Gustaf Ahlén

About me
Publications
CV
Public outreach and news

About me

PhD, Senior Scientist
Project manager in the VIVAC (Vaccines and Immunotherapies against Viruses
And Cancer) research group
Member of the Work Environment Committee ANA Futura
I have a M.Sc. in molecular cell biology form Södertörn University in 2003.
My PhD was obtained from Karolinska Instutitet in 2007 working on the
development of a therapeutic vaccine for treatment of chronic hepatitis C
virus infection. After my PhD I worked for a couple of years as a post doc at
a research company developing vaccine adjuvants. Back at KI in 2009 as
assistant professor I continued working on vaccine development now as
treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In 2015 I joined GE
Healthcare (now Cytiva) exploring scalable production processes for proteins
and cell based vaccines. Since 2018 I am back at KI as project manager in the
VIVAC research group.

Research

My research focus on development of vaccines against Crimean Congo
Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), SARS-CoV-2 and hepatitis B and D virus.

Articles

Article: GUT. 2023;72(6):1186-1195
Novel prime-boost immune-based therapy inhibiting both hepatitis B and D virus infections
Burm R; Maravelia P; Ahlen G; Ciesek S; Perez NC; Pasetto A; Urban S; Van Houtte F; Verhoye L; Wedemeyer H; Johansson M; Frelin L; Sallberg M; Meuleman P
Article: MOLECULAR THERAPY. 2023;31(2):387-397
Accelerated DNA vaccine regimen provides protection against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus challenge in a macaque model
Hawman DW; Meade-White K; Leventhal S; Appelberg S; Ahlen G; Nikouyan N; Clancy C; Smith B; Hanley P; Lovaglio J; Mirazimi A; Sallberg M; Feldmann H
Article: EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE. 2022;14(10):e15821
A universal SARS-CoV DNA vaccine inducing highly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies and T cells
Appelberg S; Ahlen G; Yan J; Nikouyan N; Weber S; Larsson O; Hoglund U; Aleman S; Weber F; Perlhamre E; Apro J; Gidlund E-K; Tuvesson O; Salati S; Cadossi M; Tegel H; Hober S; Frelin L; Mirazimi A; Sallberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY. 2022;96(3):e0156821-e01521
Nucleoside-Modified mRNA Vaccines Protect IFNAR^-/- Mice against Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Infection
Appelberg S; John L; Pardi N; Vegvari A; Bereczky S; Ahlen G; Monteil V; Abdurahman S; Mikaeloff F; Beattie M; Tam Y; Sallberg M; Neogi U; Weissman D; Mirazimi A
Article: NATURE MICROBIOLOGY. 2021;6(2):187-195
A DNA-based vaccine protects against Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus disease in a Cynomolgus macaque model
Hawman DW; Ahlen G; Appelberg KS; Meade-White K; Hanley PW; Scott D; Monteil V; Devignot S; Okumura A; Weber F; Feldmann H; Sallberg M; Mirazimi A
Article: JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2021;223(1):128-138
Blocking Entry of Hepatitis B and D Viruses to Hepatocytes as a Novel Immunotherapy for Treating Chronic Infections
Maravelia P; Frelin L; Ni Y; Perez NC; Ahlen G; Jagya N; Verch G; Verhoye L; Pater L; Johansson M; Pasetto A; Meuleman P; Urban S; Sallberg M
Article: MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS. 2021;20:100159
Metabolic Perturbation Associated With COVID-19 Disease Severity and SARS-CoV-2 Replication
Krishnan S; Nordqvist H; Ambikan AT; Gupta S; Sperk M; Svensson-Akusjarvi S; Mikaeloff F; Benfeitas R; Saccon E; Ponnan SM; Rodriguez JE; Nikouyan N; Odeh A; Ahlen G; Asghar M; Sallberg M; Vesterbacka J; Nowak P; Vegvari A; Sonnerborg A; Treutiger CJ; Neogi U
Article: CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY. 2021;10(7):e1306
SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity persists through 9 months irrespective of COVID-19 severity at hospitalisation
Sandberg JT; Varnaite R; Christ W; Chen P; Muvva JR; Maleki KT; Garcia M; Dzidic M; Folkesson E; Skagerberg M; Ahlen G; Frelin L; Sallberg M; Eriksson LI; Rooyackers O; Sonnerborg A; Buggert M; Bjorkstrom NK; Aleman S; Stralin K; Klingstrom J; Ljunggren H-G; Blom K; Gredmark-Russ S
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2020;205(9):2437-2446
