Our research group investigates antivirals and the interactions of viruses with host cells, aimed at developing antiviral strategies or vaccine candidates. We are particularly interested in broad-spectrum antivirals, which strengthen our preparedness against outbreaks of (re)emerging viruses. We primarily study alphaviruses and flaviviruses, mosquito-borne pathogens with epidemic potential, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and West Nile virus (WNV). These viruses pose a substantial health burden, and their impact is expected to rise, also in Europe, due to climate change and changes in human behavior (travel, transport, and land use). Since 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, research has expanded to include SARS-CoV-2, focusing on both antiviral and vaccine development.
We employ (semi)-automated platforms to screen for molecules with antiviral activity, and a variety of biochemical, molecular virological and cell biological methods to elucidate the mode of action of antiviral compounds. This includes resistance selection, genotyping and reverse genetics to pinpoint viral targets of novel compounds. For these and other detailed functional studies we utilize the reverse genetics systems (‘full-length clones’) that we have available for many of our viruses.
Through quantitative proteomics and functional genomics we study virus-host interactions to identify potential targets for novel host-directed therapeutic strategies. Our virus-host interaction studies also include the innate immune response and viral countermeasures that suppress or evade host defenses. Insights from these studies inform both vaccine design and the development of novel therapeutics.
Research on highly pathogenic viruses is conducted in our state-of-the-art BSL-3 facilities. In collaboration with the LUMC Center for Cell and Gene therapy (CCG), the team led by Marjolein Kikkert is currently developing GMP-compliant systems for producing challenge agents (coronaviruses) to support controlled human infection studies.
Our group collaborates with various LUMC departments, including CPM (proteomics on virus-host interactions), Pulmoscience (airway epithelium infection models) and the GMP facility of the LUMC Center for Cell and Gene therapy (CCG).
