The research area conducts research on the host-pathogen-interaction in bacterial infections of ruminants, particularly coxiellosis and STEC infection. The focus is laid on the following issues:
- How do zoonotic bacteria modulate the immune system of the reservoir host?
- What is the structure of infection defense at the host’s outer and inner boundary layers?
Methods
- Cultivation, functional and phenotypic characterization of established cell lines (Vero cells, FKD-R, BGM)
- Generation, cultivation, and functional and phenotypic characterization of primary cell cultures from ruminants
- peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
- polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN)
- intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL)
- monocyte derived macrophages (MDM)
- colonic crypt epithelial cells
- Quantification of antigen-specific T cells from cattle, goats, and sheep by flow cytometry
- Quantitative real-time RT-PCR for detection of the host cytokine response
- In vitro Shiga toxin cytotoxicity test, Shiga toxin neutralization test
- Adhesion and invasion assays
- Characterization of Escherichia coli (DNA microarray analysis, phage induction)
- Proteome analyses (2D-PAGE)