• 2008 Zagreb, Croatia, Faculty of Science, Unversity of Zagreb. PhD; Field of biochemistry and molecular biology
• 2005 Zagreb, Croatia, Faculty of Science, Unversity of Zagreb, Mr. Sc. ; Field of biology
• 2001 Zagreb, Croatia, Faculty of Science, Unversity of Zagreb, B. Sc. ; Field of molecular biology

2020-2024 Croatian Science Foundation research project: Adenovirus endocytosis and innate immune response

2018-2019 HR SLO bilateral project: Testing biocompatibility of molybdenum and tungsten based nanoparticles: measuring cytotoxicity and inflammatory response in human cell lines

2016-2017 HAMAG BICRO Proof of concept: VirusHunter-identifying new potentially pathogen viruses

2015-2018 Croatian Science Foundation Installation research project: Understanding cell entry pathway of Adenovirus type 26: way of improving vaccine vectors

2010-2011 UKF: Deciphering entry pathway of NGR-retargeted adenovirus vectors by confocal microscopy

Assistant on postgraduate study:

• Faculty of Science, Zagreb; “Molecular basis of gene therapy”, assistant to principal lecturer dr Andreja Ambriovic Ristov;
• Faculty of food technology and biotechnology, Zagreb; “Gene therapy”, assistant to principal  lecturer dr Andreja Ambriovic Ristov

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=majhen

1. Bates EA, Davies JA, Váňová J, Nestić D, Meniel VS, Koushyar S, Cunliffe TG, Mundy RM, Moses E, Uusi-Kerttula HK, Baker AT, Cole DK, Majhen D, Rizkallah PJ, Phesse T, Chester JD, Parker AL. Development of a low-seroprevalence, αvβ6 integrin-selective virotherapy based on human adenovirus type 10. Mol Ther Oncolytics. 2022 Mar 16;25:43-56. doi: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.03.007.
2. Nestić D, Božinović K, Drašković I, Kovačević A, van den Bosch J, Knežević J, Custers J, Ambriović-Ristov A, Majhen D. Human Adenovirus Type 26 Induced IL-6 Gene Expression in an αvβ3 Integrin- and NF-κB-Dependent Manner. Viruses. 2022 Mar 24;14(4):672. doi: 10.3390/v14040672.
3. Majhen D. Human adenovirus type 26 basic biology and its usage as vaccine vector. Rev Med Virol. 2022 Mar 12:e2338. doi: 10.1002/rmv.2338.
4. Nestić D, Hozić A, Brkljača Z, Butorac A, Pažur K, Jullienne B, Cindrić M, Ambriović-Ristov A, Benihoud K, Majhen D. Integrin αvβ3 and disulfide bonds play important roles in NGR-retargeted adenovirus transduction efficiency. Life Sci. 2022 Feb 15;291:120116. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120116.
5. Nestić D, Božinović K, Pehar I, Wallace R, Parker AL, Majhen D. The Revolving Door of Adenovirus Cell Entry: Not All Pathways Are Equal. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Sep 29;13(10):1585. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101585.
6. Nestić D, Uil TG, Ma J, Roy S, Vellinga J, Baker AH, Custers J, Majhen D. αvβ3 Integrin is Required for Efficient Infection of Epithelial Cells with Human Adenovirus Type 26. J Virol. 2018 Oct 17. pii: JVI.01474-18. 
7. Bressy C, Majhen D, Raddi N, Jdey W, Cornilleau G, Zig L, Guirouilh-Barbat J, Lopez BS, Bawa O, Opolon P, Grellier E, Benihoud K. Combined therapy of colon carcinomas with an oncolytic adenovirus and valproic acid. Oncotarget. 2017 Oct 26;8(57):97344-97360.
8. MajhenD, Calderon H, Chandra N, Fajardo CA, Rajan A, Alemany R, Custers J. Adenovirus-based vaccines for fighting infectious diseases and cancer: progress in the field. Hum Gene Ther. 2014 Apr;25(4):301-17.
9. MajhenD, Stojanović N, Vukić D, Pichon C, Leduc C, Osmak M, Ambriović-Ristov A. Increased adenovirus Type 5 mediated transgene expression due to RhoB down-regulation. PLoS One. 2014 Jan 22;9(1):e86698.
10. MajhenD, Richardson J, Vukelić B, Dodig I, Cindrić M, Benihoud K, Ambriović-Ristov A. The disulfide bond of an RGD4C motif inserted within the Hi loop of the adenovirus type 5 fiber protein is critical for retargeting to αv -integrins. J Gene Med. 2012 Dec;14(12):788-97.
11. Majhen D, Nemet J, Richardson J, Gabrilovac J, Hajsig M, Osmak M, Eloit M, Ambriović-Ristov A. Differential role of alpha(v)beta(3) and alpha(v)beta(5) integrins in internalization and transduction efficacies of wild type and RGD4C fiber-modified adenoviruses. Virus Res. 2009 Jan;139(1):64-73.
12. Majhen D, Gabrilovac J, Eloit M, Richardson J, Ambriović-Ristov A. Disulfide bond formation in    NGR fiber-modified adenovirus is essential for retargeting to aminopeptidase N. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Sep 15;348(1):278-87.