Expansion of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody-Secreting Cells and Generation of Neutralizing Antibodies in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Varnaite R; Garcia M; Glans H; Maleki KT; Sandberg JT; Tynell J; Christ W; Lagerqvist N; Asgeirsson H; Ljunggren H-G; Ahlen G; Frelin L; Sallberg M; Blom K; Klingstrom J; Gredmark-Russ S
Article: CURRENT GENE THERAPY. 2018;18(6):366-374
Clinical-grade Oncolytic Adenovirus Purification using Polysorbate 20 as an Alternative for Cell Lysis
Moleirinho MG; Rosa S; Carrondo MJT; Silva RJS; Hagner-McWhirter A; Ahlen G; Lundgren M; Alves PM; Peixoto C
Article: GUT. 2018;67(8):1525-1535
Immune-mediated effects targeting hepatitis C virus in a syngeneic replicon cell transplantation mouse model
Levander S; Holmstrom F; Frelin L; Ahlen G; Rupp D; Long G; Bartenschlager R; Sallberg M
Article: VACCINE. 2016;34(25):2821-2833
A non-human hepadnaviral adjuvant for hepatitis C virus-based genetic vaccines
Levander S; Sallberg M; Ahlen G; Frelin L
Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2016;6:24991
Functional differences in hepatitis C virus nonstructural (NS) 3/4A-and 5A-specific T cell responses
Holmstrom F; Chen M; Balasiddaiah A; Sallberg M; Ahlen G; Frelin L
Article: METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 2016;1403:221-244
Methods to Evaluate Novel Hepatitis C Virus Vaccines.
Ahlén G; Frelin L
Article: MOLECULAR THERAPY: METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT. 2016;3:16016
A targeted controlled force injection of genetic material in vivo
Ahlen G; Frelin L; Holmstrom F; Smetham G; Augustyn S; Sallberg M
Article: MOLECULAR THERAPY. 2015;23(3):578-590
Functional Aspects of Intrahepatic Hepatitis B Virus-specific T Cells Induced by Therapeutic DNA Vaccination
Brass A; Frelin L; Milich DR; Saellberg M; Ahlen G
Article: GENE THERAPY. 2014;21(8):739-750
Long-term functional duration of immune responses to HCV NS3/4A induced by DNA vaccination
Ahlen G; Holmstrom F; Gibbs A; Alheim M; Frelin L
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2014;192(4):1671-1680
Cleavage of the T Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase by the Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural 3/4A Protease Induces a Th1 to Th2 Shift Reversible by Ribavirin Therapy
Brenndoerfer ED; Brass A; Karthe J; Ahlen G; Bode JG; Saellberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2013;208(6):1008-1019
A Heterologous Prime/Boost Vaccination Strategy Enhances the Immunogenicity of Therapeutic Vaccines for Hepatitis C Virus
Fournillier A; Frelin L; Jacquier E; Ahlen G; Brass A; Gerossier E; Holmstrom F; Broderick KE; Sardesai NY; Bonnefoy J-Y; Inchauspe G; Sallberg M
Article: MOLECULAR THERAPY. 2013;21(9):1796-1805
Therapeutic DNA Vaccination Using In Vivo Electroporation Followed by Standard of Care Therapy in Patients With Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C
Weiland O; Ahlen G; Diepolder H; Jung M-C; Levander S; Fons M; Mathiesen I; Sardesai NY; Vahlne A; Frelin L; Sallberg M
Article: ALLERGY. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. 2013;68(4):549-552
Identification of galactose-α-1,3-galactose in the gastrointestinal tract of the tick Ixode sricinus; possible relationship with red meat allergy
Hamsten C; Starkhammar M; Tran TAT; Johansson M; Bengtsson U; Ahlen G; Sallberg M; Gronlund H; van Hage M
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2013;190(3):1113-1124
A Synthetic Codon-Optimized Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural 5A DNA Vaccine Primes Polyfunctional CD8⁺ T Cell Responses in Wild-Type and NS5A-Transgenic Mice
Holmstrom F; Pasetto A; Nahr V; Brass A; Kriegs M; Hildt E; Broderick KE; Chen M; Ahlen G; Frelin L
Article: METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 2013;940:239-267
Methods for monitoring gene gun-induced HBV- and HCV-specific immune responses in mouse models.
Ahlén G; Sällberg M; Frelin L
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2012;189(9):4510-4519
TCR-Redirected Human T Cells Inhibit Hepatitis C Virus Replication: Hepatotoxic Potential Is Linked to Antigen Specificity and Functional Avidity
Pasetto A; Frelin L; Aleman S; Holmstrom F; Brass A; Ahlen G; Brenndorfer ED; Lohmann V; Bartenschlager R; Sallberg M; Bertoletti A; Chen M
