Research of the Molecular Pathology Research Group

We study several aspects of the immune system and how it is regulated. We combine molecular and cellular approaches with immunology tools and use genome-wide transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses, also single-cell approaches on immune cells. Our research directions are:

• Central immune tolerance and the function of the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) gene in the thymus.
• Immunopathology of APECED (or APS1) disease, in which patients develop multiple endocrine autoimmune disorders and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
• The role of autoantibodies to type 1 interferon and other cytokines, and their presence among autoimmune patients and in aged individuals
• Age-related changes in old individuals to understand the molecular and cellular drivers of these processes.

Grants

• Estonian Research Council: Type I interferons and their autoantibodies in autoimmunity and COVID-19 (Professor Kai Kisand, GMVBS21081PR, 01.01.2021−31.12.2025)
• European Commission Horizon2020 MSCA Enlighten+: European Network Linking Informatics and Genomics of Helper T cells in Tissues (Professor Pärt Peterson, MMVBS21006R, 01.03.2021−28.02.2025)
• Estonian Research Council: Molecular mechanisms underlying impaired antiviral cytotoxic T cell responses in old age (Research Fellow Maarja Laos, SMVBS21533, 01.12.2021−31.12.2025)
• European Commission: The human genetic and immunological determinants of the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Towards personalised medicine (Professor Kai Kisand, MMVBS22163R, 01.06.2022−31.05.2026)
• Estonian Research Council: Age-Related Changes in T Cells (Professor Pärt Peterson, GMVBS24044PR, 01.01.2024−31.12.2028)
• European Commission Horizon2020: Preventing non-communicable diseases caused by the post-acute phase of cOvid-19 INfecTion (Professor Pärt Peterson, GMVBS24044PR, 01.01.2024−31.12.2027)
• European Commission Horizon2020: Entoerovirus-linked type1 diabetes exposed - mechanisms and prevention (Professor Pärt Peterson, MMVBS24075R, 01.01.2024−31.12.2027)
• Tolerance Bio Inc: Assessment of the role of IL-33 in thymic involution (professor Pärt Peterson, VMVBS24285, 01.04.2024−31.08.2024)
• European Commission: Building Excellence in Systems Immunology and Healthy Aging Research (Professor Kai Kisand, MMVBS24271R, 01.09.2024−31.08.2027)

The five most important scientific articles in the last five years

1. Naaber P, Tserel L, Kangro K, Punapart M, Sepp E, Jürjenson V, Kärner J, Haljasmägi L, Haljasorg U, Kuusk M, Sankovski E, Planken A, Ustav M, Žusinaite E, Gerhold JM, Kisand K, Peterson P. Protective antibodies and T cell responses to Omicron variant after the booster dose of BNT162b2 vaccine. Cell Rep Med. 2022 Aug 16;3(8):100716. 
2. Salumets A, Tserel L, Rumm AP, Türk L, Kingo K, Saks K, Oras A, Uibo R, Tamm R, Peterson H, Kisand K, Peterson P. Epigenetic quantification of immunosenescent CD8+ TEMRA cells in human blood. Aging Cell. 2022 May;21(5):e13607. 
3. Naaber P, Tserel L, Kangro K, Sepp E, Jürjenson V, Adamson A, Haljasmägi L, Rumm AP, Maruste R, Kärner J, Gerhold JM, Planken A, Ustav M, Kisand K, Peterson P. Dynamics of antibody response to BNT162b2 vaccine after six months: a longitudinal prospective study. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2021 Nov; 10: 100208. 
4. Bastard P, Rosen LB, Zhang Q, Michailidis E, Hoffmann HH, Zhang Y, Dorgham K, Philippot Q, Rosain J, Béziat V, Manry J, Shaw E, Haljasmägi L, Peterson P, Lorenzo L, Bizien L, Trouillet-Assant S, Dobbs K, de Jesus AA, Belot A, Kallaste A, Catherinot E, Tandjaoui-Lambiotte Y, Le Pen J, Kerner G, Bigio B, Seeleuthner Y, Yang R, Bolze A, Spaan AN, Delmonte OM, Abers MS, Aiuti A, Casari G, Lampasona V, Piemonti L, Ciceri F, Bilguvar K, Lifton RP, Vasse M, Smadja DM, Migaud M, Hadjadj J, Terrier B, Duffy D, Quintana-Murci L, van de Beek D, Roussel L, Vinh DC, Tangye SG, Haerynck F, Dalmau D, Martinez-Picado J, Brodin P, Nussenzweig MC, Boisson-Dupuis S, Rodríguez-Gallego C, Vogt G, Mogensen TH, Oler AJ, Gu J, Burbelo PD, Cohen JI, Biondi A, Bettini LR, D'Angio M, Bonfanti P, Rossignol P, Mayaux J, Rieux-Laucat F, Husebye ES, Fusco F, Ursini MV, Imberti L, Sottini A, Paghera S, Quiros-Roldan E, Rossi C, Castagnoli R, Montagna D, Licari A, Marseglia GL, Duval X, Ghosn J; HGID Lab; NIAID-USUHS Immune Response to COVID Group; COVID Clinicians; COVID-STORM Clinicians; Imagine COVID Group; French COVID Cohort Study Group; Milieu Intérieur Consortium; CoV-Contact Cohort; Amsterdam UMC Covid-19 Biobank; COVID Human Genetic Effort, Tsang JS, Goldbach-Mansky R, Kisand K, Lionakis MS, Puel A, Zhang SY, Holland SM, Gorochov G, Jouanguy E, Rice CM, Cobat A, Notarangelo LD, Abel L, Su HC, Casanova JL. (2020) Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19. Science. 370: eabd4585.
5. Saare M, Tserel L, Haljasmägi L, Taalberg E, Peet N, Eimre M, Vetik R, Kingo K, Saks K, Tamm R, Milani L, Kisand K, Peterson P. (2020) Monocytes present age-related changes in phospholipid concentration and decreased energy metabolism. Aging Cell. 19: e13127.