Maria-Viola Martikainen

Investigating how different environmental exposures (pollen, farming, air pollution, birth factors) affect respiratory health. I focus on how exposures during prenatal period and early life affect immune responses.

Sample materials include i.e. primary blood human cells, co-cultures of secondary cell lines and primary human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE).

Research methods include flow cytometric analysis, cytokine analysis using MSD multiplexed ELISA and traditional ELISA and several toxicological assays (MTT, PI, and DCF). Some experience of transepithelial electrical resistance assay, Bradford assay and RNA extraction.

Collaboration with several national and international research groups.