Rasmus Kjeldsen Jensen: Towards a structural understanding of the complex between complement receptor 3 and iC3b - and how to engineer nanobodies for structural and inhibitory purposes
PhD defence, Friday 26 October 2018. Rasmus Kjeldsen Jensen
During his studies, Rasmus K Jensen’s research has focused on a structural understanding of the proteins, which form the complement system. The complement system is an important part of the innate immune system, but is also vital for host homeostasis and neural development. Rasmus K Jensen studied how the binding of iC3b alters the structural state of complement receptor 3, and opens up for high-resolution studies, which may reveal how recognition of a ligand can lead to phagocytosis. Another main focus of Rasmus K Jensen’s research has been to develop a nanobody inhibitor of the alternative pathway of the complement system. His research describes the mechanism of action of the nanobody and how the nanobody can be engineered to only recognize certain functional states of C3. This allows for development of molecules which could be used for therapeutic intervention in complement mediated diseases.
The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how the complement systems acts and how we can alleviate aberrant complement activation.
The PhD degree was completed at the Department for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University.
This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Friday 26 October 2018 at 13:15.
Place: Building 1523, room 318, Fysisk auditorium, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 120, Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Structural studies of complement receptor 3 and inhibitors of the immune system
Contact information: Rasmus Kjeldsen Jensen, rasmuskj@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 50 41 04 92
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Susan Lea, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Associate Professor Annette Eva Langkilde, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen
Associate Professor Ditlev Egeskov Brodersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University (chair)
Main supervisor:
Professor Gregers Rom Andersen, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, buildings 1520 and 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.