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Vaccine development and immunology

Expertise in vaccine development, immunology and translational research

Publications

2021
  1. Heinimäki, S, Lampinen, V, Tamminen, K, Hankaniemi, MM, Malm, M, Hytönen, VP et al.. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of HA2 and M2e influenza virus antigens conjugated to norovirus-like, VP1 capsid-based particles by the SpyTag/SpyCatcher technology. Virology. 2022;566 :89-97. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.12.001. PubMed PMID:34894525 .
  2. Tamminen, K, Heinimäki, S, Gröhn, S, Blazevic, V. Fusion Protein of Rotavirus VP6 and SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain Induces T Cell Responses. Vaccines (Basel). 2021;9 (7):. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9070733. PubMed PMID:34358149 PubMed Central PMC8309989.
  3. Tamminen, K, Salminen, M, Blazevic, V. Seroprevalence and SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactivity of endemic coronavirus OC43 and 229E antibodies in Finnish children and adults. Clin Immunol. 2021;229 :108782. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108782. PubMed PMID:34118402 PubMed Central PMC8188772.
  4. Lampinen, V, Heinimäki, S, Laitinen, OH, Pesu, M, Hankaniemi, MM, Blazevic, V et al.. Modular vaccine platform based on the norovirus-like particle. J Nanobiotechnology. 2021;19 (1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12951-021-00772-0. PubMed PMID:33468139 PubMed Central PMC7815183.
  5. Gröhn, S, Heinimäki, S, Tamminen, K, Blazevic, V. Expression of influenza A virus-derived peptides on a rotavirus VP6-based delivery platform. Arch Virol. 2021;166 (1):213-217. doi: 10.1007/s00705-020-04847-5. PubMed PMID:33067651 PubMed Central PMC7567002.

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2020
  1. Gröhn, S, Heinimäki, S, Tamminen, K, Blazevic, V. Expression of influenza A virus-derived peptides on a rotavirus VP6-based delivery platform. Arch Virol. 2021;166 (1):213-217. doi: 10.1007/s00705-020-04847-5. PubMed PMID:33067651 PubMed Central PMC7567002.
  2. Heinimäki, S, Tamminen, K, Hytönen, VP, Malm, M, Blazevic, V. Rotavirus Inner Capsid VP6 Acts as an Adjuvant in Formulations with Particulate Antigens Only. Vaccines (Basel). 2020;8 (3):. doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030365. PubMed PMID:32645976 PubMed Central PMC7565724.
  3. Tamminen, K, Heinimäki, S, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Rotavirus VP6 Adjuvant Effect on Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Uptake and Presentation by Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. J Immunol Res. 2020;2020 :3194704. doi: 10.1155/2020/3194704. PubMed PMID:32411793 PubMed Central PMC7204108.
  4. Tamminen, K, Heinimäki, S, Gröhn, S, Blazevic, V. Internalization and antigen presentation by mouse dendritic cells of rotavirus VP6 preparations differing in nanostructure. Mol Immunol. 2020;123 :26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.04.001. PubMed PMID:32388275 .

