معرفی
Prof. Dr. Jean Pieters is a Professor of Biochemistry at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland. He leads a research group focused on the molecular mechanisms of immune cell homeostasis and host-pathogen interactions, particularly involving coronin proteins and their role in T cell regulation and mycobacterial survival.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Maastricht (1985–1989) and undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He has held prestigious positions at the Basel Institute for Immunology and the Netherlands Cancer Institute before joining the University of Basel in 2002.
His research interests center on coronin-mediated cell population size control, signal transduction in immune cells, and host-pathogen interactions, especially in the context of tuberculosis. His lab investigates how coronin 1 regulates T cell survival, macrophage function, and pathogen evasion mechanisms using models ranging from Dictyostelium discoideum to mammalian systems.
The most recent publications reflect a strong trend in understanding the evolutionarily conserved role of coronin in immune regulation, T cell homeostasis, and microbial pathogenesis. His work integrates proteomics, cell biology, and immunology to dissect signaling pathways involving coronin 1, calcineurin, and PI3Kδ.
- Elected Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011)
- Friedrich Miescher Award (2002)
- Pfizer Award (2001)
- Eppendorf Young Investigator Award (1999)
- EMBO long term fellowship (1989)
- Sanofi Young Investigators Prize (1989)
Prof. Pieters has supervised numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers and teaches courses in Cell Biology, Membrane Traffic, and Microbial Pathogenesis. His lab is actively involved in training and mentoring, with a team comprising postdocs, PhD students, and research associates. He has contributed to major discoveries in antigen processing, phagosome biology, and the survival mechanisms of intracellular pathogens, particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