Article: JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY. 2012;93(Pt 8):1680-1686
Limited effect on NS3-NS4A protein cleavage after alanine substitutions within the immunodominant HLA-A2-restricted epitope of the hepatitis C virus genotype 3a non-structural 3/4A protease
Ahlen G; Chen A; Roe B; Falkeborn T; Frelin L; Hall WW; Sallberg M; Soderholm J
Article: PLOS ONE. 2012;7(10):e46959
Mannosylated Mucin-Type Immunoglobulin Fusion Proteins Enhance Antigen-Specific Antibody and T Lymphocyte Responses
Ahlen G; Strindelius L; Johansson T; Nilsson A; Chatzissavidou N; Sjoblom M; Rova U; Holgersson J
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2012;44(1):55-59
A bi-functional hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) chimera activates HBcAg-specific T cells and preS1-specific antibodies
Malik IR; Chen A; Brass A; Ahlen G; Rahman M; Sallberg M; Qureshi JA; Frelin L
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2011;186(9):5107-5118
Heterologous T Cells Can Help Restore Function in Dysfunctional Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural 3/4A-Specific T Cells during Therapeutic Vaccination
Chen A; Ahlen G; Brenndorfer ED; Brass A; Holmstrom F; Chen M; Soderholm J; Milich DR; Frelin L; Sallberg M
Article: DRUG NEWS AND PERSPECTIVES. 2010;23(10):647-653
ELECTROPORATION: A PROMISING METHOD FOR THE NONVIRAL DELIVERY OF DNA VACCINES IN HUMANS?
Frelin L; Brass A; Ahlen G; Brenndorfer ED; Chen M; Sallberg M
Article: HEPATOLOGY. 2010;52(5):1553-1563
Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Treatment Promotes Apoptosis and Prevents Liver Regeneration in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Chronic Hepatitis C
Brenndorfer ED; Weiland M; Frelin L; Derk E; Ahlen G; Jiao J; Bode JG; Sallberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2010;201(12):1867-1879
Improving on the Ability of Endogenous Hepatitis B Core Antigen to Prime Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes
Nystrom J; Chen A; Frelin L; Ahlen G; Koh S; Brass A; Peterson DL; Fons M; Milich DR; Hultgren C; Sallberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 2009;284(41):28343-28351
The Hepatitis C Virus Non-structural NS5A Protein Impairs Both the Innate and Adaptive Hepatic Immune Response in Vivo
Kriegs M; Buerckstuemmer T; Himmelsbach K; Bruns M; Frelin L; Ahlen G; Sallberg M; Hildt E
Article: GUT. 2009;58(4):560-569
Cleavage of the IPS-1/Cardif/MAVS/VISA does not inhibit T cell-mediated elimination of hepatitis C virus non-structural 3/4A-expressing hepatocytes
Ahlen G; Derk E; Weiland M; Jiao J; Rahbin N; Aleman S; Peterson DL; Pokrovskaja K; Grander D; Frelin L; Sallberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. 2007;179(7):4741-4753
In vivo electroporation enhances the immunogenicity of hepatitis C virus nonstructural 3/4A DNA by increased local DNA uptake, protein expression, inflammation, and infiltration of CD3⁺ T cells
Ahlen G; Soderholm J; Tjelle T; Kjeken R; Frelin L; Hoglund U; Blomberg P; Fons M; Mathiesen I; Sallberg M
Article: GUT. 2006;55(10):1475-1483
The hepatitis C virus and immune evasion:: nonstructural 3/4A transgenic mice are resistant to lethal tumour necrosis factor α mediated liver disease
Frelin L; Brenndorfer ED; Ahlen G; Weiland M; Hultgren C; Alheim M; Glaumann H; Rozell B; Milich DR; Bode JG; Sallberg M
Article: GUT. 2006;55(2):266-274
Relation between viral fitness and immune escape within the hepatitis C virus protease
Söderholm J; Ahlén G; Kaul A; Frelin L; Alheim M; Barnfield C; Liljeström P; Weiland O; Milich DR; Bartenschlager R; Sällberg M
Article: JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2005;192(12):2112-2116
In vivo clearance of hepatitis C virus nonstructural 3/4A-expressing hepatocytes by DNA vaccine-primed cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Ahlen G; Nystrom J; Pult I; Frelin L; Hultgren C; Sällberg M
Article: GENE THERAPY. 2004;11(6):522-533
Codon optimization and mRNA amplification effectively enhances the immunogenicity of the hepatitis C virus nonstructural 3/4A gene
Frelin L; Ahlén G; Alheim M; Weiland O; Barnfield C; Liljeström P; Sällberg M
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All other publications

