Infection and Immunity nieuws
Infection and Immunity nieuws
Nov 9: PrIMAVeRa, a new ambitious project to demonstrate how vaccines can combat antimicrobial resistance
The Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 (IMI2) Joint Undertaking mobilises more than € 9 million to support PrIMAVeRa, a new public-private partnership dedicated to harnessing the power of big data and AI to steer the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Read moreNov 8: Beyond Skepticism – inaugural lecture Olaf Cremer as professor of ‘Clinical epidemiology of sepsis’
On Friday, November 5, 2021, intensive care physician Prof. Dr. Olaf Cremer delivered his inaugural lecture on the occasion of his appointment as professor of 'Clinical epidemiology of sepsis' at UMC Utrecht. In his lecture, Cremer argued that the use of the term sepsis as a catch-all term is now doing more harm than benefit to progress in the research field and should therefore be avoided. In addition, scientific research into sepsis is patchy and too few replication studies are performed.
Read moreBeyond Skepticism – inaugural lecture Olaf Cremer as professor of ‘Clinical epidemiology of sepsis’
On Friday, November 5, 2021, intensive care physician Prof. Dr. Olaf Cremer delivered his inaugural lecture on the occasion of his appointment as professor of 'Clinical epidemiology of sepsis' at UMC Utrecht.
Read moreNov 4: Whole genome sequencing can improve resilience against antimicrobial resistant bacteria
By applying whole genome sequencing (WGS) in research, surveillance, and in the future in patient care of hospitalized patients, can improve resilience against antimicrobial resistant bacteria, specifically ESBL-producing Escherichia coli. This was concluded by Tess Verschuuren in her research project for which she received a PhD from Utrecht University on November 4, 2021.
Read moreNov 2: Better insight in the RS virus with new European project
UMC Utrecht, RIVM and Nivel are collaborating on setting up a European network to investigate the respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus). In this network, European health organizations and laboratories will exchange information about the spread of the RS virus, which will provide a better view of the virus. The network will also monitor the effect of interventions that help to defend against the RS virus, such as future vaccinations. The network is part of a European research project called PROMISE. The official start of the project was on November 1, 2021. In the Netherlands, RIVM and UMC Utrecht are involved as partners.
Read moreOct 25: Peter Hermans appointed Professor in Infection and Immunology Trials
Peter Hermans has been appointed Professor in Infection and Immunology Trials at Utrecht University/UMC Utrecht. This new chair involves the Utrecht Trial Innovation Alliance Initiative (U-TRIAL) activities for the strategic program Infection & Immunity (I&I). It aims to further strengthen the collaboration between UMC Utrecht and external partners with a prime focus on clinical studies in infections and immune diseases.
Read moreOct 14: The CD200R receptor acts as a break ánd as a throttle in autoimmune disease
Translational research by UMC Utrecht has shown that the signaling pathway of the immune inhibitory receptor CD200R can be reversed by a specific type of inflammation that is mediated by interferon-α (IFN-α). As a consequence, CD200R can no longer inhibit an important immune activating signal and sometimes even amplifies that signal. In an experiment using cells from patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is typified by the increased presence of IFN-α, the immune response of approximately 50 percent of patients was enhanced by CD200R. In summary, CD200R can act as a break ánd as a throttle for the immune system, depending on the presence of IFN-α.
Read moreOct 12: Use of antibiotics in treatment of urinary tract infection in women
Prophylaxis against recurrent urinary tract infection in general practice in women with nitrofurantoin 50 mg/day is as effective as 100 mg/day, but comes with fewer side effects. In addition, fosfomycin is as efficacious as ciprofloxacin as oral targeted treatment in women hospitalized with febrile UTI. These were the main findings from research by Thijs ten Doesschate who received his PhD on October 7, 2021 from Utrecht University.
Read moreOct 5: Improved patient profiling and prediction of response to immune-modulating treatment in atopic dermatitis
Clinical and translational research by Daphne Bakker and colleagues at UMC Utrecht has provided new leads for improved patient profiling and a better prediction of response to treatment with dupilumab, a biologic immune-modulating drug for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. On September 28, 2021 Daphne Bakker received her PhD cum laude at Utrecht University.
Read moreSep 28: Rotavirus vaccination of children with medical risk factors does not offer sufficient protection
Vaccination of children with medical risk factors against acute gastroenteritis due to rotavirus infection does not appear to offer sufficient protection. It is expected that a nation-wide vaccination strategy – resulting in herd immunity – would be needed to offer the necessary protection for infants with medical risk conditions. This was concluded by Fien van Dongen at UMC Utrecht in her PhD thesis on basis of the results of the Risk-group Infant Vaccination Against Rotavirus (RIVAR) study.
Read more