Elmars GRENS

Professor Elmars GRENS Scientific Director of the Biomedical Research and Study Centre,  University of Latvia Ratsupites iela1 Riga LV 1067 Latvia Tel.: + 371 7808003 Fax: + 371 7442407 E-mail: grens@biomed.lu.lv Home: Laimdotas iela 61-28, Riga LV 1084, Latvia Tel.: + 371 7 569 047 E-mail: elmars@grens.lu.lv

Born: October 9, 1935, Riga, Latvia

Interests:

• Gene Structure and Molecular Genetics
• Regulatory Regions of Messenger RNA
• Protein Ultrastructure
• Immunogenic Proteins and Antigenic Determinants
• Molecular Virology
• Recombinant Proteins - Design and Biotechnology.

Languages: Latvian, English, Russian

Education

• University of Latvia (Faculty of Chemistry), 1958
• Candidate of Science (Chemistry), Institute of Organic Synthesis, 1963
• Doctor of Science (Chemistry), Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga,1968
• Dr.habil.biol., Institute of Molecular Biology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1992

Experience

• Junior and Senior Researcher, Institute of Organic Synthesis, 1958-1975
• Head of Department, Institute of Organic Synthesis, 1975-1991
• Research Director, Institute of Organic Synthesis, 1975-1980
• Director, Institute of Molecular Biology, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1991-1993
• Professor (Molecular Biology), Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 1978-
• Director, Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 1993-2001
• Director, International Center of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 1999-
• Scientific Director, Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, 2001- -

Honours and Awards

• Corresponding Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1982
• Full Member, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1987
• Corresponding Member, USSR/Russian Academy of Sciences, 1987
• Member, Academia Europaea, 1993
• The Latvian Academy of Sciences Grand Medal, 1995
• The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia Prize , 2000

Professional Activities and Memberships

• Member of Presidium and Senate, Latvian Academy of Sciences, 1989-
• Member of Senate, University of Latvia, 1991 - ; (Chairman, 1995 - 1998)
• Member, Latvian Biochemical Society, 1977 - ; (Chairman, 1977-1989)
• Member, Latvian Union of Scientists, 1988 -, (Chairman, 1988-1991)
• Member, Latvian Council of Science, 1990 - , ( Chairman, 1990 and 2000)
• Member, Latvian Council of Science Expert Committee for Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Virology, 1990-1992, 1997 - ; Chairman (1990-1992)
• Editorial Advisory Board for Biokhimiya
• Editorial Board for Molekularnaya Biologiya
• Member, Federation of the European Biochemical Societies, Courses Committee, 1992 - 1996
• Member, European Federation of Biotechnology, Working group - Molecular Genetics, 1992 -
• Member, International Cell Research Organization (ICRO), 1993 -
• Latvian Coordinator for collaboration in RTD with the European Union, 1996 -

Courses:

University of Latvia (Faculty of Biology) -

• Molecular Biology
• Molecular Genetics
• Genetic Engineering
• Nucleic Acids Biochemistry
• Physical Chemistry Methods of Research in Biology

