy
    Darcis
    PhD Student
  • Rafael
    Luis
    PhD Student

Scientific publications

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