Christina Christodoulou

Professor

Current Position

Head of the Department of Molecular Virology / Senior Scientist

Professor

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Education

  • Université de Paris XI – Centre Scientifique d’Orsay, Paris – France
    Diplôme d’Etudes Universitaires Générales
  • Université de Paris XI – Centre Scientifique d’Orsay, Paris – France
    License de Biochimie, Certificat de Biochimie;
  • Université de Paris XI – Centre Scientifique d’Orsay, Paris – France
    Maitrise de Génétique et de Biologie Cellulaire
  • Institut Pasteur- Paris
    Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies
  • Institut Pasteur- Paris and Université de Paris VII
    Certificat de Virologie Générale
  • Institut Pasteur- Paris
    PhD

Research Interests

  • Molecular study of persistent infection by neurotropic viruses.
  • Monitoring viral agents responsible for viral meningitis in Cyprus.
  • Monitoring viral agents responsible for respiratory infections in Cyprus.
  • Herpesviruses as potential etiology of multiple sclerosis.
  • Study of precise immunological markers specific in multiple sclerosis patients

 

Biography

Selected Publications

  1. Colbere-Garapin F., Christodoulou C., Crainic R., Garapin A. C. Candrea. Addition of a foreign oligopeptid to the major capsid poliovirus protein. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci., 1988, 85, 8668.
  2. Couderc T., Christodoulou C. & Colbere-Garapin F. - Pathogenese de la poliomyelite et neurovirulence du poliovirus. Neuro-Psy. 1989, 4, 496-504.
  3. Colbere-Garapin F., Christodoulou C., Crainic R. & Pelletier I. - Persistent poliovirus infection of human neuroblastoma cells. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 7590.
  4. Couderc T., Christodoulou C., Horaud F., Kopecka H., Marsden S., Taffs L.F. & Crainic . Molecular pathogenesis of neural lesions induced by type 1 polio. J.Gen.Virol. 1989,70, 2907.
  5. Christodoulou C., Pelletier I. , Colbere-Garapin F. - Genetic stability of poliovirus insertion mutants with a foreign oligopeptide on the capsid surface. Res. Virol., 1989, 140, 501-509.
  6. Christodoulou C., Colbere-Garapin F., Macadam A., Taffs L.F., Marsden S., Minor P. & Horaud F. - Mapping of mutations associated with neurovirulence in monkey infected with Sabin 1 poliovirus revertants selected at high temperature. J. Virol., 1990, 64, 4922-4929.
  7. Adib-Conquy M, Gilbert M., Christodoulou C. and Avrameas S. - Reactivity and structure of a mouse anti-F(ab()2 IgM. Comparaison of its variable region sequences with those of a structuraly close polyreactive natural IgM. Molec. Immunol., 1994, 31:555-562.
  8. Adib-Conquy M, Gilbert M, Christodoulou C, Avrameas S. Bacterial secretion of the Fab fragment of a mouse monoclonal IgM that reacts with IgG variable regions. Protein Eng. 1995 Sep;8(9):859-63.
  9. Christodoulou C, Poullikas M, Neumann AU, Kostrikis LG. Low frequency of CCR5delta32 allele among Greeks in Cyprus. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1997 Nov1;13(16):1373-4. 
  10. Christodoulou C. - Cervical Cancer and the role of HPV. European School of Oncology (ESO) Abstracts Book 1997.
  11. Christodoulou C., Poullikas M., Newmann A.U. L.Kostrikis. Low frequency of CCR5 D32 allele among Greeks in Cyprus. AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses, 1997, 13 (16): 1373-1374.
  12. Payelle-Brogard B, Ragimbeau J, Avrameas S, Christodoulou C. Immunoglobulin double isotype-producing hybridomas isolated from an autoimmune (NZBxNZW)F1 mouse. Hybridoma.1998 17(3):289.
  13. Hadjipanayis A, Hadjichristodoulou C, Kallias M, Sava K, Petsa A, Demetriadou K, Christodoulou C, Constantinou A, Sidera M. Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A among children and adolescents in Larnaca area, Cyprus. Eur J Epidemiol. 1999 Nov;15(10):903-5.
  14. Christodoulou C and L.T.Middleton. - Post-Polio Syndrome: is poliovirus persistence a possible aetiology? Acta Myologica ,1999, 6: 143-148.
  15. Papageorgiou GT, Moce-Llivina L, Christodoulou CG, Lucena F, Akkelidou D, Ioannou E, Jofre J. - A simple methodological approach for counting and identifying culturable viruses adsorbed to cellulose nitrate membrane filters. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2000 . 66(1):194-8.
