11 projects
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We are creating a citizen science platform to allow any person, without scientific background, to be involved in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine. Our solution combines human and artificial intelligence in a model to predict vaccine candidates.
Rapid Development and Initial Preclinical Evaluation of an Effective Candidate Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2
The current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a threat not only to global health but also to the economy since it is dramatically affecting the socioeconomic layers of societies around the planet. Thus, it will be critically important to advance in the production of an effective vaccine, which will be crucial for building up sufficient population-based immunity to efficiently curb the pandemic. While SARS-CoV-2 can infect everyone at all ages, it is mainly the elderly population that is most at risk of a fatal outcome. Elderly persons are charecterized by a declining immune function, known a...
Understanding Immunity in COVID-19
Previously developed model of immune response [Abulikemu et al 2020] will be modified in the collaboration with model authors and used for understanding processes involved in SARS-CoV2. We will develop a systems immunology tool that stratifies the coronavirus patient population according to (i) their likelihood of developing the cytokine tornado and (ii) the tornado subtype they are subject to. It will insert individual patient information into our Abulikemu et al model [2020] and compute the implications for whether or not a flip from moderate ('acute') inflammation to a 'cytokine tornado...
A dynamic model of the COVID-19 tuned for different countries: a systems-biological tool for the ...
A dynamic model of COVID-19 epidemics recently developed (video: https://youtu.be/lbsqJ1_WvmE, model: https://jjj.bio.vu.nl/models/westerhoff1/simulate/, ref: https://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.03.29.20045039v1) will be tuned for different countries to analyze the effect of different measures in the anticipation of next epidemics. Models will be available for online simulations at JWS Online (https://jjj.bio.vu.nl/models/westerhoff1/simulate/), and used for the development of computer tutorials for systems biological studies.
Functional characterization of COVID-19 patient gut microbiome
While COVID-19 is mainly considered an airway and lung disease, up to 79% of patients present with gastrointestinal symptoms and recent studies report on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and particles in stools of infected patients, suggesting that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract may have a more important role in disease pathology or transmission than previously thought. The GI tract is also the site of the dense and diverse microbiome, which has the ability to regulate intestinal and systemic immunity through the conversion of dietary nutrients into bioactive metabolites. Consequently,...
A PRECLINICAL EVALUATION: VACCINATION AND EFFICACY AGAINST SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2, the causative factor of COVID-19, is endangering the world's health, prosperity and political crises are on the horizon. Nations worldwide had to take drastic measures to prevent catastrophes: strict confinement and hygienic measures have been undertaken to minimize the virus spread. Despite the control measures, the pandemic is inevitably damaging the economy due to a shutdown of public and business life, an overload of the healthcare systems, and the high case fatality rate of COVID-19. The global fight against COVID-19 has mobilized, and many provisional treatments are being ...
COVID-19 and Neurturin
SARS-Cov-2 is a coronavirus is at the origin of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a global and significant threat to public health worldwide. Although several treatment modalities have been evaluated, none has allowed a therapeutic breakthrough until now. New treatment modalities are therefore urgently needed. We have previously described that neurturin, a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family, expressed not only as a growth factor in the nervous system but also the immune system, displays clear anti-inflammatory properties in mouse asthma models. Indeed,...
Multi-omics evaluation of microbial co-infection as marker of COVID-19 severity -(CO-INFECTOMICS)
The main goal of this project is to understand if SARS-CoV2 co-infections are a predictive marker of disease severity in the Luxembourgish population. To achieve this, the study will compare the respiratory and stool samples of mild and severe SARS-CoV2 positive patients. Using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, microbial profiles of the respiratory and intestinal tracts will be investigated, with a specific attention for co-infections. Moreover, individual microbial profiles will be correlated to the health parameters and immune response. We hope that the CO-INFECTOMICS project will ena...
