We are an international team of scientists who enjoy studying viruses. We use stem cell-derived culture systems to study hepatitis E virus-host interactions.
Our lab is a part of the Center of Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID) at the Heidelberg University Hospital. Our research is generously supported by the Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation.
Principal Investigator
After completing her dual studies in Biotechnology at the Technische Universität Berlin (Germany) and Dongseo University in Busan (South Korea), Loan received her PhD from the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon (France) where she trained with Prof. François-Loïc Cosset. She then pursued her interest in virology during two complementary postdoctoral phases in the labs of Prof. Darius Moradpour at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois in Lausanne (Switzerland) and Prof. Charles M. Rice at the Rockefeller University in New York (USA).
In 2018, Loan returned to Germany to join the Virology department at Heidelberg University Hospital as a Chica and Heinz Schaller Junior Research Group Leader.
When not doing science, Loan likes to travel and hike.
Lab manager
Andrew grew up in "The South" of the U.S., getting his Master's degree in North Carolina. As of 2017, he has been living in Germany, getting a feel for the European lifestyle.
PhD student
Rebecca is from Canada and did her BSc in Biotechnology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She then did her MSc Infectious Diseases at University of Edinburgh in Scotland and worked during her Master thesis on Herpes Simplex Virus-1 viral entry. After the MSc, she worked as a research assistant at University of Edinburgh and did research on HIV-1 restriction factors.
Since February 2018, Rebecca joined the lab for her PhD studies on HEV host interactions.
Outside the lab she enjoys baking, reading, hiking and going to the gym.
PhD student
Charlotte finished her Master’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology in Heidelberg. She is now working as a PhD student on hepatitis E virus trafficking.
In her leisure time she enjoys reading and swimming.
PhD student
Ann-Kathrin obtained a BSc in Molecular Biotechnology and completed her MSc in Molecular Biosciences/Infectious Diseases at Heidelberg University. During her Master thesis, she worked on establishing genetic tools in the malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi.
In April 2020, she joined the group as a PhD student to investigate the innate immune response in HEV-infected hepatocytes.
Outside the lab, Ann-Kathrin enjoys cycling, reading and drinking good coffee with friends.
PhD student
Huanting received her BSc degree in Medicine from Soochow University in China. Then she completed her MSc program in Reproductive Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Huanting joined our lab in November 2020 for her PhD studies on the immunotherapy of chronic HEV infection, supported by the DZIF.
In her free time, Huanting likes hiking and playing badminton.
PhD student
Jun-Gen received his Bachelor and Master degrees in biology from Sichuan University, China. Jun-Gen joined the lab in February 2021 for his PhD studying HEV protein trafficking in liver ECM-based PSC-HLCs culture systems. His stay is supported by the China Scholarship Council.
Outside the lab he enjoys cooking, biking, hiking and photography.
MD student
Lars is a medical student at the University of Heidelberg. His MD thesis, supported by the SFB1129, is a collaboration between the Dao Thi lab and the Grimm lab. In his project Lars is exploring AAV-based expression of HEV capsid as a novel vaccine candidate.
In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym and meeting friends.
Student assistant
Laura is a biological assistant by training and she currently studies Bioscience at Heidelberg University. In our lab, she is working as a research assistant to help others move their projects forward.
When Laura is not in the lab or studying, she enjoys mountain biking and cooking.
The Dao Thi lab uses stem cell-derived culture models to study hepatitis E virus (HEV). With about 20 million infections each year, leading to more than 3 million symptomatic cases and ~60'000 fatalities, HEV is believed to be the most common cause of acute hepatitis in the world. Despite increasing awareness, HEV remains an understudied virus. A contributor to the poor understanding is the difficulty to propagate HEV in cell culture. To overcome these limitations, we use embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cell (hESC/iPSC)-derived cell culture models, in particular stem-cell derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs; Figure 1).
Figure 1: Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (embryonic or induced, hESC/iPSCs) to hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs; Wu & Dao Thi et al. 2018, Gastroenterology).
