Peijun Zhang
Professor of Structural Biology at the University of Oxford and the founding director of the UK National Electron Bio-imaging Centre at the Diamond Light Source.

"Visualizing virus infection in situ by cryoET"

Expertise in: CryoEM and cryo-electron tomography of molecular complexes and assemblies

Abstract: Retroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), contain mature capsids that enclose the viral RNA genome, enzymes, and accessory proteins. The assembly, maturation, and stability of the viral capsid are critical to the viral replication life cycle. Furthermore, the surface of the viral capsid serves as a primary interaction interface between the virus and the host cell, for both host defense proteins and virus dependence factors. We are developing cutting-edge cryoEM technologies that bring unprecedented resolution and enable in situ structures of large assemblies and complexes to decipher their underlying functional roles.
I will describe HIV-1 mature and immature capsid assemblies and interactions with host factor IP6 and cyclophilin A, highlighting unexpected novel interactions that are critical for these host factors to stabilize the HIV-1 capsid and prevent its pre-mature disassembly. I will also present our recent in situ studies of SARS-COV-2 infection and COVID vaccine, as well as the architecture of native chromatin fibers in intact T-cells relevant to HIV-1 infection and integration. 

Maria Lerm
Professor in medical microbiology, Linköping University

"It is in your DNA – How previous exposures to infections are reflected in DNA methylation patterns”

Expertise in: Infectious diseases and epigenetics

Abstract: The epigenetic information encoded in the DNA methylome is reflecting environmental exposures like genomic data reflects heredity.  We have uncovered how infectious diseases causes unique imprints in DNA methylation patterns, allowing us to trace disease mechanisms and identify biomarkers. I will present our findings on DNA methylation changes during tuberculosis exposure, post-covid and neuroborreliosis and hope to inspire others to investigate the epigenome changes triggered by other infections.