About Jelena Železnjak

Jelena Železnjak, PhD

Postdoctoral researcher

jelena.zeleznjak@medri.uniri.hr

Dr. Jelena Železnjak holds an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology (Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, 2014) and a PhD in Biomedicine and Health (Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 2019). She began her scientific career in 2015 as a doctoral researcher investigating how murine cytomegalovirus manipulates NK-cell Ly49 receptor specificity. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Proteomics in Rijeka.

Her work focuses on immune responses to viral infections, particularly the mechanisms by which CMV modulates innate and adaptive immunity. During her postdoctoral training at Humanitas Research Hospital (Milano, Italy; 2024-2025), she expanded her research interests to CAR cell-based immunotherapies and respiratory viruses such as influenza. She has co-authored twelve scientific papers (five as first author) and has received several awards, including the State award for science popularization from the Republic of Croatia and Ralph Steinman Memorial Award at 12th ENII EFIS EJI Summer School on Advanced Immunology.

Selected Publications:

    1. Železnjak J*, Lisnić VJ*, Popović B, Lisnić B, Babić M, Halenius A, et al. The complex of MCMV proteins and MHC class I evades NK cell control and drives the evolution of virus-specific activating Ly49 receptors. Journal of Experimental Medicine. 2019.
    2. Mihalić A*, Železnjak J*, Lisnić B, Jonjić S, Juranić Lisnić V, Brizić I. Immune surveillance of cytomegalovirus in tissues. Cellular & Molecular Immunology. 2025.
    3. Angulo G*, Zeleznjak J*, Martínez-Vicente P, Puñet-Ortiz J, Hengel H, Messerle M, et al. Cytomegalovirus restricts ICOSL expression on antigen presenting cells disabling T cell co-stimulation and contributing to immune evasion. eLife. 2021.
    4. Herb S*, Zeleznjak J*, Hennig T*, L'Hernault A, Lodha M, Jürges C, et al. Two murine cytomegalovirus microRNAs target the major viral immediate early 3 gene. Journal of General Virolology. 2022.
    5. Zeleznjak J, Popovic B, Krmpotic A, Jonjic S, Lisnic VJ. Mouse cytomegalovirus encoded immunoevasins and evolution of Ly49 receptors - Sidekicks or enemies? Immunology Letters. 2017.

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