Grant no. 23984234
Boes lab long-term collaborators
Henk Schipper, MD PhD
Friederike Meyer-Wentrup, MD PhD
Marije Bartels, MD PhD
Joris van Montfrans, MD PhD
Lilly Verhagen, MD PhD
Victor Peperzak, PhD
Jeanette Leusen, PhD
Roger Schutgens, MD PhD
Timothy Radstake, MD PhD
Max van Noesel, MD PhD
Boes lab alumni
Francesca Ververs, MD, PhD
Juliette Pouw, MD, PhD
Sarah Schep, MD PhD
Nila Servaas, PhD
Emmerik Leijten, PhD
Lieneke Jongeneel, BSc
Sandra Silva Cardoso, PhD
Marthe Lindenbergh, PhD
Lotte Spel, PhD
Robert van der Burgh, PhD
Thijs Flinsenberg, MD PhD
Ewoud Compeer, PhD
Arjan Stoppelenburg, PhD
Francesca Ververs, MD
Willemijn Janssen, MD PhD
Tessa van Kempen, PhD
Annick van de Ven, MD PhD
Fenna Sillé, PhD
Bryan vander Lugt, PhD
Tina Bose, PhD
Mike Majewski, PhD
Dave Sprengers, MD PhD
Our researchers
Patrick Greve
MD PhD candidate
Angela Markovska
PhD candidate
Xiaolin Cao
PhD candidate
Sonja Rittchen
senior postdoc
Dagmar Duijzer
PhD student
Dagmar Duijzer
PhD student
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe lower respiratory infection in infants and is associated with the development of asthma and other chronic lung diseases later in life. The mechanisms behind this increased susceptibility have remained unclear, although it appears to be a combination of viral-induced mechanisms and host genetics. For instance, viral infections can lead to epithelial cell damage and the induction of pulmonary fibrosis, predisposing individuals to asthma. Additionally, certain genetic alterations are linked to severe outcomes following viral infection and onset of chronic lung diseases.
This PhD project investigates the effect of both host and viral variations on airway inflammation and fibrosis after RSV infection. We will assess the host response to different viral proteins by transfecting epithelial cells with viral open reading frames to evaluate the effects on cell viability, cellular activity, and metabolism though assays that are readouts for asthma-associated mechanisms. Furthermore, we will investigate the effect of host genetic variants on RSV-induced mechanisms. Finally, we will validate the results in patient-derived airway organoids.
Overall, this PhD project aims to elucidate the causative link between RSV infection and the onset of asthma. The ultimate goal is to provide a better understanding of the RSV-induced perturbations and identify potential novel therapeutic targets to mitigate RSV-induced pulmonary damage and fibrosis.
Laura van Eijk
MSc student I&I program Utrecht University
The Boes team
The Boes team explores mechanisms that drive immune recognition in human disease, using an interdisciplinary approach and in collaboration with clinical scientists. We do this, because we believe that many diseases can be treatable by immune response modification through specific targeting of conserved pathways. Our overarching goal is to develop new therapies or improve diagnostics for immune-related disorders. For current individual projects please click on researcher pictures.
This project is funded by
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