Morten Nielsen

Research profile. My primary research interest is focused on developing novel pattern recognition algorithms for the characterization of central features the immune system and different aspects of protein structure. My research in development of novel pattern recognition algorithms aims at developing method that can improve our ability for rational design of vaccines against human and animal infections likeHIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and food and mouth disease. The algorithms developed include Gibbs sampler, artificial neural networks, position specific scoring matrix (PSSM) construction, sequence clustering, hidden Markov models, and sequence profile-based alignment methods. As a central part of my recent research, I have initiated and led the large initiative put forward by our group in characterizing the immune system diversity in humans and other primates, as well as the genomic variation of pathogenic infections. This research has provided us with new tools that allow for a detailed understanding of why different humans (and animals) react different to different pathogen infections. My strong interest for characterization and development of algorithms used in bioinformatics has led me to conduct a course specialized in this area. The course, Algorithm in Bioinformatics (27623) is running each autumn starting 2008.