Mag. Mag. Waltraud C. Schrottmaier, PhD

work address:  

Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research

Vienna Platelet Laboratories

Centre for Physiology and Pharmacology

Medical University Vienna

Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria         

e-mail: waltraud.schrottmaier@meduniwien.ac.at         

homepage:  www.meduniwien.ac.at/hp/zpp

know-how and research interests:

            We are interested in the roles of platelets and platelet-pathogen interactions in inflammation and infection. Platelets are the second most abundant circulating blood cell and fulfil essential functions in haemostasis by maintaining vascular integrity and limiting blood loss upon injury. In recent years it became increasingly apparent that platelets are not only important in haemostasis and thrombosis, but they can also fine-tune immune responses and vice versa are modulated by inflammatory or infectious conditions. Upon activation platelet secrete a plethora of effector molecules including cytokines, chemokines and immunoglobulins that can modulate leukocyte and endothelial cell function or directly act on pathogens. Due to their high sensitivity, rapid responsiveness, and sheer number, platelets function as both sentinels and as first line of defence against invading pathogens.

Our group investigates the molecular crosstalk between platelet, leukocytes and bacterial and viral pathogens, the consequences of these interactions for the prothrombotic immunomodulatory roles of platelets and in acute and chronic inflammation and infection and impact of antiplatelet therapies in this context.

 research topic (general title):  

The role of platelets and platelet-pathogen interactions in inflammation and infection

 techniques and infrastructure of the research group:

• Characterisation of various leukocyte subsets and activation status (mouse and human) via multi-colour flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy
• Characterization of platelet-pathogen interactions (Puumala Hantavirus, Influenza virus, Vibrio cholerae bacteria)
• Isolation, characterization and cultivation of human and murine primary cells (platelets, leukocyte subsets, endothelial cells and hepatocytes) 
• Isolation of bacterial outer membrane vesicles
• Thrombosis and haemostasis animal models (FeCl₃ and mechanic injury, tail bleeding)
• Inflammation and infection animal models (peritonitis, acid- or LPS-induced acute lung injury, influenza infection, pneumococcal pneumonia)
• Transgenic mice for various platelet function deficiencies and thrombocytopenia
• Platelet function analysis (e.g. light transmission aggregometry)
• Live cell microscopy under flow conditions for recruitment and extravasation assays
• Standard biomolecular tools (PCR, qPCR, ELISA, Western Blot, cell culture)

5 selected publications:

1.      Schrottmaier WC, Salzmann M, Badrnya S, Mussbacher M, Kral-Pointner JB, Morava S, Pirabe A, Brunnthaler L, Yaiw KC, Heber UM, Pereyra D, Andersen JT, Bergthaler A, Söderberg-Nauclér C, Karlsson MCI, Assinger A, Forsell M. Platelets mediate serological memory to neutralise viruses in vitro and in vivo. Blood Adv. 2020 Aug 25;4(16):3971-3976. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001786.

2.      Schrottmaier WC, Mussbacher M, Salzmann M, Assinger A. Platelet-leukocyte interplay during vascular disease. Atherosclerosis. 2020 Aug;307:109-120. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.04.018. Epub 2020 May 11.

3.      Kral-Pointner JB*, Schrottmaier WC*, Salzmann M, Mussbacher M, Schmidt GJ, Moser B, Heber S, Birnecker B, Paar H, Zellner M, Knapp S, Assinger A, Schabbauer G. Platelet PI3K modulates innate leukocyte extravasation during acid-induced acute lung inflammation. Thromb Haemost. 2019 Aug 1. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-1693693. *contributed equally

4.      Assinger A, Schrottmaier WC, Salzmann M, Rayes J. Platelets in sepsis: an update on experimental models and clinical data. Front Immun. 2019 Jul 17;10:1687. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01687.

5.      Schrottmaier WC, Kral JB, Zeitlinger M, Salzmann M, Jilma B, Assinger A. Platelet activation at the onset of human endotoxemia is undetectable in vivo. Platelets. 2016 Jul;27(5):479-83. doi: 10.3109/09537104.2015.1119814.