Research methods

Cell and virus work

  • Infection of cell cultures with different viruses: HSV1, HSV2, VZV, influenzavirus, poliovirus, SARS-CoV-2
  • Stimulation of cell cultures with immunostimulatory molecules, e.g. pattern recognitions receptor (PRR) agonists and cytokines and interferons
  • Isolation, culture and differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells into plasmacytoid dendritic cells and monocyte-derived macrophages
  • Induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs)
  • Cloning and stable expression in cell lines: HEK293 cells, SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, pulmonary A549 cells

Gene expression analysis

  • Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR)
  • Measurement of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs)
  • Fluidigm single-cell gene expression analysis
  • NanoSTRING technology and RNA-Seq

Genomics

  • Isolation of genomic DNA from blood samples for whole exome sequencing
  • Whole exome sequencing analysis
  • CRISPR/Cas9 technology

Protein expression analysis

  • Intracellular signaling markers, phosphorylation assays
  • Western blotting
  • FACS sorting of cells
  • Flow cytometry
  • Confocal microscopy
  • ELISA for interferon autoantibodies in plasma/serum
  • Whole blood assay for measurement of cytokine and interferon responses