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KUAN-WEI CHEN, PhD

KUAN-WEI CHEN, PhD

Project Director

Areas of scientific interest

  • Research in house dust mite allergy and the development of new strategies for immunotherapy

I started my scientific career with the topic “Molecular engineering of house-dust mite allergens for diagnosis and treatment” at the Medical University of Vienna, continued with the topic „Synthesis and characterization of house dust mite allergen derivatives for immunotherapy“ and specialized on the engineering of a carrier-bound vaccines for house dust mite allergy. During this time I’ve characterized and evaluated different strategies for vaccine development and also created candidates which can be used for house dust mite specific immunotherapy

  • Research in ragweed allergy

During the cooperation between the Medical University of Vienna and the Oncogen Center the INSPIRED research project was launched where I have the position as project director. The aims are to identify clinical relevant ragweed allergens and their IgE epitopes. The results will enable the development of new diagnostic tools for ragweed allergy.

 

Relevant publications

  1. Zieglmayer, P., P. Lemell, K. W. Chen, R. Schmutz, R. Zieglmayer, O. Pfaar, F. Horak, and S. Vrtala. 2017. Clinical Validation of a house dust mite environmental challenge chamber model. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.
  2. Berings, M., S. Arasi, N. De Ruyck, S. Perna, Y. Resch, C. Lupinek, K. W. Chen, S. Vrtala, G. B. Pajno, C. Bachert, B. N. Lambrecht, M. Dullaers, R. Valenta, P. M. Matricardi, and P. Gevaert. 2017. Reliable mite-specific IgE testing in nasal secretions by means of allergen microarray. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.
  3. Posa, D., S. Perna, Y. Resch, C. Lupinek, V. Panetta, S. Hofmaier, A. Rohrbach, L. Hatzler, L. Grabenhenrich, O. Tsilochristou, K. W. Chen, C. P. Bauer, U. Hoffman, J. Forster, F. Zepp, A. Schuster, U. Wahn, T. Keil, S. Lau, S. Vrtala, R. Valenta, and P. M. Matricardi. 2017. Evolution and predictive value of IgE responses toward a comprehensive panel of house dust mite allergens during the first 2 decades of life. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 139: 541-549 e548.
  4. Resch, Y., K. Blatt, U. Malkus, C. Fercher, I. Swoboda, M. Focke-Tejkl, K. W. Chen, S. Seiberler, I. Mittermann, C. Lupinek, A. Rodriguez-Dominguez, P. Zieglmayer, R. Zieglmayer, W. Keller, V. Krzyzanek, P. Valent, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2016. Molecular, Structural and Immunological Characterization of Der p 18, a Chitinase-Like House Dust Mite Allergen. PLoS One 11: e0160641.
  5. Bouchaud, G., F. Braza, J. Chesne, D. Lair, K. W. Chen, C. Rolland-Debord, D. Hassoun, T. Roussey-Bihouee, M. A. Cheminant, S. Brouard, M. Bodinier, S. Vrtala, and A. Magnan. 2015. Prevention of allergic asthma through Der p 2 peptide vaccination. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 136: 197-200 e191.
  6. Banerjee, S., Y. Resch, K. W. Chen, I. Swoboda, M. Focke-Tejkl, K. Blatt, N. Novak, M. Wickman, M. van Hage, R. Ferrara, A. Mari, A. Purohit, G. Pauli, E. N. Sibanda, P. Ndlovu, W. R. Thomas, V. Krzyzanek, S. Tacke, U. Malkus, P. Valent, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2015. Der p 11 is a major allergen for house dust mite-allergic patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. J. Invest. Dermatol. 135: 102-109.
  7. Eckl-Dorna, J., I. Pree, J. Reisinger, K. Marth, K. W. Chen, S. Vrtala, S. Spitzauer, R. Valenta, and V. Niederberger. 2012. The majority of allergen-specific IgE in the blood of allergic patients does not originate from blood-derived B cells or plasma cells. Clin. Exp. Allergy 42: 1347-1355.
