Maria Soultsioti

Research

My primary research interest focuses on coronavirus-induced endomembrane remodeling. My work aims to understand how coronaviruses manipulate host lipid metabolism pathways and remodel host cell membranes to facilitate viral replication for the establishment of viral replication organelles and assembly of virus particles. In parallel, I explore the antiviral potential of pharmacologically inhibiting these host pathways. To address the project’s aims, I employ a broad range of techniques, including cell and molecular biology, lipid and protein biochemistry assays, and advanced microscopy. I also work extensively in a high-biosafety-level laboratory (BSL-3), with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.

Curriculum Vitae

During my B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Biotechnology studies in University of Thessaly (Greece), I joined the lab of Professor Catharina Svensson at Uppsala University (Sweden) for an internship on long-lasting adenovirus infections in human disease, as part of the Erasmus+ exchange program. I subsequently continued my training in the Infection Biology M.Sc. program at Uppsala University, where I completed my thesis in the group of Professor Magnus Essand, focusing on the characterization of a cytokine-expressing oncolytic alphavirus for glioblastoma treatment. From 2017 to 2019, I worked in the R&D department of GE Healthcare (now Cytiva) as a research engineer contributing to projects on viral vectors and cell line development. In 2020, I joined the group of Professor Eric Snijder for my PhD studies, investigating the anti-coronaviral potential of pharmacologically targeting host lipid metabolism pathways, as part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie INITIATE network on antiviral immunometabolism.

Links:

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