Adnane Achour

Adnane Achour

Professor
Telephone: +46852481539
Visiting address: Science for Life Laboratory Tomtebodavägen 23 A, 17165 Solna
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 Infekt Achour A, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • Professor Adnane Achour is born in Rabat, Morocco in 1967. In 1988, he received a DEUG degree (Diplome d'Etudes Universitaires Générales, Sciences Naturelles, Chimie, Mathématiques et Physique), at the Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc-Roussillon (USTL), Montpellier, France. He thereafter moved to Umeå in Sweden where he received adequate education in Swedish language and came first ranked in the national Rikstest (Communication aptitude in Swedish at an academic level) at Umeå University. In 1990, he received his Bachelor diploma (B.Sc.) in Biophysical Chemistry at Umeå University. Finally, Dr Achour became Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) in Chemical Engineering in 1994 at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

    Adnane Achour initiated thereafter his PhD studies in the research group of Prof. Klas Kärre at the Deparment of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at the Karolinska Institutet. He defended in thesis entitled ‘Structural studies of MHC class I complexes: Implications for NK- and T-cell recognition’ in the beginning of 2001. The studies presented in the PhD thesis combined functional immunology with structural biology, biochemistry and biophysical analyses. Dr Achour thereafter joined the research group of Prof. Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren within the same department for a period of two years on a fellowship from the Network for Inflammation Research (Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forksning, SSF), before participating in the creation and design of the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) within the Department of Medicine in Huddinge at the Karolinska Institutet. Dr Achour was given the opportunity in 2003 to create his own research group within the same center, which he accepted with great enthusiasm, initiating a large amount of studies that focused on structural, biophysical and immunological studies of pathogen-derived virulence-associated proteins.

    Dr Achour became Associate Professor in Molecular Immunology in 2007. He received in 2008 a six-years senior scientist position from the Swedish Research Council in Tumor-directed Therapy (Rådsforkare, Vetenskapsrådet). After spending a period of 10 years at CIM, Dr Achour was recruited to the Department of Medicine in Solna at the Karolinska Institutet where his research group is now part of the Division for Infectious Diseases. Dr Achour was also asked in 2003 to join the newly created Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) which is a national center for molecular biosciences with focus on health and environmental research in Stockholm. SciLifeLab is a national resource and represents an important collaborative effort between the four universities Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University. Thus although affiliated to the Department of Medicine in Solna, the research group of Associate Professor Achour, that comprises 10 colleagues and students, is presently localized within the premises of the SciLifeLab center. Furthermore, Dr Achour is the director of the newly created national platform for mass-cytometry, comprising four senior scientists, that provides services to the entire Swedish scientific community,