  8. Chen, K. W., K. Blatt, W. R. Thomas, I. Swoboda, P. Valent, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2012. Hypoallergenic Der p 1/Der p 2 combination vaccines for immunotherapy of house dust mite allergy. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 130: 435-443 e434.
  9. Casset, A., A. Mari, A. Purohit, Y. Resch, M. Weghofer, R. Ferrara, W. R. Thomas, C. Alessandri, K. W. Chen, F. de Blay, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2012. Varying Allergen Composition and Content Affects the in vivo Allergenic Activity of Commercial Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Extracts. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 159: 253-262.
  10. Chen, K. W., M. Focke-Tejkl, K. Blatt, M. Kneidinger, A. Gieras, F. Dall’Antonia, I. Fae, G. Fischer, W. Keller, P. Valent, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2012. Carrier-bound nonallergenic Der p 2 peptides induce IgG antibodies blocking allergen-induced basophil activation in allergic patients. Allergy 67: 609-621.
  11. Allam, J. P., P. A. Wurtzen, M. Reinartz, J. Winter, S. Vrtala, K. W. Chen, R. Valenta, M. Wenghoefer, T. Appel, E. Gros, B. Niederhagen, T. Bieber, K. Lund, and N. Novak. 2010. Phl p 5 resorption in human oral mucosa leads to dose-dependent and time-dependent allergen binding by oral mucosal Langerhans cells, attenuates their maturation, and enhances their migratory and TGF-beta1 and IL-10-producing properties. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 126: 638-645 e631.
  12. Gangl, K., R. Reininger, D. Bernhard, R. Campana, I. Pree, J. Reisinger, M. Kneidinger, M. Kundi, H. Dolznig, D. Thurnher, P. Valent, K. W. Chen, S. Vrtala, S. Spitzauer, R. Valenta, and V. Niederberger. 2009. Cigarette smoke facilitates allergen penetration across respiratory epithelium. Allergy 64: 398-405.
  13. Sonneck, K., C. Baumgartner, L. Rebuzzi, K. Marth, K. W. Chen, A. W. Hauswirth, S. Florian, S. Vrtala, H. J. Buhring, R. Valenta, and P. Valent. 2008. Recombinant allergens promote expression of aminopeptidase-n (CD13) on basophils in allergic patients. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 21: 11-21.
  14. Chen, K. W., G. Fuchs, K. Sonneck, A. Gieras, I. Swoboda, N. Douladiris, B. Linhart, M. Jankovic, T. Pavkov, W. Keller, N. G. Papadopoulos, P. Valent, R. Valenta, and S. Vrtala. 2008. Reduction of the in vivo allergenicity of Der p 2, the major house-dust mite allergen, by genetic engineering. Mol. Immunol. 45: 2486-2498.
  15. Bussmann, C., L. Maintz, J. Hart, J. P. Allam, S. Vrtala, K. W. Chen, T. Bieber, W. R. Thomas, R. Valenta, T. Zuberbier, A. Sager, and N. Novak. 2007. Clinical improvement and immunological changes in atopic dermatitis patients undergoing subcutaneous immunotherapy with a house dust mite allergoid: a pilot study. Clin. Exp. Allergy 37: 1277-1285.
  16. Stern, D. A., J. Riedler, D. Nowak, C. Braun-Fahrlander, I. Swoboda, N. Balic, K. W. Chen, S. Vrtala, H. Gronlund, M. van Hage, R. Valenta, S. Spitzauer, E. Von Mutius, and D. Vercelli. 2007. Exposure to a farming environment has allergen-specific protective effects on TH2-dependent isotype switching in response to common inhalants. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 119: 351-358.
  17. Dehlink, E., T. Eiwegger, M. Gerstmayr, E. Kampl, B. Bohle, K. W. Chen, S. Vrtala, R. Urbanek, and Z. Szepfalusi. 2006. Absence of systemic immunologic changes during dose build-up phase and early maintenance period in effective specific sublingual immunotherapy in children. Clin. Exp. Allergy 36: 32-39.

 

Affiliations

Institute for Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria

OncoGen Centre – SCJUPB Timisoara

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