Nina van Sorge

(Principal Investigator), Prof. PhD

19992024

Research activity per year

Personal profile

specialisation

Bacterial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interaction, vaccines, molecular epidemiology, antibodies, vaccine-preventable infections, C-type lectins, anti-glycan antibodies

Research interests

Research in the group of van Sorge aims to clarify the molecular pathogenesis of bacterial infections. She specifically focusses on the human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Group A Streptococcus (StrepA) to elucidate how cell wall polysaccharides produced by these species impact recognition of by innate receptors and (vaccine-induced) antibodies. Overall, her work spans the entire spectrum from molecule to organism to patients to contribute to new strategies, including vaccines, to prevent and combat infections by these pathogens for which no vaccines are currently available. Her ambition for translational research is illustrated by a patent on GAS vaccine development (WO 2013/020090 A3) on which she is co-inventor. The patent was officially licensed in 2019 and is currently further developed by the pharmaceutical industry with financial support from Carb-X. In addition to her fundamental research activities, she also heads the Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis (NRLBM), which performs the molecular epidemiology for the vaccine-preventable diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae b and Streptococcus pneumoniae as well as Groups A and B streptococci. The NRLBM receives, characterized and stores approximately 3,000 bacterial isolates from blood and cerebrospinal fluid annually, providing a comprehensive collection of clinically-relevant strains that spans several decades. This provides her with a unique position to connect molecular surveillance with fundamental research on invasive bacterial infections.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Education/Academic qualification

hoogleraar met de leeropdracht ‘Translationele Microbiologie’., Amsterdam UMC - University of Amsterdam

8 Jun 2021 → …

Award Date: 8 Jun 2021

University Teaching Qualification (BKO), Universiteit Utrecht: UMC Utrecht

Award Date: 19 Feb 2020

PhD, Autoantibodies, Fc Receptors and complement in inflammatory neuropathies, Universiteit Utrecht: UMC Utrecht

1 Jan 200120 May 2005

Award Date: 20 May 2005

PharmD, Utrecht University, Dept. Pharmaceutical Sciences

Award Date: 31 Jan 2001

Master, Pharmacy, Utrecht University, Dept. Pharmaceutical Sciences

Award Date: 4 Sept 1998

Bachelor, Pharmacy, Utrecht University, Dept. Pharmaceutical Sciences

Award Date: 25 Aug 1995

Keywords

  • QR180 Immunology
  • host-pathogen interaction
  • anti-glycan antibodies
  • vaccine-induced antibodies
  • antibody profiling
  • C-type lectin receptors
  • antigen-presenting cells
  • Q Science (General)
  • bacteriology
  • vaccine-preventable infections
  • molecular epidemiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • hemolytic streptococci
  • invasive infections

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or