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Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2024 - 31 December 2027
    We will revise methodology of biomolecular NMR to meet new challenges and opportunities of the post AlphaFold2 integrative life-science studies. We develop a task-oriented approach that combines a novel set of selective and spin system optimized NMR experiments with a next-generation signal processing and analysis using deep learning, artificial neural networks, and automation.The new methodology, which we call Focused Spectroscopy (FOSY), deviates from the traditional approach of uniform data sampling and universal broadband experiments. Instead, FOSY “focuses” sensitivity and resolution at a few but the most important spins residing at hotspots of a protein system. In its turn, advent of the deep learning and artificial neural networks will significantly rehaul the NMR toolbox for spectra acquiring, processing, and analysis. The new N-FOSY methodology will be developed, finetuned, and demonstrated on a number of collaboration projects on biomedically important and challenging protein systems including the T-cell receptors and peptide bound major histocompatibility complexes (TCR-pMHC), 44 kDa mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1), 57 kDa photosensory module of bacterio-phytochrome, and the 441aa intrinsically disordered protein Tau. The innovative N-FOSY methodology and the novel results afforded by its application in our showcase studies will greatly extend the usability of NMR and enable a broad range of new challenging research lines.
  • Structural and dynamic bases underlying enhanced CD8 T cell activation in cancer and viral infection
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2022 - 31 December 2024
  • Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2022
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods used today to treat cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response of cytotoxic T cells against tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are or resemble endogenous proteins, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. The goal of this work is to study how a new generation of 'superpeptides' that our research group produced using an innovative procedure, with high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I can mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity and be strongly immunogenic. This will mean great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We intend to analyze the structural and dynamic effects of superpeptide modifications on T cell receptor recognition. Our hope is that our studies will allow us to establish a molecular signature, which would facilitate appropriate T cell and/or peptide therapy. We will continue to study the functional effects of such substituted ´superpeptides´ on the CD8-lymphocyte response, focusing on well-established human and mouse cancer models.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 December 2021 - 30 November 2025
    MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules play a crucial role in immune surveillance by presenting intracellular peptides to CD8+ T lymphocytes via T cell receptors (TCRs). Recognition of MHC/peptide complexes by TCRs is a critical event in initiation of immune responses toward cancer and viral infections.Financial support from Vetenskapsrådet and Cancerfonden during the last years have allowed us to design a new generation altered peptide ligands that we call super-peptides, that bind with high affinity to MHC-I molecules. Super-peptides are a powerful and unique tool for improving cancer treatment and vaccines against viral infections. Their increased immunogenicity induces T cell responses of a magnitude never before observed, and the induced CD8+ T cells cross-react with original peptides, resulting in enhanced responses towards cancer and viral targets.Here we intend to combine X-ray crystallography and NMR analyses to assess the structural and dynamic bases underlying the effects of modified peptides on recognition by CD8 TCRs. We are in a unique position to perform such studies based on four well-established different peptides and three TCR models. Besides understanding the possible direct or allosteric effects of the peptide modifications on increased TCR recognition of cancer and viral targets, this study would provide novel insights on pathogen-mediated auto-reactivity. The results from these studies could allow to design novel complementary immunotherapies and/or vaccines.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 December 2021 - 30 November 2023
  • Structural and metabolic pathways underlying elevated CD8-T cell activationin cancer and viral infection
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2018
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods currently used for the treatment of cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response from cytotoxic T cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are body-like proteins or similar, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. We have established a new method that enhances CD8 T cell responses to cancer models. The aim of this work is to study how a new generation of superpeptides, which our research group has developed with a novel approach, with high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I, can mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity and be highly immunogenic. This will provide great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We now intend to transfer this knowledge to human cancer models, as well as to understand the exact metabolic pathways provoked by various peptide modifications. Within the framework of this research period, I would like to 1) prove that super-peptides provoke strong CD8 T cell responses to various cancer models, especially human
    2) develop an mRNA vaccine that presents super-peptides for vaccination against cancer
    3) Understand the exact metabolic pathways initiated by various types of tumor-associated epitopes and superpeptide versions.
  • Structural and functional studies for enhanced T cell receptor elimination of tumor cells
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2017
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods currently used for the treatment of cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response from cytotoxic T cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are body-like proteins or similar, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. The goal of this work is to study how a new generation of "superpeptides" that our research group has developed with a novel approach, with high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I, can mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity and be highly immunogenic. This will provide great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We intend to analyze the structural and functional effects of such substituted "superpeptides" on the CD8 lymphocyte response, focusing on well-established human and mouse cancer models.
  • Structural and functional studies for enhanced T cell receptor elimination of tumor cells
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2016
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods currently used for the treatment of cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response from cytotoxic T cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are body-like proteins or similar, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. The goal of this work is to study how a new generation of "superpeptides" that our research group has developed with a novel approach, with high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I, can mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity and be highly immunogenic. This will provide great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We intend to analyze the structural and functional effects of such substituted "superpeptides" on the CD8 lymphocyte response, focusing on well-established human and mouse cancer models.
  • Structural and functional studies for enhanced T cell receptor elimination of tumor cells
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2015
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods currently used for the treatment of cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response from cytotoxic T cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are body-like proteins or similar, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. The goal of this work is to study how a new generation of "superpeptides" that our research group has developed with a novel approach, with high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I, can mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity and be highly immunogenic. This will provide great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We intend to analyze the structural and functional effects of such substituted "superpeptides" on the CD8 lymphocyte response, focusing on well-established human and mouse cancer models.
  • Development of a new generation of "superpeptides" for the production of cancer vaccines
    Swedish Cancer Society
    1 January 2014
    Peptide-based immunotherapy is one of the experimental methods currently used for the treatment of cancer. MHC class I molecules (MHC-I) play a major role in the immune system by binding intracellular peptides and presenting them to CD8 + T lymphocytes. The elimination of tumors requires a strong response from cytotoxic T cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA). Because many TAAs are body-like proteins or similar, they bind with low affinity to MHC-I and often elicit a weak immunological response. The aim of this work is to develop a new generation of 'superpeptides' with a new approach that our research group has developed. The "superpeptides" will 1) mimic disease-related peptides with weak immunogenicity, 2) be strong immunogenic and 3) have a high affinity and binding stability to MHC-I. This will provide great opportunities for the development of new, more powerful T cell-based cancer vaccines. We intend to analyze the structural and functional effects of such substituted "superpeptides" on the CD8 lymphocyte response, focusing on melanoma and multiple myeloma.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2014 - 31 December 2016
  • Immunomodulation of host-microbe interactions-MOHICAN
    Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
    1 August 2013 - 31 July 2018
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2016
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2013 - 31 December 2016
  • Development of innovative immunotherapeutic drugs
    Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
    1 July 2011 - 30 June 2013
  • Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
    1 January 2011 - 1 January 2016
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2011 - 31 December 2013

Employments

  • Professor, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2015-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2007
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 2001

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