Inaugural lecture by Univ.-Prof. Dr. Victor Zevallos
On Thursday, 11 December 2025, Karl Landsteiner University hosted the inaugural lecture of Prof. Victor Zevallos. In his lecture entitled ‘Plant Proteins, the Immune System and the Microbiome: From the Andes to the World’, Professor Zevallos highlighted current scientific findings on the role of plant-based food components in immunological and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The event was opened by Rector Prof. Rudolf Mallinger, who thus accompanied the last inaugural lecture of his term of office before his planned retirement at the beginning of 2026.
The laudatory speech was given by Prof. Dr. Peter Olinga, Professor of Translational Biopharmacy at the University of Groningen. He painted a multifaceted picture of Professor Zevallos' international scientific career, who earned his doctorate at King's College London, worked at research institutes in Europe and North America, and held a professorship in the United Kingdom before his appointment at Karl Landsteiner Private University. Today, Professor Zevallos heads the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Karl Landsteiner University and conducts research on food components and the microbiome in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
In his inaugural lecture, Professor Zevallos addressed the interactions between plant proteins, the immune system and the gut microbiome, particularly in relation to coeliac disease and related autoimmune diseases. The focus was on immunogenic peptides, their effects on mucosal immunity, the integrity of the epithelial barrier and changes in the microbiome. He also discussed diagnostic and therapeutic implications, including nutrition-based interventions and microbiome-targeted approaches, and placed these in the context of global nutrition and sustainability issues.
Following the lecture, guests took advantage of the get-together to exchange professional ideas.
