Jorn Stok

Research

The contents of the cytosol are under constant scrutiny by receptors of the innate immune system to detect foreign molecules that indicate infection. In the Innate Immunity group, we are particularly interested in a subset of these receptors, the RIG-I-like receptor family. These receptors detect viral RNA based on unique features that are uncommon for cellular RNAs. However, cellular RNAs sometimes possess features that resemble those found in viral RNA, like secondary structures or sequence motifs. Indeed, some cellular RNAs can bind to RIG-I-like receptors and affect their function. My research focuses on the identification of such cellular RNAs, and on their potential regulatory role in innate immune pathways. 

Curriculum vitae

After having obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, I started with my Master’s program ‘Infection and Immunity’ at the University of Utrecht in 2016. During this program, I worked in the group of prof. Linde Meyaard at the University Medical Centre Utrecht, characterizing the function of a novel activating receptor on human primary neutrophils. After this internship, I joined the lab of prof. Lori Frappier at the University of Toronto, where I studied Epstein-Barr virus-host interactions using affinity-purification mass spectrometry. In 2019, I obtained my Master’s degree and joined the group of dr. Annemarthe van der Veen as a PhD student.