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Stefan Magez
(Immuno)parasitology
VIB Department of Molecular and Cellular Interactions, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
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PhD : Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium, '97
Postdoc: Univ. of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, '02-'04
Postdoc: Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherts, USA, '05
VIB Project Leader since 2000
Adjunct Assoc Professor Univ of Massachusetts, USA since 2005
VIB Group leader since 2009 |
e-mail
phone +32 2 629 19 76
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Current team members
Group leader: Stefan Magez
Postdoctoral scientists: Benoît Stijlemans, Guy Caljon
Ph.D. Students: Axel Vaast, Carole Haynes, Emmanuel Tumininu Obishakin, Florencia La Greca Saint Esteven, Pieter Pannus, Viki Bockstal
Support personnel: Maria Slazak
Keywords
(immuno)parasitology - TNF - vaccination - trypanosomes - antibody therapy
Science
The focus of our research is to obtain a better insight into the mechanisms of infection-induced immunopathology during African Trypanosomiasis, as well as to study pathways of parasitemia control. The ultimate goal of this research is the development of new diagnosis, vaccination and treatment strategies to control this parasitic disease, which currently affects both human and livestock in vast areas of sub-Sahara Africa. As model systems in our research we use parasite strains that cause human sleeping sickness (T. rhodesiense and T. gambiense) as well as parasites that have a major economical impact by infecting livestock (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei and T. evansi).
With respect to the development of new diagnostic tools and treatment modalities, we have adopted the Nanobody® technology (see Serge Muyldermans). While small antibody fragments such as Nanobodies® allow targeting unique surface epitopes on the parasite, their binding does not seem to be hindered by the presence of infection-associated conventional antibodies from the host. Hence, Nanobodies® are now being generated with the aim of (i) targeting trypanolytic drug compounds towards the parasite in a very specific manner, and (ii) developing new diagnostic tools that can recognize parasite antigens in the blood of infected patients.
At the level of immunopathology research, we mainly focus on analyzing the role of TNF in infection-associated anaemia as well as B-cell memory destruction. In the past, we have meticulously uncovered the role of the main parasite compounds involved in the induction of inflammatory TNF-mediated responses. Now, we continue this research in order to get a better insight into actual trypanosomiasis disease development, as well as the role of inflammation in the destruction of vaccine induced memory. The latter is crucial in order to understand why all anti-trypanosome vaccination strategies appear to have failed so far.
Personal involvement
Besides being responsible for the teaching of several courses on parasitology, my main occupation involves the management of the trypanosome diagnosis research program (FP7/EU NANOTRYP) and the guidance of several PhD students involved in both immunopatholgy and diagnostic research. In addition, within the Vrije Universiteit Brussel my responsibilities encompass (amongst others) the PR of the department of biotechnology, member of the VUB ethics committee for the use of laboratory animals and the administrational follow-up of all PhD students of the department.
Press Release
See also press release (26/04/2007): Pioneering research on sleeping sickness wins MERIAL Award for Parasitology.
Selected Publications
Radwanska M, Guirnalda P, De Trez C, Ryffel B, Black S, Magez S
Trypanosomiasis-induced B cell apoptosis results in loss of protective anti-parasite antibody responses and abolishment of vaccine-induced memory responses
PLOS PATHOG 4, e1000078, 2008
Magez S, Schwegmann A, Atkinson R, Claes F, Drennan M, De Baetselier P, Brombacher F
The role of B-cells and IgM antibodies in parasitemia, anemia, and VSG switching in Trypanosoma brucei-infected mice
PLOS PATHOG 4, e1000122, 2008
Magez S, Radwanska M, Drennan M, Fick L, Baral T, Allie N, Jacobs M, Nedospasov S, Brombacher F, Ryffel B, De Baetselier P
Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Receptor-1 (TNFp55) Signal Transduction and Macrophage-Derived Soluble TNF Are Crucial for Nitric Oxide-Mediated Trypanosoma congolense Parasite Killing
J INFECT DIS 196, 954-62, 2007
Stijlemans B, Baral T, Guilliams M, Brys L, Korf J, Drennan M, Van Den Abbeele J, De Baetselier P, Magez S
A glycosylphosphatidylinositol-based treatment alleviates trypanosomiasis-associated immunopathology
J IMMUNOL 179, 4003-14, 2007
Baral T, Magez S, Stijlemans B, Conrath K, Vanhollebeke B, Pays E, Muyldermans S, De Baetselier P
Experimental therapy of African trypanosomiasis with a nanobody-conjugated human trypanolytic factor
NAT MED 12, 580-4, 2006
Search Publications
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