Laurens ter Haar

RESEARCH

The host innate immune response serves a critical role in the defence against invading pathogens. Cytosolic receptors of the innate immune response recognize pathogens through pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The RIG-I-like receptors constitute one such group of receptors which recognize viral RNA based on molecular patterns not commonly found in host RNA. Upon activation, these receptors induce the expression of Type I interferons which in turn initiates the expression of antiviral genes. Together, this response represses viral replication through supressing protein expression and inducing apoptosis. Hence, excessive or unwarranted innate immune activation can cause severe immunopathology. To prevent this, the sensing and signalling of innate immune pathways are tightly regulated. My research aims to identify novel factors involved in this regulation, and elucidate their role in maintaining innate immune self-tolerance.

CURRICULUM VITAE

After obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the LUMC, I continued with the Master’s program Life Sciences and Technology at Leiden University in 2019. During my Master, I joined the group of Dr. Annemarthe van der Veen at the LUMC for an internship. Here, I studied the expression regulation of non-coding cellular RNAs during viral infections, and their potential regulatory role in innate immune pathways. In 2021, I obtained my Master’s degree and continued in the group of Dr. Annemarthe van der Veen as a PhD candidate.