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Institute of Immunology (IfI)

Laboratory for Mucosal Immunology and Vaccinology

The Lung is the primary entry site for many pathogens, where mucosal tissue resident immune cells are the first cells encountering the infectious agent after entry. This initial contact is most crucial in the decision whether the infection can be cleared or disseminates into other parts of the body to establish a chronic infection.  Mycobacterium spec. are zoonotic bacteria, which cause Tuberculosis in humans and large livestock animals. Although, mycobacteria like many other pathogens enter the body through aerosol infection, not much is known about the initial response of lung mucosa resident immune cells against mycobacterial and other relevant infections in their natural host.

  • Compare anti-mycobacterial mucosal immune responses in different mammalian hosts.
  • Development of novel vaccine concepts against emerging and re-emerging lung infections.
  • Monitor early protective mucosal immune response after vaccination across different species