Unlike conventionally used hepatoma cells, we found that HLCs are permissive for infection by primary isolates of all four HEV genotypes that can infect humans. HLCs therefore enable studies of authentic pan-genotype HEV biology. Further, the capability to study replication of non-adapted HEV isolates in tandem with autologous, patient-derived iPSCs enables personalized models of HEV infection and will serve as a platform for testing novel anti-HEV treatments (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Stem cell culture models of HEV infection. Cells collected from identified HEV positive individuals can be reprogrammed to generate iPSCs. Relevant SNPs can be repaired or introduced into established hESC/iPSC lines using CRISPR-Cas9, followed by differentiation to the cell type of interest. Differentiated cells can be directly infected with HEV isolates from patients or animals for modeling virus-host interactions in a dish (Dao Thi et al., 2018, Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med).
We also developed a novel stem cell-based differentiation protocol that uses transwell filters to generate columnar polarized HLCs. HEV is transmitted via the fecal-oral route and hepatocytes are similar to other epithelial cells polarized in vivo. In the absence of robust hepatocyte polarity systems our polarized HLC system now allows us to study directional HEV assembly and release, the final steps of the virus life cycle. Our efforts should lead to a better understanding of HEV life cycle and host interactions with the overriding goal of developing new specific antiviral treatments.
If you are interested in virology and stem cell technology, please apply. We are always looking for motivated interns.
This position has been filled
Hepatitis E virus trafficking in polarized human pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocyte-like systems.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute hepatitis in the world. Our lab uses stem cell technology to study HEV life cycle and HEV-host interaction. One particular aspect is HEV secretion, which is governed by its fecal-oral route transmission. The virus enters via the gastrointestinal tract and infects the liver, where it enters polarized hepatocytes from the bloodstream and exits with the bile to be shed into feces. We previously developed a novel differentiation protocol that allows columnar polarization of human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cell (hESC/iPSC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) in transwells. Polarized HLCs can be infected with HEV on their basal side, with the majority of infectious virus being released to the apical compartment, recapitulating the directionality of infection occurring in vivo.
The successful applicant will combine this novel polarity system with genetic, biochemical, and imaging approaches to identify and characterize polarized trafficking and secretion routes of HEV. These efforts may help develop new strategies to block HEV assembly and secretion. Beyond virology, this work may lead to a better understanding of the fine-tuned spatio-temporal dynamics and regulation of the polarized trafficking machinery in hepatocytes.
Methods that will be used: A wide range of molecular and cell biological techniques with emphasis on live cell imaging using confocal microscopy; human tissue culture including embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation to various cell types, mainly hepatocytes; 3D and complex co-culture systems; infection studies with human viruses in BSL2 and potentially BSL3 laboratories.
Personal qualifications: We are looking for a highly motivated, interactive and team-oriented candidate with a background and interest in molecular biology and virology. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in Biomedical or Molecular Sciences, Biochemistry, Biology or related fields. Expertise in cell imaging and confocal microscopy is advantageous.
Please apply through the Heidelberg Biosciences International Graduate School (HBIGS).
June 2021: Ann-Kathrin and Guglielmo's book chapter is online
Feb 2021: Jun-Gen joined the lab as a PhD student
Nov 2020: Huanting joined the lab as a PhD student
July 2020: Our contributions to overcome SARS CoV2 diagnostic shortages are online in Sci Trans Med and Viruses
April 2020: Ann-Kathrin joined the lab as a PhD student
April 2020: Our paper in Nature Communications is online
Feb 2020: Linh started her Master thesis in the lab
Nov 2019: Guglielmo started his internship in the lab
July 2019: Rebecca and Charlotte's review paper accepted at Viruses
May 2019: Lars started his MD thesis in the lab
Feb 2019: First group photo
Feb 2019: Charlotte and Rebecca joined the lab as our first PhD students
Viet Loan Dao Thi, PhD Junior Group Leader
Center for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID) University Hospital Heidelberg Im Neuenheimer Feld 344 D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
+49 (0) 6221 563 56 43
VietLoan.DaoThi {at} med.uni-heidelberg.de