Journal articles

Scientific and review papers

• Košćak, M., Pehar, I., Božinović, K., Kumar Kole, G., Sobočanec, S., Podgorski, I., Pinterić, M., Müller-Buschbaum, K., Majhen, D., Piantanida, I. & Marder, T. (2022) Para-N-Methylpyridinium Pyrenes: Impact of Positive Charge on ds-DNA/RNA and Protein Recognition, Photo-Induced Bioactivity, and Intracellular Localisation. Pharmaceutics, 14 (11), 2499, 22 doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14112499.

  doiwww.mdpi.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Belovari, M., Nestić, D., Marić, I., Majhen, D., Cametti, M. & Džolić, Z. (2022) Photophysical characterization and the self-assembly properties of mono- and bis-pyrene derivatives for cell imaging applications. New journal of chemistry, 46, 22518-22524 doi:10.1039/d2nj03843a.

  doi

• Baranašić, J., Šutić, M., Catalano, C., Drpa, G., Huhn, S., Majhen, D., Nestić, D., Kurtović, M., Rumora, L., Bosnar, M., Vukić Dugac, A., Sokolović, I., Popovic-Grle, S., Oršolić, N., Škrinjarić-Cincar, S., Jakopović, M., Samaržija, M., Weber, A., Försti, A. & Knežević, J. (2022) TLR5 Variants Are Associated with the Risk for COPD and NSCLC Development, Better Overall Survival of the NSCLC Patients and Increased Chemosensitivity in the H1299 Cell Line. Biomedicines, 10 (9), 2240, 23 doi:10.3390/biomedicines10092240.

  doiwww.mdpi.com

• Nestić, D., Custers, J., Švec, D. & Majhen, D. (2022) Human Adenovirus Type 26 Infection Mediated by αvβ3 Integrin Is Caveolin-1-Dependent. Microbiology Spectrum, 10 (4), e01097-22, 17 doi:10.1128/spectrum.01097-22.

  doijournals.asm.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Čipor, I., Kurutos, A., Dobrikov, G., Kamounah, F., Majhen, D., Nestić, D. & Piantanida, I. (2022) Structure-dependent mitochondria or lysosome-targeting styryl fluorophores bearing remarkable Stokes shift. Dyes and pigments, 206, 110626, 12 doi:10.1016/j.dyepig.2022.110626.

  doi

• Božinović, K., Nestić, D., Michail, E., Ferger, M., Košćak, M., Lambert, C., Majhen, D., Marder, T. & Piantanida, I. (2022) Diethynylarene-linked bis(triarylborane)cations as theranostic agents for tumor cell and virus-targeted photodynamic therapy. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 234, 112523, 12 doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112523.

  doi

• Krošl, I., Košćak, M., Ribičić, K., Žinić, B., Majhen, D., Božinović, K. & Piantanida, I. (2022) Impact of the Histidine‐Triazole and Tryptophan‐Pyrene Exchange in the WHW Peptide: Cu(II) Binding, DNA/RNA Interactions and Bioactivity. International journal of molecular sciences, 23, 7006, 24 doi:10.3390/ijms23137006.

  doiwww.mdpi.comwww.mdpi.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Majhen, D. (2022) Human adenovirus type 26 basic biology and its usage as vaccine vector. Reviews in medical virology, 32 (6), e2338, 11 doi:10.1002/rmv.2338.

  doi

• Kole, G., Košćak, M., Amar, A., Majhen, D., Božinović, K., Brkljača, Z., Ferger, M., Michail, E., Lorenzen, S., Friedrich, A., Krummenacher, I., Moos, M., Braunschweig, H., Boucekkine, A., Lambert, C., Halet, J., Piantanida, I., Müller-Buschbaum, K. & Marder, T. (2022) Methyl Viologens of Bis-(4'-pyridylethynyl)arenes - Structures, Photophysical and Electrochemical Studies, and their Potential Application in Biology. Chemistry : a European journal, 28 (40), e202200753, 22 doi:10.1002/chem.202200753.

  doichemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Bates, E., Davies, J., Vanova, J., Nestić, D., Meniel, V., Koushyar, S., Cunliffe, T., Mundy, R., Moses, E., Uusi-Kerttula, H., Baker, A., Cole, D., Majhen, D., Rizkallah, P., Phesse, T., Chester, J. & Parker, A. (2022) Development of a low-seroprevalence, αvβ6 integrin-selective virotherapy based on human adenovirus type 10. Molecular Therapy - Oncolytics, 25, 43-56 doi:10.1016/j.omto.2022.03.007.

  doiwww.sciencedirect.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Nestić, D., Božinović, K., Drašković, I., Kovačević, A., van den Bosch, J., Knežević, J., Custers, J., Ambriović- Ristov, A. & Majhen, D. (2022) Human adenovirus type 26 induced IL-6 gene expression in an αvβ3 integrin- and NF-κB-dependent manner. Viruses-Basel, 14 (4), 672, 16 doi:10.3390/v14040672.

  doiwww.mdpi.comfulir.irb.hr

• Nestić, D., Hozić, A., Brkljača, Z., Butorac, A., Pažur, K., Jullienne, B., Cindrić, M., Ambriović-Ristov, A., Benihoud, K. & Majhen, D. (2022) Integrin αvβ3 and disulfide bonds play important roles in NGR-retargeted adenovirus transduction efficiency. Life sciences, 291, 120116, 9 doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120116.

  doi

• Nestić, D., Božinović, K., Pehar, I., Wallace, R., Parker, A. & Majhen, D. (2021) The Revolving Door of Adenovirus Cell Entry: Not All Pathways Are Equal. Pharmaceutics, 13 (10), 1585, 18 doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13101585.

  doiwww.mdpi.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Berger, S., Rühe, J., Schwarzmann, J., Phillipps, A., Richard, A., Ferger, M., Krummenacher, I., Tumir, L., Ban, Ž., Crnolatac, I., Majhen, D., Barišić, I., Piantanida, I., Schleier, D., Griesbeck, S., Friedrich, A., Braunschweig, H. & Marder, T. (2021) Bithiophene-Cored, mono-, bis-, and tris-(Trimethylammonium)-Substituted, bis-Triarylborane Chromophores: Effect of the Number and Position of Charges on Cell Imaging and DNA/RNA Sensing. Chemistry : a European journal, 27, 14057-14072 doi:10.1002/chem.202102308.

  doichemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Orehovec, I., Matković, M., Pehar, I., Majhen, D. & Piantanida, I. (2021) Bis-Pyrene Photo-Switch Open- and Closed-Form Differently Bind to ds-DNA, ds-RNA and Serum Albumin and Reveal Light-Induced Bioactivity. International journal of molecular sciences, 22, 4916, 22 doi:10.3390/ ijms22094916.

  doiwww.mdpi.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Schijns, V., Majhen, D., van der Ley, P., Thakur, A., Summerfield, A., Berisio, R., Nativi, C., Fernández- Tejada, A., Alvarez-Dominguez, C., Gizurarson, S., Zamyatina, A., Molinaro, A., Rosano, C., Jakopin, Ž., Gursel, I. & McClean, S. (2021) Rational Vaccine Design in Times of Emerging Diseases: The Critical Choices of Immunological Correlates of Protection, Vaccine Antigen and Immunomodulation. Pharmaceutics, 13 (4), 501, 29 doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics13040501.

  doiwww.mdpi.comfulir.irb.hr

• Božinović, K., Nestić, D., Gradišar Centa, U., Ambriović-Ristov, A., Dekanić, A., de Bisschop, L., Remškar, M. & Majhen, D. (2020) In-vitro toxicity of molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles on human keratinocytes. Toxicology, 444, 152564, 11 doi:10.1016/j.tox.2020.152564.

  doi

• Šmidlehner, T., Košćak, M., Božinović, K., Majhen, D., Schmuck, C. & Piantanida, I. (2020) Fluorimetric and CD Recognition Between Various ds-DNA/RNA Depends on a Cyanine Connectivity in Cyanine-guanidiniocarbonyl-pyrrole Conjugate. Molecules, 25, 4470, 14 doi:10.3390/molecules25194470.

  doiwww.mdpi.comdoi.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Hulin-Curtis, S., Davies, J., Nestić, D., Bates, E., Baker, A., Cunliffe, T., Majhen, D., Chester, J. & Parker, A. (2020) Identification of folate receptor α (FRα) binding oligopeptides and their evaluation for targeted virotherapy applications. Cancer gene therapy, 27, 785-798 doi:10.1038/s41417-019-0156-0.

