Clinical Virology

Stephan W. Aberle, MD, Prof

Center for Virology
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 40160 65555
FAX: +43 1 40160 965599

E-mail: stephan.aberle@meduniwien.ac.at

Research interests:

Molecular technologies are fundamental for diagnostic clinical virology and the rapid implementation of tests to detect newly discovered emerging viruses. We focus on molecular Virology with the aim to significantly improve diagnosis in the field of clinical virology via the detection, quantification and characterization of viral nucleic acids. We develop new test systems, in particular for the identification of new and rare viruses. We perform sequence analysis of virus strains to monitor virus epidemiology and disease trends and to trace back transmission routes. Our main focus in this field is currently on arthropod-borne (Arbo) viruses, including Zika, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses as well as on Hantaviruses, Rotavirus and Hepatitis A and E viruses.

We support investigations and provide advice to public health experts in case of outbreaks of emerging viruses. As part of the “Emerging Viral Disease – Expert Laboratory Network” we work in close cooperation with other international experts in this field.

Assoc. Prof. Priv.Doz. Dr. Lukas Weseslindtner

Center for Virology
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 40160 65509
FAX: +43 1 40160 965599

E-mail: lukas.weseslindtner@meduniwien.ac.at

Research interests:

Our main research aim is to investigate whether T-cell associated chemokines may serve as clinical markers in virus infections. Furthermore, we aim to develop new diagnostic tools and deepen the understanding of infections with Parvovirus B19.

Chemokines are small cytokines which regulate immune cell trafficking and thereby shape the immune response against a specific pathogen. By recruiting T-cells with antiviral and pro-inflammatory capabilities to the site of the infection, certain chemokines are thus essential to control virus replication, but on the other hand mediate tissue injury. Therefore, we aim to assess the potential of such chemokines as markers in clinical virology to determine the infection stage (grade of immune activation), the course (resolution vs. persistence), the disease severity (inflammatory level) and the outcome of antiviral therapy in diverse viral infections.

Recently, we introduced such chemokine analyses as a tool in the diagnosis of infections with Parvovirus B19 (B19V), a virus which we are especially interested in. While the clinical course of B19V infections is usually mild, B19V may have considerable clinical significance during pregnancy, calling for an accurate virological diagnosis. In addition to chemokine analyses, we therefore currently develop new diagnostic strategies (i.e. comprehensive serological assays like epitope-type specificity tests) to better stage B19V infection and thereby more accurately evaluate its complication risk in pregnant women. Since it has been recently demonstrated that B19V may also cause long-term persistence in certain individuals, it is our future research aim to investigate the pathogenic implications of this phenomenon.

Priv. Doz. Dr. Monika Redlberger-Fritz

Center for Virology
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 1 40160 65515
FAX: +43 1 40160 965599

E-mail: monika.redlberger@meduniwien.ac.at

Research interests:

Working in the fields of virology and epidemiological surveillance we are interested in the epidemiology of circulating Influenza- and Respiratory Syncytial Viruses (RSV) as well as the genetic and antigenic evolution of these viruses. We investigate the ongoing genetic and antigenic changes and their influence on the annual Influenza and RSV epidemics.

Our present research involves the identification of Influenza virus drift variants and the detection of newly emerging influenza viruses carrying mutations associated with neuraminidase inhibitor resistance. Further we analyse the influenza epidemics in Austria and their impact on the Austrian population by estimating the influenza incidence and the influenza associated mortality. In addition we perform annual estimates on the influenza type and subtype specific influenza vaccine effectiveness. Therefore we are involved in the development and implementation of an European network for the robust estimation of influenza vaccine effectiveness (Development of Robust Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness DRIVE-project: www.drive-eu.org).

In addition we analyse the epidemiology and the genetic variability of RSV in Austria during the last 10 years and we investigate RSV infections in patients receiving passive RSV prophylaxis.

Selected Publications

Weseslindtner L, Aberle JH, Hedman L, Hedman K. The chemokine CXCL-10 is a marker for the infection stage in individuals with Parvovirus B19 DNAemia. J Infect Dis 2017; 215:214-220.

Weseslindtner L, Görzer I, Roedl K, Küng E, Jaksch P, Klepetko W, Puchhammer-Stöckl E. Intrapulmonary Human Cytomegalovirus replication in lung transplant recipients is associated with a rise of CCL-18 and CCL-20 chemokine levels. Transplantation 2017; 101:197-203.

Aichelburg MC, Weseslindtner L, Mandorfer M, Strassl R, Rieger A, Reiberger T, Puchhammer-Stöckl E, Grabmeier-Pfistershammer K. Association of CMV-Specific T Cell-Mediated Immunity with CMV DNAemia and Development of CMV Disease in HIV-1-Infected Individuals. PLoS One. 2015; 31, 10(8):e0137096

Weseslindtner L, Görzer I, Küng E, Roedl K, Jaksch P, Klepetko W, Puchhammer-Stöckl E. High CXCL-16 Levels Correlate With Symptomatic Disease in Lung Transplant Recipients With Human Cytomegalovirus Replication in the Allograft. Am J Transplant 2014; 14: 2406-1411.

Weseslindtner L, Kerschner H, Kundi M, Steinacher D, Simon B, Jaksch P, Hatos-Agyi L, Scheed A, Klepetko W, Puchhammer-Stöckl E. Association of human cytomegalovirus DNAaemia and specific granzyme B responses in lung transplant recipients. Clin Exp Immunol. 2013; 173:438-443.

Bejvl I, Weseslindtner L, Strassl R, Jaksch P, Kundi M, Klepetko W, Puchhammer-Stöckl E. Analysis of plasma surfactant protein D levels in lung transplant recipients. Transpl Infect Dis. 2013; 15 :645-51.

Estimates of global seasonal influenza-associated respiratory mortality: a modelling study. Iuliano AD, Roguski KM, Chang HH, Muscatello DJ, Palekar R, Tempia S, Cohen C, Gran JM, Schanzer D, Cowling BJ, Wu P, Kyncl J, Ang LW, Park M, Redlberger-Fritz M, Yu H, Espenhain L, Krishnan A, Emukule G, van Asten L, Pereira da Silva S, Aungkulanon S, Buchholz U, Widdowson MA, Bresee JS; Global Seasonal Influenza-associated Mortality Collaborator Network. Lancet. 2018 Mar 31; 391(10127):1285-1300. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33293-2. Epub 2017 Dec 14. Erratum in: Lancet. 2018 Jan 19.

Detailed Report on 2014/15 Influenza Virus Characteristics, and Estimates on Influenza Virus Vaccine Effectiveness from Austria's Sentinel Physician Surveillance Network. Redlberger-Fritz M, Kundi M, Popow-Kraupp T. PLoS One. 2016 Mar 14;11(3):e0149916. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149916. eCollection 2016.

Micro RNAs mir-106a, mir-122 and mir-197 are increased in severe acute viral hepatitis with coagulopathy. Weseslindtner L, Machelheidt I, Eischeid H, Strassl R, Hofer H, Popow-Kraupp T, Dienes HP, Holzmann H, Odenthal M. Liver Int. 2016 Mar;36(3):353-60. doi: 10.1111/liv.12961.