Anja Ramstedt Jensen

Anja Ramstedt Jensen

Professor

Member of:

  • TARGETS team

As head of the TARGETS team my focus is on a family of "sticky" proteins known as the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). P. falciparum is the most pathogenic malaria parasite and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children in sub-Saharan Africa. The virulence of P. falciparum is linked to its expression of PfEMP1 on the surface of infected erythrocytes; these proteins enable the parasites to "stick" to capillaries of the host and are involved in pathogenesis as well of development of immunity to malaria. We have identified a subset of PfEMP1 proteins of importance in severe malaria and are currently investigating their involvement in the molecular mechanisms elicited in cerebral malaria. Read more about our latest discovery at the Advanced Science web site.

Primary fields of research

Research projects include in vitro molecular and immunological characterization of malaria PfEMP1 proteins associated with severe malaria in young children. I always have bachelor and masters projects on hand; please contact (here) if you are interested in learning more about research done in my research group. 

My Researcher Profile at Google Scholar is here.

My ResearcherID profile is here.

My ResearchGate profile is here.

Fields of interest

  • Immunology and pathogenesis of severe P. falciparum malaria with a particular focus on cerebral malaria in children
  • Enhancing malaria research capacity in Africa

Teaching

Teaching immunology to undergraduate and graduate students at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University Coordinator of the MSc course “Chronic Inflammation. From Basic Research to Therapy”.

Possible conflicts of interest

None

Selected publications

  1. Published

    Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 variants induce cell swelling and disrupt the blood-brain barrier in cerebral malaria

    Adams, Yvonne, Olsen, Rebecca Wendelboe, Bengtsson, A., Dalgaard, Nanna, Zdioruk, M., Satpathi, S., Behera, P. K., Sahu, P. K., Lawler, S. E., Qvortrup, Klaus, Wassmer, S. C. & Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, 2021, In: The Journal of Experimental Medicine. 218, 3, 16 p., e20201266.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  2. Published

    Cerebral Plasmodium falciparum malaria: The role of PfEMP1 in its pathogenesis and immunity, and PfEMP1-based vaccines to prevent it

    Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, Adams, Yvonne & Hviid, Lars, 2020, In: Immunological Reviews. 293, 1, p. 230-252

    Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

  3. Published

    Structure-guided identification of a family of dual receptor-binding PfEMP1 that is associated with cerebral malaria

    Lennartz, F., Adams, Y., Bengtsson, A., Olsen, R. W., Turner, L., Ndam, N. T., Ecklu-Mensah, G. D., Moussiliou, A., Ofori, M. F., Gamain, B., Lusingu, J. P., Petersen, J. E. V., Wang, C. W., Nunes-Silva, S., Jespersen, J. S., Lau, C. K. Y., Theander, T. G., Lavstsen, T., Hviid, L., Higgins, M. K. & 1 others, Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, 8 Mar 2017, In: Cell Host & Microbe. 21, 3, p. 403-414 12 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  4. Published

    PfEMP1 – a parasite protein family of key importance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria immunity and pathogenesis

    Hviid, Lars & Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, Apr 2015, Advances in Parasitology. Rollinson, D. & Stothard, J. R. (eds.). Vol. 88. p. 51-84 34 p. (Advances in Parasitology).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    A Novel Domain Cassette Identifies Plasmodium falciparum PfEMP1 Proteins Binding ICAM-1 and Is a Target of Cross-Reactive, Adhesion-Inhibitory Antibodies

    Bengtsson, A., Joergensen, L., Rask, T. S., Olsen, R. W., Andersen, M. A., Turner, Louise, Theander, Thor Grundtvig, Hviid, Lars, Higgins, M. K., Craig, A., Brown, A. & Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, 2013, In: Journal of Immunology. 190, 1, p. 240-9 10 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  6. Published

    Surface co-expression of two different PfEMP1 antigens on single Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes facilitates binding to ICAM1 and PECAM1

    Joergensen, L., Bengtsson, D. C., Bengtsson, A., Ronander, E., Berger, S. S., Turner, Louise, Dalgaard, M. B., Cham, G. K. K., Victor, M. E., Lavstsen, Thomas, Theander, Thor Grundtvig, Arnot, D. E. & Jensen, Anja Ramstedt, 2010, In: PLoS Pathogens. 6, 9, p. e1001083

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

ID: 11501