students
Zahra Malekshahi
PhD
Institute of Virology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria
Interaction of Zika viruses with the complement system

The rapid spread of the mosquito-borne ZIKA Virus (ZIKAV) revealed a clear association of this infection with severe congenital malformations such as microcephaly in newborns indicating that under certain circumstances the virus is more pathogenic in an opportunistic environment.
Well-established immunological assays as well as virus-plaque assays and cell culture and experiments in mice will be performed to investigate whether ZIKV is efficiently lysed by complement or antibody-mediated enhancement of infection can be observed.
At high complement levels referring to 50% serum concentration ZIKV titers were reduced dramatically. We therefore would like to improve our understanding of the roles of the three complement pathways in complement activation and whether ZIKV has established any strategies to escape complement attacks.
We will also examine the considerable serological cross-reactivity between antibodies against Zika virus or other flaviviruses and the interaction of complement with cross-reacting antibodies which may contribute to the opportunistic situation.

Info
Principal Investigator

Reinhard Würzner

Heribert Stoiber

Email

zahra.malekshahi@i-med.ac.at

Nationality

Iranian

why horos ?

"There is more than one reason why I have chosen this program: first it provides you good opportunities to work in a very good scientific environment and collaborating with the great scientists and researchers. Second, infectious diseases and its relation to immune system has been always one of my favourite subjects and being a HOROS student gives you this chance to reach your goals in science. Very good equipment and lab resources; developing new expertise for the future, getting familiar with different cultures are the other important reasons that I can mention. "
Zahra Malekshahi
Zahra Malekshahi
PhD
Institute of Virology, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria

Interaction of Zika viruses with the complement system

The rapid spread of the mosquito-borne ZIKA Virus (ZIKAV) revealed a clear association of this infection with severe congenital malformations such as microcephaly in newborns indicating that under certain circumstances the virus is more pathogenic in an opportunistic environment.
Well-established immunological assays as well as virus-plaque assays and cell culture and experiments in mice will be performed to investigate whether ZIKV is efficiently lysed by complement or antibody-mediated enhancement of infection can be observed.
At high complement levels referring to 50% serum concentration ZIKV titers were reduced dramatically. We therefore would like to improve our understanding of the roles of the three complement pathways in complement activation and whether ZIKV has established any strategies to escape complement attacks.
We will also examine the considerable serological cross-reactivity between antibodies against Zika virus or other flaviviruses and the interaction of complement with cross-reacting antibodies which may contribute to the opportunistic situation.


why horos ?
There is more than one reason why I have chosen this program: first it provides you good opportunities to work in a very good scientific environment and collaborating with the great scientists and researchers. Second, infectious diseases and its relation to immune system has been always one of my favourite subjects and being a HOROS student gives you this chance to reach your goals in science. Very good equipment and lab resources; developing new expertise for the future, getting familiar with different cultures are the other important reasons that I can mention.

info:
Principal Investigator:

Reinhard Würzner

Heribert Stoiber

Email:
zahra.malekshahi@i-med.ac.at
Nationality:
Iranian


contact

PROGRAMME SPEAKER

Reinhard Würzner, M.D., Ph.D.
Schöpfstraße 41
A-6020 Innsbruck

horos@i-med.ac.at

Imprint

Partner
FWF INDEX W1253-B24