Program
FINNISH VIROLOGY DAYS 2026, THURSDAY 19.3.2026
9:00-10:15 MORNING COFFEE & REGISTRATIONS
10:15-10:25 OPENING WORDS FROM THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
PEKKA HALONEN -HONORARY LECTURE TO CELEBRATE CLINICAL VIROLOGY
Chairs: Matti Waris and Tytti Vuorinen
10.30-11.00 Emeritus Professor Klaus Hedman, University of Helsinki: Research is adventure
SESSION I: Clinical Virology and Novel Diagnostics
Chairs: Heli Harvala and Riikka Österback
11:00-11:15 Anne Jääskeläinen, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital: Detection of California serogroup Orthobunyavirus antibodies and Inkoo virus RNA in patients in Finland
11:15-11:30 Miia Halonen, Tampere University: Multiplexed serological assay to study antibody responses against the enterovirus proteome in children
11:30-11:45 Leo Hannolainen, University of Helsinki: Inherited HHV-6a reactivation linked to impaired immune reconstitution following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
11:45-12:00 Maria Juusela, AAVA Pikkujätti Medical Centre: Mid-turbinate swab sampling for antigen test identifies SARS-CoV-2 the best – comparison of three nasal locations
12:00-12:15 Anni Honkimaa, University of Helsinki: JC polyomavirus infection in hiPSC-derived neural cell culture of astrocytes and neurons
12:15-13:45 Lunch break & posters
SESSION II: Emerging Infections, One Health and Epidemiology
Chairs: Heli Harvala and Riikka Österback
13:45-14:00 Eevi Sipponen, Tampere University: Pandemic restrictions reshaped the human virome toward persistent viral shedding
14:00-14:15 Emilia Pulkkinen, University of Helsinki: Preparing for paramyxoviruses using molecular methods – advancing diagnostics and discovering paramyxoviral diversity in wildlife
14:15-14:30 Mariia Bogacheva, University of Helsinki: The role of Zika virus NS1 in development of fetal brain abnormalities
14:30-14:45 Moona Huttunen, University of Jyväskylä: Master’s program in safety engineering – from natural sciences to risk governance
14:45-15:30 Coffee break & posters
SESSION III: Cellular reprogramming during virus infection
Chairs: Sisko Tauriainen and Petri Susi
15:30-15:45 Maija Vihinen-Ranta, University of Jyväskylä: Herpesvirus-induced remodeling of nuclear mechanobiology and bodies
15:45-16:00 Konstantin Dolski, University of Helsinki: Deciphering the first 24 hours of flavivirus infection: viral entry, spread and immune responses in immortalized human keratinocytes
16:00-16:15 Veijo Hukkanen, University of Turku: Are purified viruses pure? Exosome contamination in viral stocks and virus vector preparations revisited
16:15-16:30 Aditya Thiruvaiyaru, University of Helsinki: Identification of host factors required for efficient alphavirus replication
16:30-16:45 Eeva Auvinen, University of Helsinki: Beta human papillomavirus 8 oncoproteins reprogram transcription and epigenetic control in keratinocytes
18:00-19.30 Sparkling wine by the city of Turku & posters
19:30-22:00 Conference dinner
22:00-24:00 MUSIC AND MINGLING
FINNISH VIROLOGY DAYS 2026 FRIDAY 20.3.2026
SESSION IV: Fundamental Virology
Chairs: Sisko Tauriainen and Petri Susi
9:00-9:15 Ankita Gupta, University of Helsinki: Detection of Porcine Norovirus GII.18 Strains in Pigs Using Broadly Reactive RT‑qPCR Assay for Genogroup II Noroviruses
9:15-9:30 Sanna Tervo, University of Turku: Detection of Equine parapoxvirus in stable environment during pastern dermatitis outbreak in Finland
9:30-9:45 Jussi Hepojoki, University of Helsinki: Kolmiovirus infection of boa constrictor kidney cells induces transcriptional activation of innate immunity and suppression of pathways involved in protein translation and cell structure homeostasis
9:45-10:00 Peter Simmonds, University of Turku and Glasgow: Development of a bioinformatic pipeline for hallmark gene sequence and protein structure-based reconstruction of deeper virus evolutionary relationships – applications for virus taxonomy
10:00-11:00 Coffee break & posters
SESSION V: Cellular and Antibody Responses to Vaccination
Chairs: Laura Kakkola and Silvia Gramolelli
11:00-11:15 Milja Belik, University of Turku: T-cell and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants in mRNA-vaccinated health care workers after up to five doses
11:15-11:30 Vinaya Venkat, University of Helsinki: Baseline natural killer cell state affects T-cell response to COVID-19 Pfizer mRNA vaccination
11:30-11:45 Visa Nurmi, University of Helsinki: Anti-spike IgG avidity enhances neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2: a prospective study of primary infections and immunisations
11:45-12:00 Nanna Kangasmäki, University of Tampere: Maternal coxsackievirus B antibodies reduce the risk of early infections – implications for preventive vaccine
12:00-12:15 Sophie Winter, University of Turku: Improving immune responses in avian IAV H5 immunization by sustained release technology
12:15-13:30 LUNCH
SESSION VI: Vaccine Platforms and Intervention Strategies
Chairs: Laura Kakkola and Silvia Gramolelli
13:30-13:45 Tomas Strandin, University of Helsinki: Efficient antibody production to viral antigens via mRNA–lipid nanoparticle vaccination in mice
13:45-14:00 Saana Soppela, University of Tampere: Coxsackie B1 virus-like particle vaccine excluding a conserved immunoreactive capsid region induces potent neutralising antibodies
14:00-14:15 Jussi Palomäki, University of Turku: Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus expressing an extracellular matrix–modifying transgene as a future cancer therapy
14:15-14:30 Miika Karjalainen, University of Jyväskylä: Antiviral boreal tree bark compounds
14:30-14:45 Rauno Naves, University of Turku and Helsinki: Functional and biochemical characterization of engineered human ACE2 decoys for neutralising SARS-CoV-2 variants
YOUNG VIROLOGIST OF 2026 -HONORARY LECTURE TO CELEBRATE THE FUTURE OF VIROLOGY
Chairs: Jussi Hepojoki and Kalle Saksela, Virustautien tutkimussäätiö
14:45-15:15 Talk by the awardee
15:15-15:20 CLOSING REMARKS FROM THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
15:20-16:00 FAREWELL COFFEE