Viral Infections

Development of vaccination strategies that provide broad protection against antigenically variable pathogens

Team lead

Prof. Frank van Kuppeveld
Department of Infectious Diseases & Immunology
Faculty of Veterinary Science
Utrecht University

The research project will focus on the development of broad-range intervention strategies to combat RNA viruses that undergo rapid antigenic evolution, such as influenza and coronaviruses. Novel immunization approaches will be tested that focus immune responses towards vulnerable conserved regions on pathogens. Characterization of broadly-reactive antibody responses will be used to design new vaccines capable of conferring broader protection. Developing such ‘universal’ antiviral strategies would not only mitigate antigenic escape but is also essential to control future emergence of novel (zoonotic) viruses.The research project will focus on the development of broad-range intervention strategies to combat RNA viruses that undergo rapid antigenic evolution, such as influenza and coronaviruses. Novel immunization approaches will be tested that focus immune responses towards vulnerable conserved regions on pathogens. Characterization of broadly-reactive antibody responses will be used to design new vaccines capable of conferring broader protection. Developing such ‘universal’ antiviral strategies would not only mitigate antigenic escape but are also essential to control future emergence of novel (zoonotic) viruses.

Collaboration partners: Friedrich Foerster (structural biology, computational modelling), Albert Heck (mass spectrometry) and Paul van Bergen-Henegouwen (nanobody technology).

Postdoc

Irina Albulescu will perform the postdoctoral research work involved in this project, under the direction of Prof. Frank van Kuppeveld and Dr. Berend Jan Bosch. Irina obtained her Bachelor degree in Biochemistry at the University of Bucharest, where she also did her Master’s in Biochemistry and Molecular biology. In 2015, Irina started as a Ph.D. candidate in the group of Prof. Eric Snijder at the UMC Leiden, where she focused on the replication mechanism of alphaviruses and development of antiviral drugs.