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Ildiko van Rhijn is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University, focusing on unconventional T cells and their role in immunity. Her research examines pathogen-derived proteins and peptides, particularly in the context of applied vaccines. A significant aspect of her work investigates the mechanisms of immunity related to lipids and non-peptidic antigens, which are important for potential vaccine development. Her studies have shown that unconventional T cells can recognize lipid antigens presented by CD1 molecules, becoming activated during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections. Ildiko's research utilizes mouse models to explore various facets of the immune system; however, her work has also involved examining the CD1 system in cattle, which express a full set of CD1 proteins relevant to mycobacterial infections. Moreover, she has successfully conducted comparative analyses of the canine, equine, and porcine CD1 systems, which include non-classical antigen-presenting molecules. Additionally, her team has worked with human T cells isolated from blood donations, providing insights into how the immune system responds to lipid antigens from both M. tuberculosis and clinically relevant bacteria. She has made significant progress in demonstrating how N-myristoylated peptides can be recognized by the human immune system through CD1c presentation, paving the way for further research on activating the CD1 system in response to viral infections.
Department of Psychology