Fields of Research

Contact Information

Haartmaninkatu 3 (P.O. Box 21)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
tel. +358 2941 911 (switch)

Alma-intranet

Human DNA Viruses: Clinical Impact and Molecular Biology

Principal Investigators

Klaus Hedman, MD, PhD
Professor in Clinical Virology
Department of Virology
Room E355
Tel: +358-2941-26473, +358-50-524 9086
Fax +358-2941-26491
klaus.hedman(at)helsinki.fi

Maria Söderlund-Venermo, PhD, Docent
University Lecturer
Department of Virology
Room E455
Tel:  +358-2941-26450, +358-50-3522483
maria.soderlund-venermo(at)helsinki.fi

Senior Scientist

Rauli Franssila, MD, PhD (HUCH)

Graduate Students

Anita Riipinen, MD (Institute of Occupational Health)
Elina Väisänen, MSc
Kalle Kantola, MSc
Arun Kumar, MSc
Tingting Chen, MSc
Mohammadreza Sadeghi, MSC

Undergraduate Students

Päivi Norja
Anne Lahtinen

Technicians

Lea Hedman
Mira Meriluoto

Laboratory: E315
Offices: E356 and E358
Tel: +358 2941 26502 (laboratory)
Tel: +358 2941 26676 and 26744 (offices)

Reseach Interests

Several human DNA viruses have been recently discovered: five new parvovirus species (HBoV 1-4 and PARV4), four new polyomavirus species (WU-, KI-, MC- and TS PyV) an entire new virus family (Anelloviridae; type species TTV), and new variants (genotypes 1-3) of parvovirus B19. Human bocavirus 1 causes severe lower respiratory tract infections in small children whereas HBoV2-4 seem to be enteric with HBoV2 putatively associated with gastroenteritis. Parvovirus 4 is in Europe detected only in HIV patients or intravenuous drug users, but more widely in some endemic African countries.

The widespread yet clinically orphan human polyomaviruses KIPyV and WUPyV were found in respiratory secretions and MCPyV has remarkably been found to integrate in the chromosomes of Merkel cell carcinoma cells. The newest polyomavirus TSPyV was detected in hair follicles of a patient with the skin disease trichodysplasia spinulosa. Furthermore, associations of anelloviruses with respiratory diseases and immunomodulation have been reported. The clinical impact of the aforementioned viruses will become clear only along the set-up of comprehensive diagnostics and molecular research methodology.

Our group is devoted to determining their pathogenetic potential and overall clinical significance, by development of an extensive repertoire of molecular, immunological and diagnostic approaches for their in-vivo detection.

Selected Publications
  • Lahtinen A, Kivelä P, Hedman L, Kumar A, Kantele A, Sarmaste F, Lappalainen M, Liitsola K, Ristola M, Delwart E, Simmonds P, Söderlund-Venermo M, Hedman K. Human parvovirus Parv4 - comprehensive serodiagnostics and occurrence in diverse population groups. Emerg Infect Dis, 17: (1), 2011.

  • Kantola K, Sadeghi M, Antikainen J, Kirveskari J, Delwart E, Hedman K, Söderlund-Venermo M. Real-time quantitative PCR detection of four human bocaviruses. J Clin Microbiol, 48:4044-50, 2010.

  • Söderlund-Venermo M, Lahtinen A, Jartti T, Hedman L, Kemppainen K, Lehtinen P, Allander T, Ruuskanen O, Hedman K. Clinical assessment and improved diagnosis of bocavirus-induced wheezing in children, Finland. Emerg Infect Dis, 15:1423-9, 2009.

    Kantola K, Hedman L, Allander T, Jartti T, Lehtinen P, Ruuskanen O, Hedman K, and Söderlund-Venermo M. Serodiagnosis of human bocavirus infections. Clin Infect Dis, 46:540-6, 2008.

  • Norja P, Hokynar K, Aaltonen L-M, Chen R, Ranki A, Leivo T, Partio EK, Kiviluoto O, Davidkin D, Eis-Hübinger A-M, Vapalahti O, Vaheri A, Söderlund-Venermo M, Hedman K. Bioportfolio: Life-long persistence of variant and prototypic erythrovirus DNA genomes in human tissue. PNAS 103, 7450-7453, 2006.

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