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2019
  1. Malm, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Simultaneous Immunization with Multivalent Norovirus VLPs Induces Better Protective Immune Responses to Norovirus Than Sequential Immunization. Viruses. 2019;11 (11):. doi: 10.3390/v11111018. PubMed PMID:31684058 PubMed Central PMC6893631.
  2. Heinimäki, S, Hankaniemi, MM, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Laitinen, OH, Hyöty, H, Hytönen, VP et al.. Combination of three virus-derived nanoparticles as a vaccine against enteric pathogens; enterovirus, norovirus and rotavirus. Vaccine. 2019;37 (51):7509-7518. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.072. PubMed PMID:31585726 .
  3. Hankaniemi, MM, Stone, VM, Andrejeff, T, Heinimäki, S, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Marjomäki, V et al.. Formalin treatment increases the stability and immunogenicity of coxsackievirus B1 VLP vaccine. Antiviral Res. 2019;171 :104595. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104595. PubMed PMID:31491431 .
  4. Hankaniemi, MM, Stone, VM, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Heinimäki, S, Marjomäki, V, Hyöty, H et al.. A comparative study of the effect of UV and formalin inactivation on the stability and immunogenicity of a Coxsackievirus B1 vaccine. Vaccine. 2019;37 (40):5962-5971. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.037. PubMed PMID:31471148 .
  5. Malm, M, Diessner, A, Tamminen, K, Liebscher, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V et al.. Rotavirus VP6 as an Adjuvant for Bivalent Norovirus Vaccine Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Pharmaceutics. 2019;11 (5):. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11050229. PubMed PMID:31083495 PubMed Central PMC6572255.
  6. Simre, K, Uibo, O, Peet, A, Puustinen, L, Oikarainen, S, Tamminen, K et al.. Early-life exposure to common virus infections did not differ between coeliac disease patients and controls. Acta Paediatr. 2019;108 (9):1709-1716. doi: 10.1111/apa.14791. PubMed PMID:30896051 .
  7. Malm, M, Hyöty, H, Knip, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Development of T cell immunity to norovirus and rotavirus in children under five years of age. Sci Rep. 2019;9 (1):3199. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39840-9. PubMed PMID:30824789 PubMed Central PMC6397277.
  8. Tamminen, K, Malm, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Immunological Cross-Reactivity of an Ancestral and the Most Recent Pandemic Norovirus GII.4 Variant. Viruses. 2019;11 (2):. doi: 10.3390/v11020091. PubMed PMID:30678195 PubMed Central PMC6410201.

Search PubMed

2019
  1. Malm, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Simultaneous Immunization with Multivalent Norovirus VLPs Induces Better Protective Immune Responses to Norovirus Than Sequential Immunization. Viruses. 2019;11 (11):. doi: 10.3390/v11111018. PubMed PMID:31684058 PubMed Central PMC6893631.
  2. Heinimäki, S, Hankaniemi, MM, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Laitinen, OH, Hyöty, H, Hytönen, VP et al.. Combination of three virus-derived nanoparticles as a vaccine against enteric pathogens; enterovirus, norovirus and rotavirus. Vaccine. 2019;37 (51):7509-7518. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.072. PubMed PMID:31585726 .
  3. Hankaniemi, MM, Stone, VM, Andrejeff, T, Heinimäki, S, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Marjomäki, V et al.. Formalin treatment increases the stability and immunogenicity of coxsackievirus B1 VLP vaccine. Antiviral Res. 2019;171 :104595. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104595. PubMed PMID:31491431 .
  4. Hankaniemi, MM, Stone, VM, Sioofy-Khojine, AB, Heinimäki, S, Marjomäki, V, Hyöty, H et al.. A comparative study of the effect of UV and formalin inactivation on the stability and immunogenicity of a Coxsackievirus B1 vaccine. Vaccine. 2019;37 (40):5962-5971. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.08.037. PubMed PMID:31471148 .
  5. Malm, M, Diessner, A, Tamminen, K, Liebscher, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V et al.. Rotavirus VP6 as an Adjuvant for Bivalent Norovirus Vaccine Produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. Pharmaceutics. 2019;11 (5):. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11050229. PubMed PMID:31083495 PubMed Central PMC6572255.
  6. Simre, K, Uibo, O, Peet, A, Puustinen, L, Oikarainen, S, Tamminen, K et al.. Early-life exposure to common virus infections did not differ between coeliac disease patients and controls. Acta Paediatr. 2019;108 (9):1709-1716. doi: 10.1111/apa.14791. PubMed PMID:30896051 .
  7. Malm, M, Hyöty, H, Knip, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Development of T cell immunity to norovirus and rotavirus in children under five years of age. Sci Rep. 2019;9 (1):3199. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39840-9. PubMed PMID:30824789 PubMed Central PMC6397277.
  8. Tamminen, K, Malm, M, Vesikari, T, Blazevic, V. Immunological Cross-Reactivity of an Ancestral and the Most Recent Pandemic Norovirus GII.4 Variant. Viruses. 2019;11 (2):. doi: 10.3390/v11020091. PubMed PMID:30678195 PubMed Central PMC6410201.

