Mini-symposium on viral infections and myocardial diseases
08/07/2024Event brought together experts in the field of viral infections in Würzburg.
The Mini-Symposium brought together experts in the field of viral infections and provided insights into the latest advancements, with a particular focus on cytomegalovirus (CMV) and cardiovascular diseases. CMV appears to play a significant role by latently infecting various types of cells, often leading to heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases.
The symposium took place at the Institute of Systems Immunology at the end of June. Numerous scientists conducting immunology research in Würzburg used the opportunity to come together and exchange expertise – participants from Helmholtz Institute, University Hospital Würzburg, Institute of Pharmacology/Toxicology and Virology, Institute of Systems Immunology and Comprehensive Heart Failure Center Würzburg (CHFC) joint the event.
Cardiac macrophages, dendritic cells and viral myocarditis
The keynote was held by Dr Slava Epelman MD, PhD. He is a Clinician-Scientist in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at the University Toronto, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and a Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network.
Slava Epelman is a specialist in tissue macrophages and gave an insightful talk about their role in various tissues. He also discussed the role of myeloid cells in the myocardium under steady-state conditions and their contribution to heart regeneration following myocardial infarction, hypertension, or viral myocarditis.
Lectures were held by Marko Šustić, Department of Internal medicine and Department of Cardiology, MEDRI, Rijeka, Croatia, Elena Dapergola, Würzburg University, Alexandra Cirnu, University Hospital Würzburg and Diyaa Ashour, CHFC Würzburg.
Gustavo Ramos and Georg Gasteiger, both Professors at Würzburg University, chaired the symposium.