  doidoi.orgwww.nature.com

• Paradžik, M., Humphries, J., Stojanović, N., Nestić, D., Majhen, D., Dekanić, A., Samaržija, I., Sedda, D., Weber, I., Humphries, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2020) KANK2 links αVβ5 focal adhesions to microtubules and regulates sensitivity to microtubule poisons and cell migration. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 8, 125, 17 doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.00125.

  doidoi.orgwww.frontiersin.orgfulir.irb.hr

• Nestić, D., Uil, T., Ma, J., Roy, S., Vellinga, J., Baker, A., Custers, J. & Majhen, D. (2019) αvβ3 Integrin is Required for Efficient Infection of Epithelial Cells with Human Adenovirus Type 26. Journal of virology, 93 (1), e01474, 18 doi:10.1128/JVI.01474-18.

  doi

• Stojanović, N., Dekanić, A., Paradžik, M., Majhen, D., Ferenčak, K., Ruščic, J., Bardak, I., Supina, C., Tomičić, M., Christmann, M., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2018) Differential effects of integrin αv knockdown and cilengitide on sensitisation of triple-negative breast cancer and melanoma cells to microtubule poisons. Molecular pharmacology, 94 (6), 1334-1351 doi:10.1124/mol.118.113027.

  doifulir.irb.hr

• Bressy, C., Majhen, D., Raddi, N., Jdey, W., Cornilleau, G., Zig, L., Guirouilh-Barbat, J., Lopez, B., Bawa, O., Opolon, P., Grellier, E. & Benihoud, K. (2017) Combined therapy of colon carcinomas with an oncolytic adenovirus and valproic acid. Oncotarget, 8 (8), 97344-97360 doi:10.18632/oncotarget.22107.

  doi

• Knežević Teofilović, N., Bihi, M., Radić Stojković, M., Tumir, L., Ester, K., Kralj, M., Majhen, D., Oršolić, N., Lepur, A., Vrbanec, D., Markotić, A., Dembić, Z., Weber, A., Piantanida, I., Vugrek, O., Diken, M. & Knežević, J. (2017) 1-ethyl-3-(6-methylphenanthridine-8-il) urea modulates TLR3/9 activation and induces selective pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 27 (7), 1530-1537 doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.02.048.

  doi

• Christmann, M., Diesler, K., Majhen, D., Steigerwald, C., Berte, N., Freund, H., Stojanović, N., Kaina, B., Osmak, M., Ambriović-Ristov, A. & Tomicic, M. (2017) Integrin αVβ3 silencing sensitizes malignant glioma cells to temozolomide by suppression of homologous recombination repair. Oncotarget, 8, 27754-27771 doi:10.18632/oncotarget.10897.

  doifulir.irb.hrdoi.org

• Ruščić, J., Ambriović-Ristov, A., Majhen, D., Kolundžija, S., Barut, M., Benihoud, K. & Krajačić, M. (2016) Manipulating adenoviral vector ion-exchange chromatography: Hexon versus fiber. Journal of separation science, 39 (22), 4299-4304 doi:10.1002/jssc.201600829.

  doi

• Stojanović, N., Brozovic, A., Majhen, D., Herak Bosnar, M., Fritz, G., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2016) Integrin αvβ3 Expression in Tongue Squamous Carcinoma Cells Cal27 Confers Anticancer Drug Resistance Through Loss of pSrc(Y418). Biochimica et biophysica acta-molecular cell research, 1863 (8), 1969-1978 doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.04.019.

  doi

• Sobočanec, S., Filić, V., Matovina, M., Majhen, D., Šafranko, Ž., Popović Hadžija, M., Krsnik, Ž., Gudan Kurilj, A., Šarić, A., Abramić, M. & Balog, T. (2016) Prominent role of exopeptidase DPP III in estrogen-mediated protection against hyperoxia in vivo. Redox Biology, 8, 149-159 doi:10.1016/j.redox.2016.01.003.

  doi

• Vellinga, J., Smith, J., Lipiec, Agnieszka, , Majhen, D., Lemckert, A., van Ooij, M., Ives, P., Yallop, C., Custers, J. & Havenga, M. (2014) Challenges in manufacturing adenoviral vectors for global vaccine product deployment. Human gene therapy, 25, 318-327 doi:10.1089/hum.2014.007.

  doi

• Majhen, D., Calderon, H., Chandra, N., Fajardo, C., Rajan, A., Alemany, R. & Custers, J. (2014) Adenovirus-based vaccines for fighting infectious diseases and cancer: progress in the field. Human gene therapy, 25, 301-317 doi:10.1089/hum.2013.235.

