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Mar ia D . Koffa , PhDMar ia D . Koffa , PhD

Personal Data

Work address: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus Dragana, 68100 Alexandroulis, Greece Phone: +30 25510 30661 e-mail: mkoffa@mbg.duth.gr Nationality: Greek Born: 31.01.1970, Athens, Greece

Education 1988-1992: Department of Biology, University of Athens, Greece. B.Sc. in Biology. 1991-1992: Diploma work at the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece. 1992-1997: PhD at the Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, and Medical School, University of Crete, Greece. Thesis title: Co-operation between ras oncogenes, human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the formation of genital neoplasms.

Research Experience 1996 - 1997: Researcher in the laboratory of Prof. L.S. Young, CRC Institute for Cancer Studies, Medical School, University of Birmingham, U.K. 1997 - 2001: Postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory of Prof. J.B. Clements at the Institute of Virology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K. 2001 - 2004: Postdoctoral research fellow in the laboratory of Dr. I.W. Mattaj at the Gene Expression Programme, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany. 2004 - 8/2013: Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. 9/2013 - present: Associate Professor of Cell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.

Teaching 2004 - present: Responsible for the organization, management, and teaching (lectures and practical classes) of three undergraduate modules in the scientific discipline of Cell Biology. 1) Cell Biology (2004 – to date): 2nd year core module. 2) Molecular Cell Biology (2004 – to date): 3rd year core module. 3) Advanced techniques and applications in Cell Biology (2005 – to date): 3rd year module

Awards - Fellowships “Mantalenaki” award from the Greek Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1994). European Association for Cancer Research short-term fellowship (1996). TMR (Training and Mobility for Researchers) Fellowship from the European Union (1997-2000). European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) long-term fellowship, (2001-2002). Marie Curie individual long-term fellowship, (2002-2004). Marie Curie re-integration grant (2005-2006).

Languages Greek (native), English (fluently), German and French (moderate).

Additional activities Member of the local organization committee of the “1st World Congress on Advances in Oncology”, October 1995, Athens; Greece. Member of the local organization committee of the “61st Hellenic Conference of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 14-17 October 2010; Greece. Co-organizer of the 11th ELMI meeting in Alexandroupolis (2011) Member of the European Association for Cancer Research Member of the Society of General Microbiology Member of the Greek Society for Biology Member of the European Light Microscopy Initiative (ELMI)

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Grants

2004-2005: €40.000, Marie Curie re-integration grant. Keeping the spindle in shape: identification and characterization of new components involved for spindle formation. 2005: €70.000, Ministry of Education (Infrastructure and equipment upgrading for improving quality of education) 2005-2007: €11.740, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, 3rd COMMUNITY SUPPORT FRAMEWORK, Bilateral S&T Cooperation between the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Turkey. The role of β-catenin and HURP in hepatocellular carcinoma. 2006-2008: €300.000, The Operational Programme Interreg III Α / PHARE CBC Greece Bulgaria 2000-2006. Development of infrastructure for the identifications of carriers of inherited diseases. 2009-2012: €1.000.000, FP7, Programme Capacities (Strengthening Regional Bioresearch Potential in Greece: Advanced scientific performance at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Thrace (Biostrength). 2010-2013: €1.000.000, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, NSRF 2007-2013, "Cooperation 2009" Development of ixabepilone nanocarriers and their effect on breast cancer therapy. 2011-2013: €715.350, European Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece-Bulgaria. Cross border epidemiology of sexually transmitted viral infections in the female populations: molecular diagnostic approaches. 2011-2014: €15.000, IKY, Programme For The Promotion Of The Exchange And Scientific Cooperation Between Greece And Germany, IKYDA 2011. 2012-2014: €350.000, FP7, Programme ERA.Net RUS, Linking Russia to the ERA, Pilot Joint Call in Innovation. Fluorescent proteins, stable cell lines and lentiviral systems for biomedical studies 2014-2017: €597.000, Fonds National de la Recherche Luxembourg, Core 2013, Investigation of the regulatory pathways that govern fidelity of cell division and tumorigenesis through aneuploidy, FidelCheck.

Publications:

1. Nakos KC, Kesisova IA., Girod A., and Koffa MD. CHD4 is a novel partner of HURP that regulates HURP’s spatial distribution via Aurora A kinase. Submitted

2. Yokoyama H*, Nakos K, Santarella-Mellwig R, Rybina S, Krijgsveld J, & Koffa MD* and Mattaj IW. CHD4 is a RanGTP-dependent MAP that stabilizes microtubules and regulates bipolar spindle formation. Current Biology 23:2443-2451, 2013 * Corresponding authors

3. Kesisova IA, Nakos KC, Tsolou A, Angelis D, Lewis J, Chatzaki E, Agianian B, Giannis A, Koffa MD. Tripolin A, a Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Aurora A Kinase, Reveals New Regulation of HURP's Distribution on Microtubules. Plos One, 8(3):e58485, 2013.

