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Michael A Schotsaert, PhD
img_Michael A Schotsaert
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Microbiology
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Research Topics
Aging, Antivirals, B Cells, Dendritic Cells, Diabetes, Immunology, Influenza Virus, Interferon, Knockout Mice, Macrophage, Microbiology, Mucosal Immunology, Obesity, SARS Virus, Staphylococcus Aureus, T Cells, Vaccine Development, Viruses and Virology
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Microbiology [MIC]
Schotsaert Lab Website
https://labs.icahn.mssm.edu/schotsaertlab/
Viral infections in the context of comorbidities
More recently we also started studying the impact of comorbidities like advanced age, obesity and diabetes on the host immune response to infection and vaccination in the context of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (Rathnasinghe, Jangra et al., 2021).
Adjuvant, antivirals and vaccine research
The Schotsaert laboratory uses its expertise in immunology and preclinical animal models to compare, characterize, validate and optimize new and existing adjuvants, antivirals and vaccines to which it has access through strategic collaborations with other research labs and industry.
Skewing of host immune responses to infection by pre-existing immunity
The Schotsaert laboratory focuses on how host-immune responses to infection are affected by pre-existing immunity provided by previous infection and/or vaccination. We have previously shown that the host immune response to influenza infection and Staphylococcus superinfection is different in vaccinated versus unvaccinated mice, and can affect protection during reinfection (Choi et al., 2019, 2020). We are currently investigating the immunological mechanisms that underlie this immune skewing by vaccination with a strong focus on myeloid cell biology.
SARS-CoV-2 research
We have established preclinical infection models for SARS-CoV-2 (Syrian Golden hamster and mice) to evaluate vaccines and adjuvants and to immunologically characterize host immune responses to vaccination and infection with the aim to find immune-correlates of protection (Rathnasinghe et al., 2020, Rathnasinghe, Jangra et al., 2021). We have established pipelines to study immune escape by SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern using microneutralization assays and animal vaccination/challenge models (Jangra et al., 2021).

PhD in molecular biotechnology, Ghent University

master's in bio-engineering sciences, Ghent University

master's in molecular medical biotechnology, Ghent University

88
Publications

Selected Publications

Plitidepsin as an Immunomodulator against Respiratory Viral Infections. Alejandro Losada, Nuria Izquierdo-Useros, Pablo Aviles, Júlia Vergara-Alert, Irene Latino, Joaquim Segalés, Santiago F. Gonzalez, Carmen Cuevas, Dàlia Raïch-Regué, María J. Muñoz-Alonso, Daniel Perez-Zsolt, Jordana Muñoz-Basagoiti, Jordi Rodon, Lauren A. Chang, Prajakta Warang, Gagandeep Singh, Marco Brustolin, Guillermo Cantero, Núria Roca, Mònica Pérez, Eugenio Bustos-Morán, Kris White, Michael Schotsaert, Adolfo García-Sastre. Journal of Immunology

Lipid Nanoparticle Encapsulation Empowers Poly(I:C) to Activate Cytoplasmic RLRs and Thereby Increases Its Adjuvanticity. Alexander Lamoot, Sonia Jangra, Gabriel Laghlali, Prajakta Warang, Gagandeep Singh, Lauren A. Chang, Seok Chan Park, Gagandeep Singh, Kim De Swarte, Zifu Zhong, Benoit Louage, Emily De Lombaerde, Tingting Ye, Yong Chen, Sara Cuadrado-Castano, Stefan Lienenklaus, Niek N. Sanders, Bart N. Lambrecht, Adolfo García-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert, Bruno G. De Geest. Small

Surface-modified measles vaccines encoding oligomeric, prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoproteins boost neutralizing antibody responses to Omicron and historical variants, independent of measles seropositivity. Miguel Muñoz-Alía, Rebecca A. Nace, Baskar Balakrishnan, Lianwen Zhang, Nandakumar Packiriswamy, Gagandeep Singh, Prajakta Warang, Ignacio Mena, Riya Narjari, Rianna Vandergaast, Kah Whye Peng, Adolfo García-Sastre, Michael Schotsaert, Stephen J. Russell. mBio

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Annenberg Building Floor 15th Floor Room 15-14C

1468 Madison Ave

New York, NY 10029

Annenberg Building Floor 15th floor Room 15-14C

1468 Madison Ave

New York, NY 10029

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.

Dr. Schotsaert has not yet completed reporting of Industry relationships.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.