Recent News 62 : Mini-Symposium Announcement, Infection and Cell Biology Meets Virology, Norway

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Mini-Symposium Announcement

Infection and Cell Biology Meets Virology

August 29, 2025 | Tromsø, Norway

Hosted by: Christine Hanssen Rinaldo (UiT) and Hans H. Hirsch (University of Basel)

Introduction

The Department of Medical Biology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, in collaboration with the University of Basel, is proud to host a focused one-day mini-symposium on Infection, Cell Biology, and Virology, taking place on August 29, 2025 in Tromsø.

This informal but high-level event is open to all researchers and students with an interest in virology, immunology, infectious disease, and molecular cell biology. The goal is simple yet crucial: to create a space for cross-institutional exchange, scientific discussion, and the fostering of future collaborations.

A Highlight Not to Miss: Phages and the Liver – A Hidden Frontier

Among the many compelling talks on polyomaviruses, immune responses, and transplant-related virology, a particularly innovative and timely highlight of the program focuses on the role of liver sinusoidal cells in phage therapy.

Talk: “Liver sinusoidal cells: The hidden players in phage therapy?”

Speaker: Anett Kristin Larsen (UiT)

Taken from : https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/936196/fimmu-13-936196-HTML/image_m/fimmu-13-936196-g001.jpg

This lecture explores the involvement of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in modulating the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy—a rapidly emerging alternative to antibiotics in the global fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Phage therapy has gained significant attention due to its precision-targeting of bacterial pathogens and its potential to circumvent the crisis of drug-resistant infections. However, before phages can act at infection sites, they must survive circulation through complex biological environments, including filtration by the liver.

This talk raises important questions:

  • Do LSECs act as a barrier to phage circulation or as facilitators of clearance?

  • Could the liver’s interaction with phages represent a bottleneck—or an opportunity—in systemic phage delivery?

  • What implications does this have for clinical applications in treating sepsis or transplant-related infections?

This is a rare and important opportunity to engage with the intersection of phage biology, host physiology, and therapeutic innovation. Researchers interested in translational medicine, AMR, or viral/bacterial dynamics should make particular note of this session.

Keynote Participation

We are honored to welcome Prof. Hans H. Hirsch from the University of Basel, a renowned expert in clinical virology and transplant infectious diseases. Prof. Hirsch has contributed extensively to the understanding of human polyomaviruses, particularly BK and JC viruses, in collaboration with major clinical cohorts such as the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study.

Together with Christine Hanssen Rinaldo, Prof. Hirsch brings a combined legacy of impactful research and transnational collaboration to Tromsø. They are joined by a number of researchers from both Basel and UiT, making this a rare chance to hear cutting-edge results and explore new directions in viral immunology, diagnostics, and cell-pathogen interaction.

Program Overview

The mini-symposium runs from 09:00 to 15:30, featuring a full day of concise, 20-minute research presentations. Sessions cover:

  • Polyomavirus infection mechanisms

  • Host immune responses and pathology

  • Antiviral therapeutics and vaccine approaches

  • Phage-host interactions and therapeutic clearance mechanisms

Two coffee breaks and a lunch break are included to encourage networking and extended discussion.

Full Program Summary:

TimeSession TitleSpeaker
09:00Welcome & IntroductionChristine H. Rinaldo, Hans H. Hirsch
09:10Introduction to Human PolyomavirusesChristine H. Rinaldo
09:30BK Virus and Tubular Cell DeathStian Henriksen
10:00Mitochondrial Stress and Ferroptosis in BKPyV InfectionFabian H. Weissbach
10:30Coffee Break
11:00Liver Sinusoidal Cells in Phage Therapy Anett K. Larsen
11:30Betaherpesvirus Clearance and Endothelial Cell ResponseKaren K. Sørensen
12:00Lunch Break
13:00Predicting BKPyV DNAemia with Antibody ProfilesDorssa Akbari Bani
13:30Mycophenolic Acid and Off-Target Viral EffectsCaroline A. Hillenbrand
14:00Coffee Break
14:30mRNA T-cell Vaccine Development for BK PolyomavirusAnne Geng
15:00JC Polyomavirus in HIV PatientsHans H. Hirsch

Get Involved

If you are working on a relevant project and would like to present, you are warmly encouraged to contact Christine Hanssen Rinaldo at:
📧 christine.rinaldo@unn.no 

There is still flexibility in the schedule for additional short talks. Whether you’re an established scientist or a young investigator, this is a perfect setting to share your data and initiate dialogue.

Why Attend?

  • Learn from leading virologists and immunologists working on transplant infections, vaccine strategies, and phage applications.

  • Be part of a transdisciplinary community, linking cell biology, immunology, and translational medicine.

  • Discover new ideas about phage therapy, especially the biological variables that may influence its success.

  • Engage in informal, focused scientific exchange—ideal for establishing long-term collaboration between Tromsø and Basel.

Final Notes

This event is free and open to all, but seating may be limited. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with a unique network of clinical and basic science researchers at the frontiers of infection biology and therapeutic innovation.


MORE INFORMATIONS HERE:  https://fr.uit.no/tavla/artikkel/904217/infection_and_cell_biology_meets_virology_mini-s

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