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2018

Heinimäki Suvi, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2018). Intradermal and intranasal immunizations with oligomeric middle layer rotavirus VP6 induce Th1, Th2 and Th17 T cell subsets and CD4+ T lymphocytes with cytotoxic potential. Antiviral Research 157, 1-8.

Heinimäki Suvi, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic, Vesna. (2018). Parenterally Administered Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Vaccine Formulated with Aluminum Hydroxide or Monophosphoryl Lipid A Adjuvants Induces Systemic but Not Mucosal Immune Responses in Mice. Journal of immunology research 2018, 3487095.

Malm, Maria; Tamminen, Kirsi; Vesikari, Timo; Blazevic, Vesna. (2018). Norovirus GII.17 Virus-Like Particles Bind to Different Histo-Blood Group Antigens and Cross-React with Genogroup II-Specific Mouse Sera. Viral immunology 31 (10), 649-657.

Malm, Maria; Vesikari, Timo; Blazevic, Vesna. (2018). Identification of a First Human Norovirus CD8 (+) T cell Epitope Restricted to HLA-A*0201 Allele. Frontiers in immunology 9, 2782.

Tamminen, K.; Malm, M.; Vesikari, T.; Blazevic, V. (2018). Norovirus-specific mucosal antibodies correlate to systemic antibodies and block norovirus virus-like particles binding to histo-blood group antigens. Clinical immunology 197, 110-117.

2017

Auer Sanna, Azizi Latifeh, Faschinger Felix, Blazevic Vesna, Vesikari Timo, Gruber Hermann J., Hytönen Vesa P. (2017). Stable immobilisation of His-tagged proteins on BLI biosensor surface using cobalt. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 243, 104-113.

Heinimäki Suvi, Tamminen Kirsi, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2017). Live baculovirus acts as a strong B and T cell adjuvant for monomeric and oligomeric protein antigens. Virology 511, 114-122.

Malm Maria, Heinimäki Suvi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2017). Rotavirus capsid VP6 tubular and spherical nanostructures act as local adjuvants when co-delivered with norovirus VLPs. Clinical and experimental immunology 189 (3), 331-341.

Malm M, Tamminen K, Heinimäki S, Vesikari T, Blazevic V. (2017). Functionality and avidity of norovirus-specific antibodies and T cells induced by GII.4 virus-like particles alone or co-administered with different genotypes. Vaccine.

2016

Lappalainen Suvi, Blazevic Vesna, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo. (2016). Rotavirus vaccination and infection induce VP6-specific IgA responses. Journal of Medical Virology 89 (2), 239-245.

Lappalainen Suvi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2016). Simple and efficient ultrafiltration method for purification of rotavirus VP6 oligomeric proteins. Archives of Virology 161 (11), 3219-3223.

Malm Maria, Tamminen Kirsi, Blazevic Vesna. (2016). Assessment of functional norovirus antibody responses by blocking assay in mice. Teoksessa Thomas Sunil (toim.) Vaccine Design. Methods and Protocols: Volume 1. Vaccines for Human Diseases: Springer, 259-268. (Methods in Molecular Biology 1403).

Malm, Maria; Tamminen, Kirsi; Lappalainen, Suvi; Vesikari, Timo; Blazevic, Vesna. (2016). Rotavirus Recombinant VP6 Nanotubes Act as an Immunomodulator and Delivery Vehicle for Norovirus Virus-Like Particles. Journal of immunology research 2016, 9171632.

Malm Maria, Tamminen Kirsi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2016). Norovirus-Specific Memory T Cell Responses in Adult Human Donors. Frontiers in microbiology 7, 1570.

