Prof. Dr. Amparo Acker-Palmer
Biological and related sciences, Health, Cell Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Vascular Biology, Tumour Biology
Biological and related sciences, Health
Medical protein chemistry, Immunology
Immunology, the complement system, infections, cancer, autoimmune diseases, protein chemistry
Ranked as 1st of 23 applicants for professorship in Medical Inflammation Research, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm; did not accept the position and stayed at Lund University, 2009
Fernström's Prize for Medical Research (Lund University), 2008
INGVARII from Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, individual grant for advancement of future research leaders (18 granted from 401 applicants), 2005
Poul Astrup Prize in Clinical Chemisty, first prize, 2004
Outstanding Young Investigator Award, Malmö University Hospital, 2003
Hain Foundation Award in medicine, 2002 and 2003
Poul Astrup Prize in Clinical Chemisty, second prize, 2000
English, Polish, Swedish
Blom A. M., Kask L. and B. Dahlbäck (2001) Structural requirements for the complement regulatory activities of C4b-binding protein., J. Biol. Chem., 276, 27136-27144. In depth characterisation of structure-function relationships for this major complement inhibitor.
Mark L., Lee W. H., Villoutreix B. O., Proctor D., Blackbourn, D., Spiller B. O. and Blom A. M. (2004) KSHV complement control protein mimics human molecular mechanisms for inhibition of the complement system., J. Biol. Chem., 279, 45093-101. Discovery of a novel complement inhibitor in important pathogenic virus.
Trouw L., Nilsson S., Goncalvez I., Landberg G. and Blom A. M. (2005) C4b-binding protein binds to necrotic cells and DNA, which limits DNA release and inhibits complement activation., J. Exp. Med., 201, 1937-1948. First report on role of complement inhibitor C4BP in handling of necrotic cells and DNA.
Blom A.M., Nandakumar K.S. and Holmdahl R. (2009) C4b-binding protein (C4BP) inhibits development of experimental arthritis in mice., Annals Rheum. Dis., 68, 136-42. Proof of concept that partial inhibition of complement can ameliorate arthritis in vivo. Blom and Nandakumar equal contribution
Potempa M., Potempa J., Kantyka T., Nguyen K., Wawrzonek K., Manandhar S., Popadiak K., Riesbeck K., Eick S. and Blom A. M. (2009) Interpain, cysteine proteinase from Prevotella intermedia inhibits complement by degrading complement factor C3., PLOS Pathogens, 5, e1000316. Discovery of important complement evasion strategy for poorly studied bacterial pathogen.
Happonen K., Saxne T., Aspberg A., Mörgelin M., Heinegård D. and Blom A. M. (2010) Regulation of complement by COMP allows for a novel molecular diagnostic principle in rheumatoid arthritis., Arthritis & Rheumatism, 62, 3574-83. One possible explanation for observed complement activation in arthritic joints.
Leffler J., Martin M., Gullstrand B., Tydén H., Lood C., Truedsson L., Bengtsson A. A. and Blom A. M. (2012) Neutrophil extracellular traps in systemic lupus erythematosus patients that are not degraded activate complement exacerbating the disease., J. Immunol., 188, 3522-31. A novel concept for etiology of SLE.
Holmquist E., Okroj M., Nodin B., Jirström K. and Blom A. M. (2013) Sushi Domain-Containing Protein 4 (SUSD4) inhibits complement by disrupting the formation of the classical C3 convertase., FASEB J., 27, 2355-66. Describes the first function (complement inhibitor) for this protein.
van de Ven J. P. H., Nilsson S. C., Tan P. L., Buitendijk G. H., Ristau T., Mohlin F., Nabuurs S. B., Schoenmaker-Koller F., Smailhodzic D., Campochiaro P. A., Zack D. J., Duvvari M. R., Bakker B., Paun C.C., Boon C. J., Uitterlinden A.G., Liakopoulos S., Klevering B. J., Fauser S., Daha M. R., Katsanis N., Klaver C. C. W., Blom A. M., Hoyng C. B. and den Hollander A. I. (2013) A functional variant in the CFI gene confers high risk of age-related macular degeneration., Nature Genetics, 45, 813-7. Collaborative translational study of mutations in complement inhibitor FI in blindness paving way for therapy. Van de Ven and Nilsson (my group) shared first authors while Blom, Hoyng and den Hollander jointly directed the work as senior authors (equal contribution)
Krus U., King B.C., Nagaraj V., Gandasi, N. R., Sjölander J., Buda P., Garcia-Vaz E., Gomez M. F., Ottosson-Laakso E., Storm P., Fex M., Vikman P., Zhang E., Barg. S., Blom A. M., and Renström E. (2014) The complement inhibitor CD59 regulates insulin secretion by modulating exocytotic events., Cell Metabol., 19, 883-90. Discovery of new function for important complement inhibitor in pancreatic beta cells with relevance for diabetes. Blom and Renström equal contribution
Role of complement in development of rheumatic joint diseases
Clearance of apototic/necrotic cells and their debris by complement with relation to development of autoimmune diseases
Deficiencies of complement inhibitors – genetics and functional analyses of mutated proteins
Strategies developed by microbial pathogens to avoid killing by complement
Complement system in cancer
Structure function relationships of complement inhibitors C4b-binding protein and factor I
Links between complement system and physiology and pathology of pancreatic beta cells
Mechanisms of regulation of complement system, identification of new complement inhibitors
The American Association of Immunologists (belongs to The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology – FASEB), since 2000
International Complement Society from 2000, board 2006 – 2012
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, since 2003
Swedish Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Society from 2003, board 2003 – 2010
New York Academy of Sciences 2007 – 2010
European Complement Network, since 2000 (board from 2007, secretary of society from 2012)
Elected member of Royal Physiographic Society in Lund, since 2008
Frequent reviewer for Austrian Science Fund, The Welcome Trust, The National Kidney Research Fund (UK), Medical Research Council (UK), Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Dutch Arthritis Association, ALF committee Lund University (clinical research), Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, various positions at Uppsala University, Karolinska Institute, Gothenburg University, Umeå University; Swedish Research Council (chairman of a subject group), Royal Physiographic Society in Lund
Growth mindset, self-awareness, resilience, persistence, presentation skills, leadership skills, management skills, networking skills
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Biological and related sciences, Health, Cell Biology, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Vascular Biology, Tumour Biology
Biological and related sciences, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Microscopy
Biological and related sciences, Evolutionary biology, Evolutionary genetics
Biological and related sciences, Microbial bioelectrochemistry, Microbial electrophysiology