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Institute of Immunology (IfI)

Laboratory for Adaptive Immunity

Infections with viruses in particular usually produce an adaptive immune response. In the laboratory for adaptive immunity, the mechanisms of such an immune response are investigated in various acute infections and after immunization. The focus is on the reaction of T lymphocytes and their effector mechanisms.
A wide range of pathogens is studied, but particular attention is paid to infections with influenza A viruses, African swine fever viruses (ASFV), classical swine fever (CSFV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV). As natural hosts, domestic pigs and wild boars and various poultry species are studied. The mouse also serves as a model organism.
In parallel, we are working on a tumor immunological project in the mouse model. Here the oncolytic potential of the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in pancreatic tumor diseases is investigated.

Poultry
  • immunological examination after viral infection
  • Mechanisms of protection against highly and low pathogenic influenza viruses in reservoir poultry and domestic poultry
  • Development of the immune system after hatching and its influence on the time of vaccination
  • Development of monoclonal antibodies and functional tests for poultry immunology
Swine
  • Pigs as a biomedical model: reactive T cells after monocausal and co-infection with influenza A virus (H1N1) and Streptococcus suis
  • Identification and analysis of rare T cell populations (iNKT and MAIT)
  • Immunopathogenesis after ASFV infection: T-cell activity, antigen presentation, immune evasion mechanisms of the virus
Tumor Immunology (Mouse)
  • Modulation of cellular immunity by NDV as oncolytic virus in the orthotopic pancreatic tumor model in mice
  • NDV as an oncolytic virus for human medicine: selection of a suitable APMV isolate or test for specific virus recombinants from a reverse genetic system