Current position: Researcher, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Center.

Education and Degrees:

• 2005: PhD (Dr. Biol.) degree at the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, the name of thesis “Molecular characterization of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses circulating in Latvia”
• 1998: M.Sc. degree at the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia
• 1996: Bachelor degree at the Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia.

Professional experience:

• 2005- 2007. Malmo University Hospital, University of Lund, postdoctoral researcher
• 1998-2005: Biomedical Research and Study Center, University of Latvia, research assistant
• 1994-1999: Biomedical Research and Study Center, University of Latvia, technician

Five publications for the last 5 years:

1. Comparative Immunogenicity in Rabbits of the Polypeptides Encoded by the 5' Terminus of Hepatitis C Virus RNA. Sominskaya I, Jansons J, Dovbenko A, Petrakova N, Lieknina I, Mihailova M, Latyshev O, Eliseeva O, Stahovska I, Akopjana I, Petrovskis I, Isaguliants M. J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:762426. doi: 10.1155/2015/762426. Epub 2015 Nov 2.
2. The Hepatitis B Virus Core Variants that Expose Foreign C-Terminal Insertions on the Outer Surface of Virus-Like Particles. Dishlers A, Skrastina D, Renhofa R, Petrovskis I, Ose V, Lieknina I, Jansons J, Pumpens P, Sominskaya I. Mol Biotechnol. 2015 Dec;57(11-12):1038-49.
3. A VLP library of C-terminally truncated Hepatitis B core proteins: correlation of RNA encapsidation with a Th1/Th2 switch in the immune responses of mice. Sominskaya I, Skrastina D, Petrovskis I, Dishlers A, Berza I, Mihailova M, Jansons J, Akopjana I, Stahovska I, Dreilina D, Ose V, Pumpens P. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e75938. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075938. eCollection 2013.
4. Amino Acid Polymorphisms Within the Entire HCV NS5A Region in Estonian Chronic HCV 1b Patients With Different Treatment Response. Kuznetsova T, Tallo T, Brjalin V, Reshetnjak I, Salupere R, Priimagi L, Katargina O, Smirnova M, Jansons J, Tefanova V. Hepat Mon. 2013 Dec 14;13(12):e14481. doi: 10.5812.
5. Signal sequences modulate the immunogenic performance of human hepatitis C virus E2 gene. Sominskaya I, Alekseeva E, Skrastina D, Mokhonov V, Starodubova E, Jansons J, Levi M, Prilipov A, Kozlovska T, Smirnov V, Pumpens P, Isaguliants MG. Mol Immunol. 2006 May; 43(12):1941-52.