Immunology

Our research group focuses on novel regulatory mechanisms that control the immune system.

Immune mediated diseases occur because of failure in regulation of the immune system. Inadequate immune activation is associated with infection and development of cancer, pathogens or developing cancers often directly hamper immune activation to evade the immune system.

On the other hand continuous over-activation of the immune system can lead to chronic inflammation or autoimmunity. Intriguingly it is the same immune regulatory molecules that regulate the immune system in both circumstances. Increased knowledge of the network involved is essential to select novel targets for therapeutic treatment of immune mediated diseases.

Further, we focus on development of future immune diagnostic tools based on nanotechnology, e.g. for viruses in mink and classical swine fever in pigs.

The Mink Microbiome Map (3M) project
The 3M project will describe the mink microbiota composition associated with health and disease. With this new resource we will develop better and more reasoned prophylactic probiotic candidates and related food additives for use in mink production.

Immune evasion in Staphylococcus aureus infection
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a commensal bacterium, with the potential to cause a broad range of conditions from minor skin infections to invasive and potentially fatal systemic infections. Infection with resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a growing challenge worldwide and the need for novel therapeutics is evident.

Diabetic Nephropathy - The influence of glomerular endothelial cell activation on monocyte phenotype
One severe complication of living with diabetes for many years is diabetic nephropathy (DN) which affect about one third of all patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. When diabetic nephropathy leads to end stage renal disease, it is characterised by glomerular sclerosis and extensive fibrotic kidney lesions.

Purinergic signaling and cell death regulation in immune cells and neurons
The project examines the function of the purinergic P2Y11 receptor which has been found associated with the sleep disorder narcolepsy.

Characterization of a rat model of haemophilia
This project is in the area of in vivo pharmacology, with focus on immunology and translational haemophilia in cooperation with Novo Nordisk A/S.

Predictive value of murine DTH arthritis for rheumatoid arthritis
This project describes further development, refinement and mechanistic studies of an animal model in the field of rheumatology. The DTH-arthritis model was originally described by Tanaka et al.1

Regulation of NKG2D ligands
NKG2D (Natural Killer Group 2 member D) ligands are self-induced ligands that are expressed on the surface of cancer cells, stressed or infected cells. The NKG2D ligands are recognized by the NKG2D receptor on NK cells and cytotoxic T cells. In response to receptor activation, NK cells and cytotoxic T cells will initiate killing of the target cells.