Dana Manuela Savulescu
Research Scientist
National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) – Centre for Vaccines and Immunology (CVI), Johannesburg, South Africa
Since joining CVI, I have been studying various aspects of the immune tolerance in pregnancy, including the prevalence and specificity of antibodies against Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA antibodies) in pregnant women and new-born babies, and the molecular mechanisms involved in the role of endometrial macrophages in immune tolerance.
What are your research interests?
Reproductive Immunology, Immune tolerance in pregnancy, HLA antibodies
Tell us about yourself and your research interests?
My PhD studies focused on molecular and cellular biology of the reproductive axis. Upon completion of
my studies, I decided to study immunological aspects of my research, namely, the role of the immune
system in female reproductive biology.
My main research interest is the immune tolerance developed by mother to the foetus in healthy
pregnancy, as well as the mechanisms underlying deficiencies in this tolerance, which potentially occur in
infertility and pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia and premature birth. Since joining CVI, I have been studying various aspects of the immune tolerance in pregnancy, including the prevalence and specificity of antibodies against Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA antibodies) in pregnant women and new-born babies, and the molecular mechanisms involved in the role of endometrial macrophages in immune tolerance. Additionally, I have been involved in projects exploring other aspects of the immune system, including the role of HLA antibodies in protection against acquisition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, the potency of the indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase (IDO) enzymatic activity as a biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis disease, and the design of a novel biochemical and flow cytometry-based technique for detection of specific T lymphocytes in diagnosis of human disease.
my studies, I decided to study immunological aspects of my research, namely, the role of the immune
system in female reproductive biology.
My main research interest is the immune tolerance developed by mother to the foetus in healthy
pregnancy, as well as the mechanisms underlying deficiencies in this tolerance, which potentially occur in
infertility and pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia and premature birth. Since joining CVI, I have been studying various aspects of the immune tolerance in pregnancy, including the prevalence and specificity of antibodies against Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA antibodies) in pregnant women and new-born babies, and the molecular mechanisms involved in the role of endometrial macrophages in immune tolerance. Additionally, I have been involved in projects exploring other aspects of the immune system, including the role of HLA antibodies in protection against acquisition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, the potency of the indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase (IDO) enzymatic activity as a biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis disease, and the design of a novel biochemical and flow cytometry-based technique for detection of specific T lymphocytes in diagnosis of human disease.
What is your home country?
Israel
What are your online profiles?