Immune variation and vaccine hypo-responsiveness

Our research focuses on understanding the immune system of populations with varying degree of exposure to microorganisms and parasites, which can influence disease patterns and vaccine responsiveness across the globe.

Aim of the research

Immunological heterogeneity across populations worldwide cannot be accounted for by genetic differences only. It is increasingly clear that environmental factors such as exposure to microorganisms and parasites as well as nutrient intake can underlie variation seen in the immune profiles and function. Immune hypo-responsiveness can manifest as reduced vaccine performance, which has been seen in rural areas of low to middle income countries.

Through the analysis of the immune system where helminth infections and malaria are endemic or are experimentally given to volunteers, it has been possible to show how the immune system is strongly modulated by parasites. However, it has also become clear that there are additional exposures, that shape the immune system.

Our questions to fully understand immune hypo-responsiveness:

  • What are the characteristics of the immune cells that are responsible for immune and vaccine hypo-responsiveness?
  • Which factors underlie poor immunological responses?

Our approaches:

  • Sustainable equal partnership with institutions in different geographical areas in the world through establishment of knowledge hubs (hypovax.org).
  • Cohorts residing in different geographical areas that include rural and urban settings as well as controlled human infection models.
  • Single cell technologies that provide in depth characterization of the immunological profile and function.
  • Data science that can support the generation of federated human immunological data.

Group members

  • Maria Yazdanbakhsh (Group leader)
  • Yvonne Kruize (technician)
  • Marion Konig (technician)
  • Anas Babetji (technician)
  • Koen Stam (data analyst)
  • Floor de Weijer (data engineer)
  • Michel Bengtson (research coordinator)
  • Abena Amoah (senior researcher)
  • Mariateresa Coppola (senior postdoc)
  • Ross Laidlaw (postdoc)
  • Yoanne Mouwenda (postdoc)
  • Mikhael Manurung (PhD student)
  • Josiane Honkpehedji (PhD student)
  • Jeremia Pyuza (PhD student)
  • Rike Sonnet (PhD student)
  • Marloes van Dorst (PhD student)

Partners / Collaborators

Key collaborators: Ron Hokke (LUCID), Simon Jochems (LUCID), Meta Roestenberg (LUCID), Hermelijn Smits (LUCID), Bart Everts (LUCID), Bruno Guigas (LUCID), Anna Roukens (LUCID), Ahmed Mahfouz (LUMC), Tanawati Supali (UI, Indonesia), Akim Adegnika (CERMEL, Gabon), Maxime Agnanji (CERMEL, Gabon), Peter Kremsner (Tübingen, Germany), Alison Elliott (MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Uganda), Jennifer Downs (MITU, Tanzania), Sitti Wahyuni (UNHAS, Indonesia), HypoVax Global Consortium Partners.

Research clusters

Selected publications