Malm Maria, Tamminen Kirsi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2016). Type-specific and cross-reactive antibodies and T cell responses in norovirus VLP immunized mice are targeted both to conserved and variable domains of capsid VP1 protein. Molecular Immunology 78, 27-37.

Tamminen, Kirsi; Malm, Maria; Vesikari, Timo; Blazevic, Vesna. (2016). Mucosal Antibodies Induced by Intranasal but Not Intramuscular Immunization Block Norovirus GII.4 Virus-Like Particle Receptor Binding. Viral immunology 29 (5), 315-319.

2015

Auer Sanna, Koho Tiia, Uusi-Kerttula Hanni, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna, Hytönen Vesa P. (2015). Rapid and sensitive detection of norovirus antibodies in human serum with interferometry biosensor. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 221, 507-514.

Blazevic Vesna, Malm Maria, Arinobu Daisuke, Lappalainen Suvi, Vesikari Timo. (2015). Rotavirus capsid VP6 protein acts as an adjuvant in vivo for norovirus virus-like particles in a combination vaccine. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics.

Blazevic Vesna, Malm Maria, Honkanen Hanna, Knip Mikael, Hyöty Heikki, Vesikari Timo. (2015). Development and maturation of norovirus antibodies in childhood. Microbes and Infection.

Blazevic Vesna, Malm Maria, Salminen Marjo, Oikarinen Sami, Hyöty Heikki, Veijola Riitta, Vesikari Timo. (2015). Multiple consecutive norovirus infections in the first 2 years of life. European Journal of Pediatrics 174 (12), 1679-1683.

Blazevic Vesna, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo. (2015). Induction of homologous and cross-reactive GII.4-specific blocking antibodies in children after GII.4 New Orleans norovirus infection. Journal of Medical Virology 87 (10), 1656-1661.

Vesikari, Timo; Blazevic, Vesna. (2015). Norovirus Vaccine: One Step Closer. Journal of infectious diseases 211 (6), 853-855.

Koho Tiia, Ihalainen Teemu, Stark Marie, Uusi-Kerttula Hanni, Wieneke Ralph, Rahikainen Rolle, Blazevic Vesna, Marjomäki Varpu, Tampé Robert, Kulomaa Markku S , Hytönen Vesa P. (2015). His-tagged norovirus-like particles: A versatile platform for cellular delivery and surface display. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics 96, 22-31.

Lappalainen Suvi, Pastor Ana Ruth, Malm Maria, López-Guerrero Vanessa, Esquivel-Guadarrama Fernando, Palomares Laura A., Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2015). Protection against live rotavirus challenge in mice induced by parenteral and mucosal delivery of VP6 subunit rotavirus vaccine. Archives of Virology 160 (8), 2075-2078.

Malm Maria, Tamminen Kirsi, Lappalainen Suvi, Uusi-Kerttula Hanni, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2015). Genotype considerations for virus-like particle-based bivalent norovirus vaccine composition. Clinical & Vaccine Immunology 22 (6), 656-663.

Malm Maria, Tamminen Kirsi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2015). Comparison of Intramuscular, Intranasal and Combined Administration of Norovirus Virus-Like Particle Subunit Vaccine Candidate for Induction of Protective Immune Responses in Mice. Journal of Clinical & Cellular Immunology 6 (1).

2014

Huhti Leena, Blazevic Vesna, Puustinen Leena, Hemming Maria, Salminen Marjo, Vesikari Timo. (2014). Genetic analyses of norovirus GII.4 variants in Finnish children from 1998 to 2013. Infection, genetics and evolution 26, 65-71.

Lappalainen Suvi, Pastor Ana Ruth, Tamminen Kirsi, López-Guerrero Vanessa, Esquivel-Guadarrama Fernando, Palomares Laura A, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2014). Immune responses elicited against rotavirus middle layer protein VP6 inhibit viral replication in vitro and in vivo. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 10 (7).

