Dr. L.M. (Luca) Zaeck

Luca M. Zaeck joined the Department of Viroscience of the Erasmus MC in 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher. His current research aims to at understand the magnitude, breadth, and longevity of immune responses induced by vaccination or infection, particularly focusing on characterizing the immune response to emerging viral diseases such as mpox and COVID-19.

Emerging viruses, SARS-CoV-2, orthopoxviruses, monkeypox virus, virus immunology, serology.

• 2022 – present: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

• 2021 – 2022: Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald – Insel Riems, Germany

• 2017 – 2021: PhD Student, Institute of Molecular Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald – Insel Riems, Germany

Doctoral thesis: “Advanced light microscopy to resolve spatio-temporal and spatio-morphological infection processes in vitro and in vivo”

• 2014 – 2017: Master of Science (M. Sc.) in Human Biology, University of Greifswald, Germany

• 2011 – 2014: Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) in Human Biology, University of Greifswald, Germany

Selected publications

Distinct COVID-19 vaccine combinations result in divergent immune responses.
L.M. Zaeck*, N.H. Tan*, W.J.R. Rietdijk, D. Geers, R.S.G. Sablerolles, S. Bogers, L.L.A. van Dijk, L. Gommers, L.P.M. van Leeuwen, S. Rugebregt, A. Goorhuis, D.F. Postma, L.G. Visser, V.A.S.H. Dalm, M. Lafeber, N.A. Kootstra, A.L.W. Huckriede, B.L. Haagmans, D. van Baarle, M.P.G. Koopmans, P.H.M. van der Kuy^#, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel^#, R.D. de Vries^#. medRxiv 2023.08.25.23294606 (2023). (*contributed equally; ^#contributed equally)

The risk of future mpox outbreaks among men who have sex with men: a modelling study based on cross-sectional seroprevalence data.
M.C. Shamier*, L.M. Zaeck*, H.M. Götz, B. Vieyra, B.E. Verstrepen, K. Wijnans, M.R.A. Welkers, E. Hoornenborg, B.A.G.L. van Cleef, M.E. van Royen, K.J. Jonas, M.P.G. Koopmans, R.D. de Vries^#, D.A.M.C. van de Vijver^#, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel^#. medRxiv 2023.08.21.23293147 (2023). (*contributed equally; ^#contributed equally)

The implications of mpox breakthrough infections on future vaccination strategies.
M.C. Shamier, L.M. Zaeck, R.D. de Vries, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel. The Lancet Infect Dis (2023).

Immunogenicity of bivalent omicron (BA.1) booster vaccination after different priming regimens in health-care workers in the Netherlands (SWITCH ON): results from the direct boost group of an open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial.
N.H. Tan, D. Geers, R.S.G. Sablerolles, W.J.R. Rietdijk, A. Goorhuis, D.F. Postma, L.G. Visser, S. Bogers, L.L.A. van Dijk, L. Gommers, L.P.M. van Leeuwen, A. Boerma, S.H. Nijhof, K.A. van Dort, M.P.G. Koopmans, V. Dalm, M. Lafeber, N.A. Kootstra, A.L.W. Huckriede, D. van Baarle, L.M. Zaeck, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel, R.D. de Vries, P.H.M. van der Kuy, SWITCH-ON Research Group. Lancet Infect Dis 23, 901-913 (2023).

COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and evolving variants: understanding the immunological footprint.
L.M. Zaeck, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel, R.D. de Vries. Lancet Respir Med 11, 395-396 (2023).

Brief Report: Monkeypox Virus Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies in Clinical Trial Subjects Vaccinated with Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Encoding MERS-Coronavirus Spike Protein.
M.P. Raadsen, C. Dahlke, A. Fathi, M.M. Lamers, P. van den Doel, L.M. Zaeck, M.E. van Royen, E. de Bruin, R. Sikkema, M. Koopmans, E.C. van Gorp, G. Sutter, R.D. de Vries, M.M. Addo, B.L. Haagmans. J Infect Dis (2023).

Low levels of monkeypox virus-neutralizing antibodies after MVA-BN vaccination in healthy individuals.
L.M. Zaeck*, M.M. Lamers*, B.E. Verstrepen*, T.M. Bestebroer, M.E. van Royen, H. Gotz, M.C. Shamier, L.P.M. van Leeuwen, K.S. Schmitz, K. Alblas, S. van Efferen, S. Bogers, S. Scherbeijn, G.F. Rimmelzwaan, E.C.M. van Gorp, M.P.G. Koopmans^#, B.L. Haagmans^#, C.H. GeurtsvanKessel^#, R.D. de Vries^#. Nat Med 29, 270-278 (2023). (*contributed equally; ^#contributed equally)

Light Sheet Microscopy-Assisted 3D Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Respiratory Tract of the Ferret Model.
L.M. Zaeck, D. Scheibner, J. Sehl, M. Muller, D. Hoffmann, M. Beer, E.M. Abdelwhab, T.C. Mettenleiter, A. Breithaupt, S. Finke. Viruses 13 (2021).

Neuroglia infection by rabies virus after anterograde virus spread in peripheral neurons.
M. Potratz, L.M. Zaeck, C. Weigel, A. Klein, C.M. Freuling, T. Muller, S. Finke. Acta Neuropathol Commun 8, 199 (2020).

Astrocyte Infection during Rabies Encephalitis Depends on the Virus Strain and Infection Route as Demonstrated by Novel Quantitative 3D Analysis of Cell Tropism.
M. Potratz, L. Zaeck, M. Christen, V. Te Kamp, A. Klein, T. Nolden, C.M. Freuling, T. Muller, S. Finke. Cells 9, 412 (2020).

High-Resolution 3D Imaging of Rabies Virus Infection in Solvent-Cleared Brain Tissue.
L. Zaeck, M. Potratz, C.M. Freuling, T. Muller, S. Finke. J Vis Exp (2019).

Awards

2023: Van Leeuwenhoek Award (awarded at the Scientific Spring Meeting 2023 of the Royal Dutch Society for Microbiology (KNVM) and the Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology (NVMM))

Grants

2023 – 2024: “Overarching analyses of COVID-19 vaccination strategies in healthy and immunocompromised individuals: ‘Lessons learned’ from the ongoing pandemic” (ZonMw)