The interplay of chronic pathogens with the immune system

The innate and acquired mechanisms of the immune system play central roles in the control of chronic infections. Many pathogens have developed their own mechanisms by which they can evade components of the immune system. Important aspects of this interplay between pathogen and host during the establishment of a chronic infection are being investigated in the section B projects. Particular emphasis is placed on persistent herpesviruses.

The infection research with regard to immunological aspects on viral and bacterial pathogens can display common features of these different agents.

Projects in project area B

B1 – Förster / Messerle

Visualization of herpes virus infections and immune response as well as their modulation

B2 – Cicin-Sain / Kalinke

Immune mediators of cytomegalovirus latency

B3 – Melanie Brinkmann

Modulation of the innate immune response by the gammaherpesviruses Kaposi´s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and murine herpesvirus 68

B3 – Stephan Halle

Modulation of the innate immune response by the gammaherpesviruses Kaposi´s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and murine herpesvirus 68

B6 – Chistine Josenhans

Novel host modulatory factors of Helicobacter species

B7 – Tim Sparwasser

Mechanisms of tolerance and immunity in mycobacterial infection

B8 – Prinz / Könecke

Towards the use of antigen-specific γδ T lymphocytes for CMV virus control after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

B9 – Abel Viejo Borbolla

Immune modulation and colonization of sensory ganglia by alphaherpesviruses

B10 – Thomas Krey

Structural flexibility in the Hepatitis C virus glycoprotein complex as viral strategy to evade the humoral immune system

B11 – Sarina Ravens

The interplay of EBV-induced γδ and αβ T cells during chronic EBV reactivation, PTLD, and EBV-directed cellular therapy in transplant recipients

B11 – Britta Maecker-Kolhoff

The interplay of EBV-induced γδ and αβ T cells during chronic EBV reactivation, PTLD, and EBV-directed cellular therapy in transplant recipients

B11 – Britta Eiz-Vesper

The interplay of EBV-induced γδ and αβ T cells during chronic EBV reactivation, PTLD, and EBV-directed cellular therapy in transplant recipients