4. Kambas K, Chrysanthopoulou A, Vassilopoulos D, Apostolidou E, Skendros P, Girod A, Arelaki S, Froudarakis M, Nakopoulou L, Giatromanolaki A, Sidiropoulos P, Koffa M, Boumpas DT, Ritis K, Mitroulis I. Tissue factor expression in neutrophil extracellular traps and neutrophil derived microparticles in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis may promote thromboinflammation and the thrombophilic state associated with the disease. Ann Rheum Dis. annrheumdis-2013-203430, 2013.

5. Pazaitou-Panayiotou K, Chemonidou C, Poupi A, Koureta M, Kaprara A, Lambropoulou M, Constantinidis TC, Galaktidou G, Koffa M, Kiziridou A, Kakolyris S, Kolios G, Kortsaris A, Chatzaki E. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuropeptides and receptor in human breast cancer: Correlation to poor prognosis parameters. Peptides, 42:15-24, 2012

6. Kambas K, Mitroulis I, Apostolidou E, Girod A, Chrysanthopoulou A, Pneumatikos I, Skendros P, Kourtzelis I, Koffa M, Kotsianidis I, Ritis K. Autophagy Mediates the Delivery of Thrombogenic Tissue Factor to Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Human Sepsis. Plos One, 7(9):e45427, 2012.

7. Domvri K, Zarogoulidis P, Porpodis K, Koffa M, Lambropoulou M, Kakolyris S, Kolios G, Zarogoulidis K, Chatzaki E. Gene Therapy in Liver Diseases: State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives. Current Gene Therapy, 12: 463-483, 2012.

8. Deftereou T, Lambropoulou M., Chatzaki E., Koffa M., Ypsilantis P., Pagonopoulou O., Grammatikopoulou I., Papadopoulos E., Papalambros A., Kontomanolis E., Papadopoulos N. Increased apoptotic activity on inflammatory human placentas in spontaneous abortions during the first and second trimester of gestation: a histochemical and immunohistochemical study Folia HIistochemica Et Cytobiologica 50: 118-124, 2012.

9. Kaprara A, Pazaitou-Panayiotou K, Chemonidou MC, Constantinidis TC, Lambropoulou M, Koffa M, Kiziridou A, Kakolyris S, Kortsaris A, Chatzaki E. Distinct distribution of corticotropin releasing factor

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receptors in human breast cancer. Neuropeptides, 44: 355-361, 2010. 10. Koffa M.D, Santarella R. A., Tittmann P., Gross H., and Hoenger A. HURP wraps microtubule-ends

with an additional tubulin sheet showing a novel tubulin conformation. J. Molecular Biology, 365: 1587-1595, 2007.

11. Koffa M.D., Casanova C.M., Santarella R., Kocher T., Wilm M. and Mattaj I.W. HURP (Hepatocarcinoma-Upregulated) is part of a Ran-dependent complex involved in spindle formation. Current Biology 16:1-12, 2006.

12. Koffa M.D., Kean J., Zachos G., Rice S.A., and Clements J.B. CK2 protein kinase is stimulated and re-distributed by functional Herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein. Journal of Virology 77:4315-4325, 2003.

13. Luque C.M., Perez-Ferreiro C.M., Perez-Gonzalez A., Englmeier L., Koffa M.D., and Correas I. An alternative domain containing a leucine-rich sequence regulates nuclear cytoplasmic localization of protein 4.1 R. Journal of Biological Chemistry 278:2686-2691, 2003.

14. Koffa M.D., Clements J.B., Izaurralde E., Wadd S., Wilson S.A., Mattaj I.W., Kuersten S. Herpes simplex virus ICP27 protein provides viral mRNAs with access to the cellular mRNA export pathway. EMBO J. l 20:5769-5778, 2001.

15. Zachos G., Koffa M., Preston C.M., Clements J.B., Conner J. Herpes simplex virus type 1 blocks the apoptotic host cell defense mechanisms that target Bcl-2 and manipulates activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase to improve viral replication. Journal of Virology 75:2710-2728, 2001.

16. Koffa M.D., Graham S.V., Takagaki Y., Manley J.L., Clements J.B. The human papillomavirus type 16 negative regulatory RNA element interacts with three proteins that act at different posttranscriptional levels. Proceedings of National Academy of Science (USA) 97:4677-4682, 2000.

17. Sifakis S., Koumantakis E., Koffa M., Ergazaki M., Spandidos D.A. Detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in aborted material using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation 45:109-115, 1998.

