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Universidad Nacional de Quilmes
 
Presentation
The National University of Quilmes (UNQ) is a young middle size University created in October, 1989 by the Argentine National Congress. It is located in the Quilmes County between down town and La Plata City. The geographic location of the University provides easy access to students living in the following counties: Quilmes, Berazategui, Florencio Varela, Avellaneda, Lanús and Almirante Brown.
In this region it is concentrated about the twenty percent of the industries from the whole country and has a population of three millions inhabitants.
The UNQ started its teaching activities for the first time in 1991. At present, there are a total of fifteen thousands students distributed in eighteen different careers, including three postgraduates careers. The University is organized in three departments, the Department of Social Sciences, the Department of Science and Technology and the Study and Research Center. Professors and researchers grouped in these departments cover the teaching of the basic cycle and the different careers offered by the University.
Among the main objectives of the UNQ are the relationship and cooperation with other national and international Universities and transference of research and technologies to private firms and state institutions working in cooperation in different areas. There are numerous research programs financed by the University covering basic and applied investigations in the areas of biology, food technology, naval architecture and different aspects of social sciences, including history, economics, education and politics. These programs also encourage the incorporation of PhD and Master students.
Another important objective of the UNQ is to stimulate the exchange of researchers, teachers and students with other national and international institutions of well known profiles.
 
Laboratory of Immunology and Virology (LIV) team
Enteric Virus Group
Dr. Alejandro A. Castello
Research areas: Molecular epidemiology and immunological aspects of enteric viruses infections in humans (group A and group C Rotaviruses, Hepatitis A). Postdoctoral: Viral Gastroenteritis Unit, National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). Actual positions: Assistant professor of Virology and Immunology, National University of Quilmes and Researcher at the Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, National University of Quilmes.
M.Sc. Rosana P. Rota
PhD student; Production, characterization and application of group C rotavirus virus like particles. Recipient of the Argentine Research Council (CONICET) fellowship. Actual position: Instructor of Virology.
Student Laura E. Esteban
Working at her graduation thesis: Molecular epidemiology of human rotavirus in Argentina during the past four years.
 

Student Romina Scian
Working at her graduation thesis: In vitro studies of the antiviral activity of modified nucleosides on the replication of human and bovine rotaviruses.
Measles Virus Group
M.Sc. Marcelo H. Argüelles
PhD student, completing the writing of his thesis work; Variability of circulating measles virus strains. Recipient of the Argentine Research Council (CONICET) fellowship during the last five years. Actual position: Instructor of Immunology.
M.Sc. Alejandra L. Belizan
PhD student; Expression of HA protein and study of T-cell responses in naturally infected and vaccinated individuals. Recipient of the Argentine Research Council (CONICET) fellowship. Actual position: Instructor of Microbiology.
M.Sc. Irina Busowski
Expression and purification of MV nucleoprotein. Recipient of a fellowship from the National Agency for Science and Technology (ANPCyT).
Student Clara Wall
Working at her graduation thesis.

Collaboration in the following projects:
Development of a new generation vaccine for human influenza virus
Leading Investigator: Dr. Nora Mattion, Animal Virus Center (CEVAN).
Financed by the National Agency for Science and Technology (ANPCyT).		   Development of a vaccine for human Hepatitis A virus
Leading Investigator: Dr. Nora Mattion, Animal Virus Center (CEVAN).
Financed by the National Agency for Science and Technology (ANPCyT).
 
Research fields
Enteric Viruses
Molecular epidemiology of group A and group C Rotaviruses.
Production of Rotavirus VLPs and its application to diagnosis.
Immunological aspects of enteric viruses (Rotavirus and Hepatitis A) infections in humans.
Characterization of immune responses to new vaccines for Rotavirus and Hepatitis A.
Respiratory Viruses
Molecular epidemiology of Measles virus.
Expression of Measles virus proteins and its application to diagnosis and evaluation of immune parameters in infected and vaccinated individuals.
Characterization of immune responses to new vaccines for Influenza.
 
Equipment and facilities
The proposed research project will be performed in the Department of Science and Technology at the National University of Quilmes. The laboratory of Immunology and Virology (LIV) has a size of 45 square meters and is located in the ground floor. This Lab is equipped for molecular and immunochemical work including ELISA readers and washing microplate devices, thermocyclers, inverted microscopes and computers. General use equipments are available (modern centrifuges, ultracentrifuges, RFPLC and HPLC equipments, cryofreezers).

There is an animal room of 100 square meters divided into four sections: rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice, a cell culture facility that includes biological safety cabinets (Bio-safety level 2), CO2 incubators (37ºC) for mammalian cell culture and incubators (28ºC) for insect cell culture, and a dark room with inverted fluorescence microscopes and capture image systems.
The University counts with a very well equipped library of medicine and chemistry, a fully equipped drug store, maintenance services, secretary and central services.
 
Role in the project
The main objectives are to evaluate parameters of humoral and cellular immune responses in animal models after inoculation with HSV1-derived vectors carrying rotavirus (VP2, VP6, and VP7) coding genes; and to assess the degree of protective immunity achieved to a subsequent virus challenge.
Description of work:
A) Induction of immune response in C57BL/6 and Balb/c mice by oral inoculation with RRV and EC rotavirus strains to determine timing and burden of viral excretion in faeces.
B) Herpetic vectors containing murine rotavirus (VP2, VP6, and VP7) genes will be used to immunize C57BL/6 and Balb/c strains, using different immunization protocols in order to compare the immune responses elicited at the intestinal mucosa and in peripheral tissues.
C) Protection against rotavirus infection will be estimated by challenging each vaccinated mice group with murine EC and tissue culture adapted rhesus RRV rotavirus strains.
D) According to the results obtained with the mouse model, the appropriate herpetic vector and inoculation route will be selected. Evaluation of immunity as described above in WP3.1 using the selected vector carrying human VP7 (G1-4, G5, G9) and VP6 coding genes will be performed in mice.
 
Scientific manager
Professor G. Glikmann will provide immunological experience for analysis of humoral and cellular immune responses in infected and HSV-vectors vaccinated animals.
Qualifications
Current positions: Professor of Virology and Immunology at the Department of Science and Technology of the National University of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Master of Sciences in Biology, University of Buenos Aires; PhD in Immunology, Odense University, Denmark. Member of national and international Microbiology societies. Assigned first category in the national research Council. Reviewer of Journal of Medical Virology and Viral Immunology.
 
Contact

Pr. Graciela ALMALLO DE GLIKMANN
Phone 1: +5411 4365 7163
Phone 2: +54114771 1275
Fax: +54114365 7132
E-Mail: gglikman@unq.edu.ar

Universidad Nacional de Quilmes
Pr. Graciela ALMALLO DE GLIKMANN
Roque Saenz Pena 352 - Bernal
B1876BXD Buenos Aires
Argentina