Malm Maria, Uusi-Kerttula Hanni, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2014). High Serum Levels of Norovirus Genotype? Specific Blocking Antibodies Correlate With Protection From Infection in Children. Journal of Infectious Diseases 210 (11), 1755-1762.

Uusi-Kerttula Hanni, Tamminen Kirsi, Malm Maria, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2014). Comparison of human saliva and synthetic histo-blood group antigens usage as ligands in norovirus-like particle binding and blocking assays. Microbes and infection 16 (6), 472-480.

2013

Huhti Leena, Tamminen Kirsi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2013). Characterization and immunogenicity of norovirus capsid-derived virus-like particles purified by anion exchange chromatography. Archives of Virology 158 (5), 933-942.

Lappalainen Suvi, Tamminen Kirsi, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2013). Comparative immunogenicity in mice of rotavirus VP6 tubular structures and virus-like particles. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 9 (9), 23777748.

Tamminen Kirsi, Huhti Leena, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2013). Pre-existing Immunity to Norovirus GII-4 Virus-Like Particles Does Not Impair de Novo Immune Responses to Norovirus GII-12 Genotype. Viral Immunology 26 (2), 167-170.

Tamminen Kirsi, Lappalainen Suvi, Huhti Leena, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2013). Trivalent combination vaccine induces broad heterologous immune responses to norovirus and rotavirus in mice. PLoS One 8 (7), e70409.

2012

Koho Tiia, Huhti Leena, Blazevic Vesna, Nurminen Kirsi, Butcher Sarah J, Laurinmäki Pasi, Kalkkinen Nisse, Rönnholm Gunilla, Vesikari Timo, Hytönen Vesa P, Kulomaa Markku S. (2012). Production and characterization of virus-like particles and the P domain protein of GII.4 norovirus. Journal of Virological Methods 179 (1), 1-7.

Puustinen L, Blazevic V, Huhti L, Szakal ED, Halkosalo A, Salminen M, Vesikari T. (2012). Norovirus genotypes in endemic acute gastroenteritis of infants and children in Finland between 1994 and 2007. Epidemiology and Infection 140 (2), 268-75.

Tamminen Kirsi, Huhti Leena, Koho Tiia, Lappalainen Suvi, Hytönen Vesa, Vesikari Timo, Blazevic Vesna. (2012). A comparison of immunogenicity of norovirus GII-4 virus-like particles and P-particles. Immunology 135 (1), 89-99.

2011

Blazevic Vesna, Lappalainen Suvi, Nurminen Kirsi, Huhti Leena, Vesikari Timo. (2011). Norovirus VLPs and rotavirus VP6 protein as combined vaccine for childhood gastroenteritis. Vaccine 29 (45), 8126-8133.

Huhti Leena, Szakal Evelin D, Puustinen Leena, Salminen Marjo, Huhtala Heini, Valve Oona, Blazevic Vesna, Vesikari Timo. (2011). Norovirus GII-4 causes a more severe gastroenteritis than other noroviruses in young children. Journal of infectious diseases 203 (10), 1442-1444.

Malm Maria, Krohn Kai, Blazevic Vesna. (2011). Immunization with dendritic cells transfected in vivo with HIV-1 plasmid DNA induces HIV-1-specific immune responses. Archives of Virology 156 (9), 1607-1610.

Nurminen K, Blazevic V, Huhti L, Räsänen S, Koho T, Hytönen VP, Vesikari T. (2011). Prevalence of norovirus GII-4 antibodies in Finnish children. Journal of Medical Virology 83 (3), 525-31.

Puustinen Leena, Blazevic Vesna, Salminen Marjo, Hämäläinen Minna, Räsänen Sirpa, Vesikari Timo. (2011). Noroviruses as a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children in Finland, 2009-2010. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 43 (10), 804-808.

2010

Huhti L, Blazevic V, Nurminen K, Koho T, Hytönen VP, VesikariT. (2010). A comparison of methods for purification and concentration of norovirus GII-4 capsid virus-like particles. Archives of Virology 155 (11), 1855-1858.