Molecular Virology Department

Research

Major research interests of the Molecular Virology Department relate to the study of persistent viral infections of the central nervous system, the study of the involvement of Herpesviruses in the aetiology of Multiple Sclerosis, the relationship between the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer and the epidemiology of a wide range of viruses in Cyprus. Furthermore, the potential role of microbiota in neurological disease is investigated. More specifically, the research topics currently under investigations include:

 

  • Investigating the interplay between Natural Killer cells and herpesviruses (EBV, HSV, etc) that might be implicated in the onset and/or progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Characterization of EBV genetic variants in MS patients and their interplay with the immune system
  • Investigate the interplay of Enteroviruses and TDP43 and its possible role in ALS
  • Epidemiology of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) prevalence and type distribution in Cypriot women with cervical cytological abnormalities
  • Production, modification and purification of Lentiviral and AAV vectors for gene therapy approaches
  • Surveillance, molecular characterization and epidemiology of enteroviruses, respiratory viruses and vector-borne viruses such as West-Nile virus, in Cyprus
  • Microbiota-host interactions in neurological disease
     

Selected Publications

  2024 Karaolia Popi, Quatrocchi Annalisa, Richter Jan, Iakovides C. Iakovos, Christodoulou Christina, Loutsiou Panagiota, Pavlou Pavlos, ...

winner