Our research centers on the basic mechanisms of immune response using primarily non-mammalian models such as the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster and zebrafish Danio rerio. Our team use model organisms to investigate host-microbe interactions primarily related to globally important pathogens. In particular, we aim to find ways to combat tuberculosis. In addition, we have focused on identifying genetic alterations predisposing to the preterm birth and to the most important diseases related to prematurity (bronchopulmonary dysplasia and susceptibility to severe respiratory infections during neonatal period).
Our research has been funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Academy of Finland, Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation and Stiftelsen Alma och K. A. Snellman Foundation.
Research interests and expertise
- Development of a new vaccine against tuberculosis
- Protective immunity against Mycobacterial infection
- Molecular mechanisms regulating innate immunity
- Spontaneous preterm delivery: susceptibility genes and timing of childbirth
- Mechanisms, prevention and treatment of the most common neonatal diseases
- Pathophysiology of Streptococcal infection
- Rämet M, Manfruelli P, Pearson A, Mathey-Prevot B, Ezekowitz RA. Functional genomic analysis of phagocytosis and identification of a Drosophila receptor for E. coli. Nature 2002;416:644-648.
- Parikka M, Vuoksio M, Harjula SK, Halfpenny N, Oksanen K, Lahtinen MJ, Pajula E, Iivanainen A, Pesu M, Rämet M. Mycobacterium marinum causes a latent infection that can be reactivated by gamma irradiation in adult zebrafish. PLoS Pathogens, 2012, 8:e1002944.
- Vanha-aho LM, Anderl I, Hultmark D, Valanne S, Rämet M. Edin expression in the fat body is required for resistance against parasitoid wasps in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Pathogens, 2015, 11:e1004895.
- Valanne S, Salminen TS, Järvelä-Stölting M, Vesala L, Rämet M. Immune-inducible non-coding RNA molecule lincRNA-IBIN connects immunity and metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Pathogens. 2019 Jan 11;15(1):e1007504.
- Tiensuu H, Haapalainen AM, Tissarinen P, Pasanen A, Määttä TA, Huusko JM, Ohlmeier S, Bergmann U, Ojaniemi M, Muglia LJ, Hallman M & Rämet M. Human Placental Proteomics and Exon Variant Studies Link AAT/SERPINA1 with Spontaneous Preterm Birth. BMC Medicine, 2022, 20(1):141.
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Saralahti A, Harjula SKE, Rantapero T, Uusi-Mäkelä M, Kaasinen M, Junno M, Piippo H, Nykter M, Lohi O, Rounioja S, ParikkaM & Rämet M. Characterization of the innate immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in zebrafish. PLoS Genetics, 2023, 19(1):e1010586.
