University of Copenhagen and Hvidovre Hospital: Immunology and Microbiology 

University of Copenhagen & Hvidovre Hospital: Immunology and Microbiology - miRNA en virus interactions

Wytske Hepkema, Wytskehepkema@gmail.com 
This group mostly researches hepatitis C and related viruses. Hep-C has an interesting interaction with a host miRNA (miR-122). Usually miRNAs have an inhibiting function, and do so by binding to the 3' UTR of mRNAs. However, miR-122, has an opposite function, it enhances viral replication and translation. In addition, its binding is unconventional; miR-122 binds to the 5' UTR. I researched another miRNA virus interaction; bovine viral diarrea virus (BVDV) and miR-17. miR-17 binds similar to "normal" miRNAs, in the 3' UTR. However, miR-17 also enhances viral replication and translation, similar as miR-122 for Hep-C. Usually, mRNAs are capped, and this cap is needed for translation. These viruses depend on an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) for their translation initiation. I researched the effect of miR-17 on translation for different IRESes as compared to capped mRNA.

Learned techniques
Eukaryotic cell culture, quantitative luciferase assay, in vitro RNA transcription, standard cloning techniques, RNA transfection. 

Tips 
Your bachelor internship is a very short internship as compared to your master's or a PhD, so this the time to try something bold and new.