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Scope

Our fields of interest range from basic research to contract R&D for the diagnostic and vaccine industry.

  • Immunology and genetic/antigenetic diversity of old and new emerging viruses: relevance for detection, vaccination, pathogenicity, drug resistance, development of new treatment strategies
  • Development of immune-preventive strategies against infectious agents and against environmental risk factors, such as carcinogens.
  • Crosstalk between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system in particular under stress: gene structure, the transcriptional and translational regulation of nuclear receptors, such as the glucocorticoid receptor as the main stress response mediator.
  • Perinatal programming and epigenetics of the immune system.
  • Proteomics studies using 2D DIGE technology paired with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and LC-MS in the above areas and other fields in collaboration.

Contact

Department of Immunology
Head of Research Unit: Prof. Dr. Claude P. Muller
Laboratoire National de Santé
20A, rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg
Tel.: +352 49 06 04 220
Fax: +352 49 06 86
E-mail: claude.muller@crp-sante.lu

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VIROLOGY

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These studies provide answers that are important, in the case of human and zoonotic viruses, for public health and virus outbreak control. In the case of veterinary viruses, the main beneficiaries of this research are the farmers, consumers in need of high quality proteins, the veterinary services and animal welfare. These collaborative projects with resource-poor countries include important components, such as (i) training of laboratory staff, academic staff, and of students working towards their degrees; (ii) upgrading of laboratory capacity; (iii) providing expertise in laboratory surveillance; (iv) and academic teaching. In addition, LNSI scientists are in demand as experts and consultants of the WHO, FAO, World Bank, UNDP and EU for the accreditation of laboratories, for supporting local scientists during viral outbreaks, to provide expert-advice to national or sub-national Governments and Ministries for establishing or upgrading outbreak surveillance systems. Virus variants are further investigated with respect to their detectability, cross-protection by existing vaccines, drug resistance mutations and pathogenicity.

Important areas of research and surveillance include:

  • Immunology and genetic/antigenic diversity of viruses including molecular epidemiology.
  • Public health issues related to infectious diseases in humans (measles and rubella virus , parvovirus, hepatitis viruses , influenza virus, respiratory viruses, tick borne pathogens ).
  • Public health and animal welfare issues related to veterinary viruses , in particular avian viruses including avian influenza virus.
  • The Department is also responsible for the national laboratory surveillance and diagnostic of avian influenza in Luxembourg.