18. Sifakis S., Ergazaki M., Sourvinos G., Koffa M., Koumantakis E., Spandidos D.A. Evaluation of Parvo B19, CMV and HPV viruses in human aborted material using the polymerase chain reaction technique. European J. Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 76:169-173, 1998.

19. Koffa M., Kalmanti M., Sakalidou A., Kanavaros P., Liloglou T. and Spandidos D.A. N-ras and K-ras genes point mutations in childhood lymphomas. Archive of Oncology. 5:5-7, 1997.

20. Hassan E., Relakis C., Matalliotakis I., Kalogeraki A., Koffa M., Delides G., Koumantakis E.. Cervical cytology in adolescence. Clinical Experimental Obstetric Gynecology. 24:28-30, 1997.

21. Constantinidou M., Chalevelakis G., Economopoulos T., Koffa M., Liloglou T., Anastassiou C., Yalouris A., Spandidos D.A., Raptis S. Codon 12 ras mutations in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome: incidence and prognostic value. Annals of Hematology. 74:11-14, 1997.

22. Spandidos D.A., Sourvinos G., and Koffa M. ras genes, p53 and HPV as prognostic indicators in human cancer. Oncology Reports 4:211-218, 1997. Review.

23. Koffa M., Spandidos D.A. Oncogenes and onco-suppressor genes in female genital cancer. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 816:347-355, 1997. Review.

24. Varras M.N., Koffa M., Koumantakis E., Ergazaki M., Protopapa E., Michalas S., Spandidos D.A. ras gene mutations in human endometrial carcinoma. Oncology. 53:505-510, 1996.

25. Zachos G., Varras M., Koffa M., Ergazaki M., Spandidos D.A. Glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors have elevated activity in human endometrial and ovarian tumors as compared to the adjacent normal tissues and recognize sequence elements of the H-ras proto-oncogene. Japanese Journal of Cancer Research 87:916-922, 1996.

26. Noutsou A., Koffa M., Ergazaki M., Siafakas N. and Spandidos D.A. Detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) and K-ras mutations in human lung carcinomas. International Journal of Oncology 8:1089-1093, 1996.

27. Zachos G., Varras M., Koffa M., Ergazaki M., Spandidos D.A. The association of the H-ras oncogene and steroid hormone receptors in gynecological cancer. J. Experimental Therapeutics & Oncology. 1:335-341,1996. Review.

28. Spandidos D.A, Koffa M., Sourvinos G. and Kiaris H. Oncogenes and oncosuppressor genes in the prevention and therapy of breast cancer. In: Breast Cancer, Advances in Biology and Therapeutics. F. Calvo, M. Crepin, H. Magdelenut (eds) John Libbey Eurotext pp.27-31, 1996.

29. Koffa M., Koumantakis E., Ergazaki M., Tsatsanis C., and Spandidos D.A. Association of herpesvirus infection with the development of genital cancer. International Journal of Cancer 63:58-62, 1995.

30. Koffa M., Simiakaki H., Ergazaki M., Papaefthimiou M., Karakatsani K., Diakomanolis E., and Spandidos D.A. HPV detection in stained cytological cervical specimens and correlation with cytology and histology. Oncology Reports 2:1085-1088, 1995.

31. Koffa M., Koumantakis E., Ergazaki M., Malamou-Mitsi V., and Spandidos D.A. Detection of ras gene mutation and HPV in lesions of the human female reproductive tract. International Journal of Oncology 5:189-195, 1994.

32. Koffa M., Malamou-Mitsi V., Agnantis N.J, and Spandidos D.A. Mutational activation of K-ras oncogene in human breast tumors. International Journal of Oncology 4:573-576, 1994.

33. Ergazaki M., Xinarianos G., Giannoudis A., Koffa M., Liloglou T., Kattamis Ch., and Spandidos D.A. Detection of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in patients with b-thalassemia. Oncology Reports 1:813-816, 1994.

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34. Liloglou T., Giannoudis A., Ergazaki M., Koffa M. and Spandidos D.A. Detection of the Epstein-Barr virus by the polymerase chain reaction in immunosuppressed and immunocompromised patients. Oncology Reports 1:809-811, 1994.

35. Ergazaki M., Xinarianos G., Koffa M., Liloglou T. and Spandidos D.A. Detection of human Cytomegalovirus by the polymerase chain reaction in immunosuppressed and immunocompromised patients. Oncology Reports 1: 805-808, 1994.

36. Ergazaki M., Liloglou T., Koffa M. Kostakis A., Haliassos A., Spandidos D.A. Detection of the cytomegalovirus by the polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification in a kidney transplanted patient. In Vivo. 7:531-534, 1993.