  16. Hadjisavvas A, Neuhausen SL, Hoffman MD, Adamou A, Newbold RF, Kyriacou KC, Christodoulou CG. - BRCA1 germline mutations in Cypriot breast cancer patients from 26 families with family history. Anticancer Res. 2001 Sep-Oct;21(5):3307-11.
  17. Hadjisavvas A, Adamou A, O'Dowd Phanis C, Todd CM, Kitsios P, Kyriacou K, Christodoulou CG. Q356R and S1512I are BRCA1 variants that may be associated with breast cancer in a Cypriot family. Oncol Rep. 2002 Mar-Apr;9(2):383-6.
  18. Hadjisavvas A, Mikellidou C, Zenios A, Zouvani I, Adamou A, Christodoulou Ch, Kyriacou K. Correlation between morphology, immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology in hereditary and sporadic breast cancer cases. Ultrastruct Pathol. 2002 Jul-Aug;26(4):237-44.
  19. Karacostas D, Christodoulou Ch, Drevelengas A, Paschalidou M, Ioannidies P, Constantinou A and Milonas I. - CMV transverse myelitis in a non-immunocompromised patient. Spinal Cord. 2002; 40:145.
  20. Zamba-Papanicolaou E, Christodoulou K, Christodoulou C, Kyriakidesl T, Middleton LT. Hereditary motor neuronopathies. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2002 Dec;158(12 Pt 1):1220-4.
  21. Hadjisavvas A, Charalambous E, Adamou A, Christodoulou C, Kyriacou K. BRCA2 mutations Cypriot patients with familial breast/ovarian cancer. Hum Mutat. 2003; 21(2):171
  22. Hadjisavvas A, Charalambous E, Adamou A, Neuhausen SL, Christodoulou CG, Kyriacou K. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in Cyprus: identification of a founder BRCA2 mutation. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2004 Jun;151(2):152-6.
  23. Bagatzounis A., Eracleous E., Pantziaris M., Allayiotou M., Papaminas N., Christodoulou C., Katodritou A., Iacovou F., Vasiliou M., D.,Petridou-Bagatzouni. - Chronic progressive Varicella Zoster virus encephalitis in Hodgkin’s disease. Heama. (2004); 7(2): 214-220.
  24. Koptides, D., Pantatzis, M., Kyriakides, T., Eleftheriou, I., Constantinou, A., Koptides, M., Christodoulou, C. Herpesviruses as possible etiology of MS. Proceedings of the Ninth annual meeting of the American Committee for treatment and Research in MS, Toronto, Canada; October 2004: p20.
  25. Richter J, Koptides K, Tryfonos C, Christodoulou C - Molecular Typing of Enteroviruses associated with Viral Meningitis in Cyprus, 2000-2002. J Med Microbiol. (2006); 55, 1035-41.
  26. Bashiardes S, Richter J, Christodoulou CG. An in-house method for the detection and quantification of HCV in serum using a TaqMan assay real time PCR approach. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2008; 46: 1729.
  27. Richter J, Bashiardes S, Koptides D, Tryfonos C, Pissarides N, Stavrou N, Papageorgiou GT, Christodoulou CG. (2007) 2005 Poliovirus eradication: Poliovirus presence in Cyprus 2 years after. Water Sci Technol. 2008;58(3):647-51.
  28. Bashiardes S, Koptides D, Pavlidou S, Richter J, Stavrou N, Papageorgiou G, Christodoulou C (2011). Analysis of enterovirus and adenovirus presence in swimming pools in Cyprus from 2007-2008. Water Science & Technology Vol 63(11):2674–2684.
  29. Ch. Tryfonos, J. Richter, D.Koptides, M. Yiangou, C. G. Christodoulou (2011). Molecular Typing and Epidemiology of Enteroviruses in Cyprus, 2003-2007. J Med Microbiol. 10, 1433.
  30. 30) Krashas G, Bashiardes S, Potamitou A, Potamitis G, Christodoulou C. (2012) Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori cagA and vacA in Cypriot patients. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2013 Sep 16;7(9):642-50
  31. Panayiotou C, Richter J, Bashiardes S, Koptides D, Tryfonos C, Christodoulou C. Molecular epidemiology of influenza A virus infection in Cyprus in four consecutive seasons (2009 pandemic-2013). Epidemiol Infect. 2013 Oct 24:1-9. 
  32. Richter J, Tryfonos C, Panagiotou C, Nikolaou E, Koliou M, Christodoulou C. (2013) Newly emerging C group enteroviruses may elude diagnosis due to a divergent 5'-UTR. Int J Infect Dis. Sep 7. S1201-9712(13)00245-2. 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.07.010. 
  33. Henquell C, Mirand A, Richter J, Schuffenecker I, Böttiger B, Diedrich S, Terletskaia-Ladwig E, Christodoulou C, Peigue-Lafeuille H, Bailly JL. (2013) Phylogenetic patterns of human coxsackievirus B5 arise from population dynamics between two genogroups and reveal evolutionary factors of molecular adaptation and transmission. J Virol. 2013 Sep 4. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Awards

