Evert de Vries

Research

Lately, I have mainly been working on interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), a molecule induced by type I interferon. In a recent paper, we have shown that ISG15 is an alarmin that boosts the CTL response via an innate, NK-cell dependent route.  Recently, I started working on the regulatory T cell (Treg) project. In this project, we aim to identify proteins which, after (co)stimulation, are differentially expressed between conventional T cells (Tconv) and Treg cells. In particular, my current task is to find proteins that reside in the plasma membrane and may play a role, after (co) stimulation, in the switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. To this end, we will perform proteomics on plasma membrane fraction of these cells. Furthermore, in collaboration with our peptide facility, we work on the production of a broad range of receptor/ligand constructs intended for co stimulation experiments in T-cells. We also produce the ligands as Fc fusions in Hek Flp-In cells and subsequently purify them by means  of protein A, as a tool for T-cell stimulation in vitro.

Curriculum vitae

In 1979 and 1981, I completed the life science education HBO-A and analytical chemistry HBO-B, respectively. After my military service (July 1981-Sept. 1982), I worked in an enamel start-up for a couple of months. Thereafter, in 1983, I started at the NKI as a technician in the department of Immunology (head dr. Jan de Vries) and was assigned to then PhD student Jannie Borst. I worked on many different projects like the CD3/T-cell receptor, apoptotic cell death and ubiquitination. In these projects, I mainly focused on biochemical aspects. In 2001, after an 8-year interlude in the Division of Cell Biology (head prof. Wouter Moolenaar), we returned to the Division of Immunology (head dr. Hergen Spits). In 2002, Jannie succeeded Hergen Spits as department head and I was appointed as lab manager of the department. In 2019, after 36 years of NKI, Jannie and her group, me included, moved to the LUMC, where she became head of the department. There, I was involved in the planning of the new labs, responsible for the move from NKI to LUMC and realizing a working environment for our research group. Currently, I act both as research technician and lab manager.