Detail

Keywords

Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animal models; Antigens; Chlamydia Infections; Drug Administration Routes; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Immunity, Mucosal; Innate Immunity; Tetanus; Vaccinology

Research group(s)

• Vaccinology & Immunology
  Head: Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt
  Members:
  Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
  Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt

Research interests

My research focuses on a better understanding of the cross-talk between pathogen and epithelial-, structural-, and immune cells (host) required to mediate pathology vs. protection in chlamydial infection. Furthermore, my research interest lies in developing new approaches (antigens-, adjuvants-, route of immunization contexts) to optimize vaccinations.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Animal models: mice, guinea pig, pig. Various in vitro and ex vivo models for measurement of immune response after infection and vaccination.  

Selected publications

1. Inic-Kanada, A. et al., 2020. Water-filtered Infrared A and visible light (wIRA/VIS) treatment reduces Chlamydia caviae-induced ocular inflammation and infectious load in a Guinea pig model of inclusion conjunctivitis. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 209, p.111953. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.111953.
2. Ghasemian, E. et al., 2018. Detection of Chlamydiaceae and Chlamydia-like organisms on the ocular surface of children and adults from a trachoma-endemic region. Scientific Reports, 8(1). Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23887-1.
3. Rajić, J. & Inic-Kanada A. et al., 2017. Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Is Associated with E-Cadherin Promoter Methylation, Downregulation of E-Cadherin Expression, and Increased Expression of Fibronectin and α-SMA—Implications for Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 7. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00253.
4. Inic-Kanada, A. et al., 2016. A Probiotic Adjuvant Lactobacillus rhamnosus Enhances Specific Immune Responses after Ocular Mucosal Immunization with Chlamydial Polymorphic Membrane Protein C D. M. Ojcius, ed. PLOS ONE, 11(9), p.e0157875. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157875.
5. Stein, E. & Inic-Kanada A. et al., 2013. In Vitro and In Vivo Uptake Study ofEscherichia coliNissle 1917 Bacterial Ghosts: Cell-Based Delivery System to Target Ocular Surface Diseases. Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science, 54(9), p.6326. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.13-12044.