  • 10/1996 – 11/1989 Scholarship «French Ministry of Technology/Scientific Research».
  • 11/1989 – 2/1990 Scholarship awarded from «French Institute of Medical Research»
  • 7/1995 – 9/1995 Fulbright Scholar Cyprus America Short term Training Program Scholarship
  • 1997 – 1998 Department of Health, USA (US$50.000): TW00564-03: Support of research on HIV  genotypes in Cyprus and Greece. Co-Principal Investigator
  • 1998 – 1999 Middle East Cancer Consortium (US$10.000): HPV and cervical cancer in Cypriotpatients. Principal Investigator.
  • 1998 – 2001 Telethon (CYP33.000): Post-Polio syndrome and its association with polio persistent infection of the Central Nervous System. Principal Investigator
  • 1999 – 2001 Telethon (CYP33.000): Research on BRCA1 mutations in Cypriot breast cancer patients. Co-Principal Investigator.
  • 2001 Government annual funding (CYP100.000) Characterization of viral agents responsible for meningitis epidemics in Cyprus. Principal Investigator
  • 2002 Government annual funding (CYP60.000) Characterization of viral agents responsible for meningitis epidemics in Cyprus. Principal Investigator
  • 2003 - 2006 Government annual funding (CYP60.000/annually). Characterization of viral agents responsible for meningitis epidemics in Cyprus. Monitoring viral spread. Principal Investigator
  • 2006- today Government annual funding (Euros 85.000/annually). Characterization of viral agents responsible for meningitis epidemics in Cyprus. Monitoring viral spread. Principal Investigator
  • 2003 – 2006 National Multiple Sclerosis Society.(US$241.065): Herpesviruses as possible etiology for multiple sclerosis. Principal Investigator
  • 2005 – 2007 Research Promotion Foundation (CYP60,000): Contribution in Polio eradication by monitoring potential presence of polio in sewages. Principal Investigator
  • 2006 – 2008 Research Promotion Foundation (CYP141,700): Contribution in the improvement of public health through monitoring of the potential presence of enteroviruses and adenoviruses in swimming pool waters. Program Coordinator
  • 2006 – 2008 Research Promotion Foundation, Bilateral cooperations (CYP13,800): Monitoring the viral contamination of Cypriot and Cretan shores: Identification of Hepatitis A in sea water. Principal Investigator
  • 2009-2010 Research Promotion Foundation. PENEK (45,000.Euro): Molecular Typing of Enteroviruses causing Viral Meningitis and other Infections in Cyprus. Principal Investigator.
  • 2009 – 2011 Research Promotion Foundation (Eur 160000): Helicobacter pylori in Cyprus: Characteristics and Implications. Principal Investigator.
  • 2011 – 2013 Research Promotion Foundation (Eur179.960): Gene therapy for CMT1X inherited demyelinating neuropathy. Co-Investigator
  • 2011-2013 Research Promotion Foundation (Eur179,430): Epidemiology of respiratory viruses causing acute respiratory tract infections in Cypriot children.
  • 2012 – 2014 European Leukodystrophies Association (Eur194.000): Gene therapy for hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. Co-Investigator
  • 2013 – 2015 Muscular Dystrophy Association ($280.945): Developing gene therapy for inherited neuropathy. Co-Investigator
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