Recent/Representative Publications

• E.Grens. Regulatory Mechanisms of Replication in RNA Bacteriophages, 1974, Riga: Zinatne, 232 pp. (in Russian).
• P.Pumpen, V.Bauman, A.Dishler, E.Gren. Control of replication in RNA bacteriophages. - J.Virol., 1978, vol. 28, pp. 725-735.
• P.Pumpen, A.Dishler, T.Kozlovskaya, V.Bichko, E.Gren, M.Rivkina, A.Grinberg, R.Kukaine. Cloning of hepatitis B virus DNA in Escherichia coli . - Proc. USSR Acad. Sci., 1981, vol. 220, N 4, pp. 1022-1024 (in Russian).
• T.Kozlovskaya, G.Borisova, V.Bichko, J.Kalis, R.Kukaine, E.Gren. Expression of hepatitis B virus surface antigen gene in E.coli. - Gene, 1984, vol. 30, pp. 207-216.
• E.Gren, P.Pumpen. Recombinant virus capsids as new generation of immunogenic proteins and vaccines. - J. All-Union Mendeleyev’s Chem. Soc., 1988, vol. 33, pp. 531-536 (in Russian).
• G.Borisova, B.Arya, A.Dishlers, O.Borschukova, V.Tsibinogin, D.Skrastina, M.Eldarov, P.Pumpens, K.G.Skryabin, E.Grens. Hybrid hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid bearing immunodominant region from hepatitis B virus surface. - J.Virol., 1993, vol. 67, N 6, pp. 3696-3701.
• M.Sallberg, P.Pushko, I.Berzinsh, V.Bichko, P.Sillekens, M.Noah, P.Pumpens, E.Grens, B.Wahren, L.O.Magnius. Immunochemical structure of the carboxy-terminal part of hepatitis B e antigen: identification of internal and surface-exposed sequences. - J. Gen. Virol., 1993, vol. 74, pp. 1335-1340.
• V.Skrivelis, Yu.Steinberg, V.Bichko, E.Gren, A.Tsimanis. The structure of the variable regions of mouse monoclonal antibodies to hepatitis B virus core antigen. - Scand. J. Immunol., 1993, vol. 37, pp. 637-643.
• P.Pushko, T.Kozlovskaya, I.Sominskaya, A.Brede, E.Stankevica, V.Ose, P.Pumpens, E.Grens. Analysis of RNA phage fr coat protein assembly by insertion, deletion and substitution mutagenesis. - Protein Engineering, 1993, vol. 6, pp. 883-891.
• I.Berzins, R.Ulrich, H.Meisel, D.H.Kruger, G.Borisova, P.Pumpens, E.Grens, H.Gelderblom, A.-M. Ladhoff, P. Schnitzler, G.Darai, E.K.F. Bautz. Sites in the core antigen of hepatitis B virus allowing insertion of foreign epitopes. - Vaccine, 1994, pp. 301-308.
• E.Jankevics, G.Makarenkova, A.Tsimanis, E.Gren. Structure and analysis of the 5’flanking region of the human interleukin-2 gene. - BBA, 1994, vol. 1217, pp. 235-238.
• H.Meisel, I.Sominskaya, P.Pumpens, P.Pushko, G.Borisova, R.Deepen, X.Lu, G.H.Spiller, D.H.Kruger, E.Grens, W.H.Gerlich. Fine-mapping and functional characterization of two immuno-dominant regions from the preS2 sequence of hepatitis B virus. - Intervirology, 1995, vol. 37, pp. 330-339.
• P.Pumpens, G.Borisova, R.A.Crowther, E.Grens. HBV core particles as epitope carriers. - Intervirology, 1995, vol. 38, pp. 63-74.
• G.Borisova, O.Borschukova (Wanst), G.Mezule, D.Skrastina, I.Petrovskis, A.Dislers, P. Pumpens, E.Grens. Spatial structure and insertion capacity of immunodominant region of hepatitis B core antigen. - Intervirology, 1996, vol. 39, pp. 16-22.
• G.Borisova, O.Borschukova, D.Skrastina, G.Mezule, A.Dislers, I.Petrovskis, V.Ose, I.Gusars, P.Pumpens, E.Grens. Display vectors. I. Hepatitis B core particle as a display moiety. - Proc. Latv. Acad. Sci., 1997, vol. 51, pp. 1-7.
• E.Avota, V.Berzins, E.Grens, Y.Vishnevsky, Rudiger Luce and Cristof K.Biebricher. The natural 6 S RNA found in Qb-infected cells is derived from host and phase RNA. - J.Mol.Biol., 1998, vol.276, pp. 7-17.
• P.Pumpens, E.Grens. Hepatitis B core particles as a universal display model: a structure-function basis for development. - FEBS Letters, 1999, vol. 442, pp. 1-6.
• G.Borisova, O.Borschukova, D.Skrastina, A.Dislers, V.Ose, P. Pumpens, E.Grens. Behavior of a short preS1 epitope on the surface of hepatitis B core particles. - Biol.Chem, 1999, vol. 380, pp.315-324.
• P.Preikschat, G.Borisova, O.Borschukova, A.Dislers, G.Mezule, E.Grens, D.H.Krüger, P. Pumpens, H.Meisel.  Expression and assembly competence of hepatitis B virus core gene deletion variants occuring in infected liver cells. - J.Gen.Virol., 1999, vol. 80, pp. 1777-1788.
• P.Pumpens, E.Grens. Hepatitis B core particles as a carrier for B cell/T cell epitopes. - Intervirology, 2001, vol. 44, N 2/3, pp. 98-114.
• P.Pumpens, E.Grens. Artificial genes for chimeric virus-like particles. - In: Artificial DNA: Methods and Applications, CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, 2002, pp. 249-327. 
• P.Pumpens, E.Grens, M.Nassal. Molecular epidemiology and immunology of hepatitis B virus infection - an update. - Intervirology, 2002, vol. 45, N 4-6, pp. 218-232.
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Research Projects

• E.Grens (Head of Project). Recombinant Viral Capsids - New Proteins for Diagnostic Use and Vaccination. INCO-COPERNICUS Project PI in Latvia. (1994-1996).
• E.Grens ( Coordinator of Latvian Part of Programme). Research and Development of Immunological Methods. Production of Elisa Tests for the Diagnosis of Hepatitis B. NATO Programme (1995-1997).
• E.Grens ( Coordinator of Latvian Part of Programme). Hepatitis B Virus Assembly, Structure and Entry into New Host Cells. KIRT Programme ( 1995-1997).
• E.Grens ( Head of Programme). Malignant Tumors. Latvian Council of Science (1995-2000).
• E.Grens (Head of Project). Multivalent Chimeric Particles of Hepatitis B Core Antigen. Latvian Council of Science (1994-1996).
• E.Grens (Head of Project). Investigation of Molecular Architecture of Protein Complexes by Means of High-Resolution Methods. Latvian Council of Science (1997-2000).
• E.Grens (Head of Project). Genome Studies of the Latvian Population, their Application for Diagnosis and Prevention of Human Pathology. Latvian Council of Science (2001-2004).
• E.Grens (Programme Director). Genome Studies of the Latvian Population. Latvian Council of Science (2005-2008).

Last update 29.08.2005