Student research projects

Possibilities

There are frequent opportunities for students to undertake shorter or longer research projects within the LUMC at the Center of Infectious Diseases, Dept of Parasitology,  Leiden Parasite Immunology Group. We are keen on students with interest in immunology and disease pathogenesis. The general outlines of the projects are available on our website. You can contact Professor Maria Yazdanbakhsh, Dr. Hermelijn Smits or Dr. Erliyani Sartono.

Students studying Medicine, Biomedical sciences, Natural sciences can work on projects that range from field studies to molecular and cellular
characterization in vitro and in vivo. Immunoepidemiological databases are also available for those interested in statistical analysis of large datasets.

Former/current student and guest investigator research projects

Churnalisa Doran, Rogier Achterberg and Mareen Datema, VU, BW students
Period: Jan 2011 - Sept. 2011
Place: LUMC

Sanne de Jong, Leiden University, BW student
Period: Jan 2011 - Sept. 2011
Place: LUMC
Internship

Abena Amoah, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical research, Accra
Period: Jan 2011 - Dec. 2011
Place: LUMC
She will be working on an EU-project entitled 'Innate immune responses and immunoregulation in schistosomiasis: novel mechanisms in the control of infection and disease'.

Jaap Schreurs, Leiden University, BW student
Period: November 2010 - April 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Immunological correlates of epidemiological transition: the regulatory network in helminth infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Moustapha Mbow, guest investigator - Senegal
Period: May 2010 - August 2010,  Dec 2010 - Feb 2011
Place: LUMC
Title: The balance between Th17 and Treg during schistosome mediated pathology

Stefan Andersen, University of Copenhagen, B.Sc.
Period: January 2010 - April 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Immune modulation: training in immunological methods

Eline Mlejnek, Leiden University, GNK/BW student
Period: May 2010 – October 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: The frequency and functional capacity of IL-10 producing B-cells in allergic asthmatic patients

Leonie Hussaarts, Leiden University, BW master II student
Period: April 2010 – October 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: A role for IL-33 in regulatory B cell induction in experimental parasitic worm infections

Christa Toenhake, Leiden University, BW bachelor student
Period: March 2010 - July 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Phenotype and function of regulatory T cells in human malaria infection before and after treatment

Fong Lin, VU, Medical Biology master student
Period: March 2010 – September 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Microbial modification of dendritic cell function: role in protection against experimental allergic asthma.
 

Ulysse Ateba Ngoa, guest investigator - Gabon
Period: December 2009 – May 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Understanding the immunological effects of vitamin A supplementation

Erlinda Marthias, guest investigator – Indonesia
Period: November 2009- January 2010
Place: LUMCTitle: Maturation of immune responses in children born to helminth infected mothers: impact on early childhood

Aprililianto Eddy Wiria, guest investigator – Indonesia
Period: October 2009 – April 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: The impact of helminth infections on malarial parasites and disease outcome

Mary Ng’endo Kanoi, Kenia, Biochemistry, bachelor student
Period: October 2009 – January 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: Balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in healthy European donors to malaria antigens

Firdaus Hamid, guest investigator – Indonesia
Period: September 2009 – November 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Identification of the risk and protective factors for atopy and allergic disease

Sonia Boender, VU, Public Health, bachelor student
Period: September 2009 – December 2009
Place: VU / LUMC
Title: Immunomodulation of responses to latent tuberculosis antigens by helminth infection

Willemijn den Oudendammer, VU, Public Health, bachelor student
Period: September 2009 – December 2009
Place: VU / LUMC
Title: Immune responses to active tuberculosis antigens, modulated by helminth infection and living environment
 
Tessa Dijksman, Leiden University, GNK student
Period: September 2009 – March 2010
Place: LUMC
Title: The frequency and functional capacity of IL-10 producing B-cells in allergic asthmatic patients
 
Barbara van der Hoeven, Leiden University
Period: March 2009 – September 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Assessment of the role of RNase activity and glycosylation of
omega-1 on its Th2 polarizing properties through site-directed mutagenesis.

Pablo Martinez de Salazar, Albert Schweizer Hospital
Period: February 2009 – April 2009
Place: LUMC
Interleukine-17 expressing T cells (Th17) and Regulatory T cell (Tregs) subsets in Gabonese Loa-loa infected individuals

Kristiina Pulli, University of Helsinki, Studente Master of Sciences, Genetics
Period: September 2008 – April 2009
Place: LUMC
Title: Characterization of signalling pathways involved in Th2 polarization in human dendritic cells induced by S. mansoni egg derived protein omega-1

Rianne Vriend, Radboud University Nijmegen, master (thesis)
Period: April 2008 – June 2008
Place: Nijmegen / LUMC
Title: Houdt de hygiene hypothese stand na 18 jaar onderzoek?

Brechje de Gier, VU, Medical Biology master student
Period: March 2008 – July 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Regulatory T cells in Helminths and Malaria co-infections

Krystelle Nganou Makamdop, University Groningen, Studente Biomedische Wetenschappen
Period: February 2008 – August 2008
Place: LUMC
Identification of receptors on dendritic cells involved in the recognition of and immune polarization by Schistosoma mansoni eggs derived Excretory/secretory products

Maarten Eldering, VU, BW, master (thesis)
Period: January 2008 – August 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Do helminth co-infections really influence the efficacy of major vaccines?
 
Luciën van der Vlugt, Leiden University, BW master II student
Period: December 2007 – August 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: The role of IL-10 producing regulatory B cells in protection for allergic disease during experimental chronic schistosomiasis

Sander Brooks, BW, bachelor
Period: October 2007 – February 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Functional exploration of a TLR3 SNP

Yvonne Schmiedel, University of Tübingen
Period: September 2007 – December  2007
Place: LUMC
Title: Regulatory T cells in schistosomiasis

Laura de Bes, HLO/Polytechnic Leiden
Period: September 2007 – June 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Gene expression of Toll-like receptors in a mouse model of Schistosoma mansoni

Brechje de Gier, VU, master (thesis)
Period: August 2007 - October 2007
Place: LUMC
Title: Immunology of parasites in preganancy

Widad Rifi, VU, master (thesis)
Period: July 2007 - March 2008
Place: LUMC
Title: Development of immune response during schistosimiasis

Angela van Lochem, Leiden University, BW master I student
Period: March 2007 - July 2007
Place: LUMC
Title: Cord blood subset cells expressing TLR2: Gabon versus Austria
 
Astrid Voskamp - Leiden University, Biomedische Wetenschappen
Period: May 2006 – January 2007
Place: LUMC
Title: Molecular differences in urban and rural children in Ghana

Jonathan Kadouch, VU Medical Biology master student
Period: February 2005 – July 2005
Place: LUMC
Title: Schistosoma mansoni induced immunomodulation: A role for allergy suppression in a mouse model?
 
Anna de Breij, Leiden University
Period: okt  ’04  - maart ’05
Place: LUMC
Title: Molecular changes in the regulatory network of immune cells as a function of changing pathogen exposure