  doi

• Majhen, D., Stojanović, N., Vukić, D., Pichon, C., Leduc, C., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2014) Increased Adenovirus Type 5 Mediated Transgene Expression Due to RhoB Down-regulation. PLoS One, 9 (1) doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086698.

  doi

• Brozović, A., Vuković, L., Stupin Polančec, D., Arany, I., Köberle, B., Fritz, G., Fiket, Ž., Majhen, D., Ambriović-Ristov, A. & Osmak, M. (2013) Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in response of human laryngeal carcinoma cells to carboplatin but is absent in carboplatin resistant cells. PLoS One, 8 (9), e763973-1 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076397.

  doifulir.irb.hr

• Majhen, D., Richardson, J., Vukelić, B., Dodig, I., Cindrić, M., Benihoud, K. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2012) The disulfide bond of an RGD4C motif inserted within the HI loop of the adenovirus type 5 fiber protein is critical for retargeting to α(v) -integrins. Journal of gene medicine, 14 (12), 788-797 doi:10.1002/jgm.2686.

  doi

• Majhen, D., Stojanović, N., Špeljko, T., Brozović, A., De Zan, T., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2011) Increased expression of the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor downregulates alpha v beta 3 and alpha v beta 5 integrin expression, reduces cell adehesion and migration. Life sciences, 89 (7-8), 241-249 doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2011.06.009.

  doi

• Gabrilovac, J., Čupić, B., Živković, E., Horvat, L. & Majhen, D. (2011) Expression, regulation and functional activities of aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2 ; APN ; CD13) on murine macrophage J774 cell line. Immunobiology, 216 (1/2), 132-144 doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2010.06.005.

  doi

• Majhen, D., Brozović, A., Buger, T., Gabrilovac, J., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2010) Vincristine-resistant human laryngeal carcinoma cells demonstrate increased Rous sarcoma virus promoter activity. Life sciences, 87 (15/16), 468-474 doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2010.08.012.

  doi

• Čubrić Čurik, V., Feligini, M., Ferenčaković, M., Džidić, A., Salajpal, K., Ambriović-Ristov, A., Ćetković, H., Majhen, D. & Čurik, I. (2009) Sequence polymorphism of PrP exon 3 gene in Istrian and crossbred sheep. Italian journal of animal science, 8 (S3), 86-88. (https://www.bib.irb.hr/416266).

• Majhen, D., Nemet, J., Richardson, J., Gabrilovac, J., Hajsig, M., Osmak, M., Eloit, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2009) Differential Role OF α vβ 3 and α vβ 5 Integrins in Iinternalization and Transduction Efficacies of Wild Type and RGD4C Fiber-modified Adenoviruses. Virus research, 139 (1), 64-73 doi:10.1016/j.virusres.2008.10.004.

  doi

• Brozović, A., Majhen, D., Roje, V., Mikac, N., Jakopec, S., Fritz, G., Osmak, M. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2008) Alpha v beta 3 integrin mediated drug resistance in human laryngeal carcinoma cells is caused by glutathione dependent elimination of drug induced reactive oxidative species. Molecular pharmacology, 74 (1), 298-306 doi:10.1124/mol.107.043836.

  doi

• Majhen, D., Gabrilovac, J., Eloit, M., Richardson, J. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2006) Disulfide bond formation in NGR fiber-modified adenovirus is essential for retargeting to aminopeptidase N. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 348, 278-287.

• Majhen, D. & Ambriović-Ristov, A. (2006) Adenoviral vectors-How to use them in cancer gene therapy?. Virus Research, 119, 121-133.

• Vuković, L., Ambriović-Ristov, A., Čimbora Zovko, T., Ćetković, H., Brozović, A., Majhen, D. & Osmak, M. (2004) Expression of apoptotic genes in low, clinically relevant levels of drug resistance. Periodicum Biologorum, 106 (2), 173-177.

Theses

Doctoral dissertation

• Majhen, D. (2008) 'AUGMENTATION OF ADENOVIRUS TRASNDUCTION: CHANGING EXPRESSION OF NATURAL RECEPTORS AND RETARGETING TO NEW ONES', doktorska disertacija, Prirodoslovno matematički fakultet, Zagreb.

Master thesis

• Majhen, D. (2005) 'Adenovirus type 5 retargeted on aminopeptidase N', magistarski rad, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Zagreb.

• Member of “French Society for Cell and Gene Therapy”
• Member of “Croatian Association for Cancer Research”
• Member of “Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology”
• Member of “Croatian Microbiology Society”