Vaccinology and B Cell Immunology
Activities
The main focus is the investigation of the immune response after vaccination and the development of new vaccination strategies. In the FLUTCORE project we develop a novel universal influenza vaccine based on virus-like particles (VLP) carrying invariant influenza antigens. The project is funded by the EU framework Programme 7.
In another project we use a reverse vaccinology approach to develop a vaccine against ticks and tick-borne pathogens. In this context we have recently sequenced the genome of the most important disease vector in Western Europe, the Ixodes ricinus tick.
In a third project we develop an immunoprophylactic strategy against detrimental effects of environmental toxins such as the ubiquitous carcinogen Benzo [A] pyrene. Early mutagenous and DNA damage are measured by highly sensitive NGS-based techniques.
In these studies the immune response is monitored at the level of the variable regions of the T and B cell receptor using multiple parallel sequencing.
Research projects
- Development of a universal influenza vaccine based on tandem core technology (EU Framework 7 project FLUTCORE)
- Vaccination against ticks and tick-borne pathogens based on a reverse vaccinology approach
- Immunoprophylactic strategy against chemical carcinogenesis
- Molecular signatures of the B cell repertoire in infectious diseases (borreliosis, influenza, measles) and after vaccination (e.g. chemicals, haptens, BaP)
Featured Publications
Blunted endocrine response to a combined physical-cognitive stressor in adults with early life adversity.
- Immune Endocrine and Epigenetics
- Vaccinology and B Cell Immunology
Immunity levels to poliovirus in Lao children and adults before the vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreak: A retrospective study.
- Vaccinology and B Cell Immunology
- Clinical and Applied Virology