Review: IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY. 2022;16:100099
ATMP development and pre-GMP environment in academia: a safety net for early cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing.
Silva DN; Chrobok M; Ahlén G; Blomberg P; Sällberg M; Pasetto A
Letter: JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY. 2020;94(18):e01279-e01220
The SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Is a Good Component in a Vaccine
Ahlen G; Frelin L; Nikouyan N; Weber F; Hoglund U; Larsson O; Westman M; Tuvesson O; Gidlund E-K; Cadossi M; Appelberg S; Mirazimi A; Sallberg M
Editorial comment: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS. 2019;50(8):963-964
Editorial: HBV-the naked truth?
Pasetto A; Ahlen G; Sallberg M
Review: MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY. 2015;204(1):131-135
Electroporation for therapeutic DNA vaccination in patients
Sallberg M; Frelin L; Ahlen G; Sallberg-Chen M
Review: DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES. 2013;16(3-5):60-67
Containing "The Great Houdini" of viruses: Combining direct acting antivirals with the host immune response for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Ahlen G; Frelin L; Brenndorfer ED; Brass A; Weiland O; Chen M; Sallberg M
Meeting abstract: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2010;52:S239
IMPROVING ON THE ABILITY OF ENDOGENOUS HEPATITIS B CORE ANTIGEN TO PRIME CYTOTOXIC T LYMPHOCYTES
Chen A; Nystrom J; Frelin L; Ahlen G; Koh S; Peterson DL; Fons M; Milich D; Hultgren C; Sallberg M
Meeting abstract: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2009;50:S47
COMBINATION THERAPY WITH THERAPEUTIC VACCINATION AND INHIBITION OF PD-L1 IMPROVES T CELL FUNCTION IN HCV-TRANSGENIC MICE
Frelin L; Brenndorfer ED; Ahlen G; Chen A; Tjelle T; Kjeken R; Fons M; Mathiesen I; Sallberg M
Thesis / dissertation: 2007
Development of a therapeutic vaccine against the hepatitis C virus
Ahlén, Gustaf

Employments

Project Manager, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2018-

Degrees and Education

Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2007

About me

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Articles

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Degrees and Education

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