Immunodiagnostics of mycobacterial diseases
Aim of the research
The main subject of our research is poverty-associated, neglected diseases, specifically: how unravelling their disease mechanisms can lead to improved early diagnosis and treatment as well as reducing transmission in endemic areas.
Our vison is that not only scientific but also societal and philanthropic valorization will result from the research and through collaborations with researchers and clinicians at field sites. Therefore, our research aims at the design of strategies to predict, diagnose, prevent and better treat leprosy and tuberculosis by translation of basic research in immunology (using multiplex assays and exploratory technologies for identification of proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic biomarkers, immunophenotyping by comprehensive flow cytometry panels and mass cytometry) to field applications by development of immunodiagnostic rapid (multibiomarker) tests for various use cases.
…The main subject of our research is poverty-associated, neglected diseases, specifically: how unravelling their disease mechanisms can lead to improved early diagnosis and treatment as well as reducing transmission in endemic areas.
Our vison is that not only scientific but also societal and philanthropic valorization will result from the research and through collaborations with researchers and clinicians at field sites. Therefore, our research aims at the design of strategies to predict, diagnose, prevent and better treat leprosy and tuberculosis by translation of basic research in immunology (using multiplex assays and exploratory technologies for identification of proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic biomarkers, immunophenotyping by comprehensive flow cytometry panels and mass cytometry) to field applications by development of immunodiagnostic rapid (multibiomarker) tests for various use cases.
Our research focuses on Immunodiagnostics of Leprosy and Tuberculosis including basic-, translational-, applied- as well as field research based on immunological, molecular biological, chemical and epidemiological approaches. The investigations into these two infectious diseases, in which we integrate infectious disease research as well as capacity building through training and teaching abroad, evolve around: Global Health, Population Health and One Health and is characterized by many long-term, international collaborations, including those with prominent institutes in LMICs.
Group members
- Annemieke Geluk (Group Leader)
- Anouk van Hooij
- Louise Pierneef
- Gaby Wassenaar
- Matheus Almeida
- Hana Krismawati
- Luca Maharavo
- Zije Zhou
Partners / Collaborators
- Dr P Corstjens, Dept. Cell & Chemical Biology, LUMC
- Dr S Joosten, LUCID
- Dr J Codee, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University
- Dr C de Macedo and Dr R Olmo Pinheiro, Institute Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de janeiro, Brazil
- Dr C Avanzi, Dept Microbiology, CSU, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Prof J Hope, Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Prof B de Jong and Prof. E. Hasker, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, België
- Dr M Grijsen, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Indonesia, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Prof H Dockrell, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Dr C van Hees, Dept. Dermatology, Erasmus MC Medical Center, Rotterdam
- Prof M Mira, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil.
- Prof G Walzl, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Prof J Sutherland, LSHTM, the Gambia
- Prof E Cambau, Laboratoire de Bactériologie Université Paris Centre national de référence des mycobactéries France
- Dr Abu Sufian Chowdhury, TLMI,B, Nilphamari, Bangladesh
- Dr T Rasamoelina, Antananarivo, Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux (CICM, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Dr J Berland, Fondation Merieux, Lyon, France
- Dr L Garcia, Instituto de investigaciones Biomedicas (IIBISMED), Universidad Mayor de San Simon, Cochabamba, Bolivia
Research clusters
Selected publications
Additional information
It is my vision that not only scientific but also societal and philanthropic valorization will result from the research and through collaborations with institutes in countries where tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic. Therefore, my research aims at the design of strategies to unravel their disease mechanisms leading to improved early diagnosis and treatment as well as reducing transmission in endemic areas.
For leprosy we develop tests for several use cases including personalized diagnostics for early diagnosis of leprosy (reactions) and tests for large scale population screening to monitor transmission.
…It is my vision that not only scientific but also societal and philanthropic valorization will result from the research and through collaborations with institutes in countries where tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic. Therefore, my research aims at the design of strategies to unravel their disease mechanisms leading to improved early diagnosis and treatment as well as reducing transmission in endemic areas.
For leprosy we develop tests for several use cases including personalized diagnostics for early diagnosis of leprosy (reactions) and tests for large scale population screening to monitor transmission.
To combat TB, our research focusses on the development of TB Triage tests based on host serum biomarkers instead of sputum. Availability of such tests would not only help control transmission, but significantly accelerate diagnostic approaches and decrease costly referrals.
