Our work
The aim of our research is to delineate host immune responses towards mycobacteria to innovate diagnostic, and therapeutic vaccination and therapeutic strategies.
Immunological characterization and understanding of host responses towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Mycobacterium leprae (M.leprae) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is the central focus of our work. We employ multi-omic-analysis of biosample-soluble markers (proteomics, metabolomics), circulating cell subsets (immunomics), gene expression (transcriptomics, epigenetics), as well as functional read outs and mechanistic studies to identify host biomarkers based on improved understanding of host immunity.
Mycobacterial infections present a major global threat, in particular in low-and middle-income
countries where they afflict individuals in their most productive stage in life. TB alone kills 1.5 million people each year and MDR TB is the most important source of global AMR. Prevention of infection
and disease would contribute significantly to reduce disease- as well as economic burden in these
underprivileged countries. Facilitating early detection of infection and disease using biomarkers incorporated in
improved point-of-care diagnostics can help reduce transmission. Ultimately, immunoprophylaxis by
novel vaccines or vaccination strategies as well as chemoprophylaxis of those most at risk of disease,
will be essential to contain mycobacterial diseases.
In our laboratory we use highly advanced technologies to asses antimycobacterial immunity.
Moreover, to better mimic in vivo conditions, we have the capacity to study live mycobacterial infection models at BSL2 and BSL3 facilities. When needed mouse models for TB are utilized in our animal facilities to assess the preclinical effect of candidate vaccines.
Biomarkers or signatures thereof are considered useful tools to identify different stages of infection and disease, as well as responses to therapy or vaccination. Our laboratory employs a large array of immunological and molecular technologies to determine such host biomarker signatures, in TB, leprosy, Ebola and SARS-Cov2 infections.
The diagnosis of mycobacterial infections can be complex as they do not always cause actively infectious disease but still can contribute to perpetuating transmission. Therefore, we aim to develop new tools, in particular rapid immunodiagnostic tests that can be used at point-of-care to facilitate the diagnosis of TB and leprosy
New vaccines against TB are urgently needed, and in our team we have identified many alternative targets for vaccination as well as new adjuvants and vaccination routes in in vivo
models.
The biology of mycobacterial infections is multi-layered and involves interaction with various players. To understand relevant host responses, we study interactions of mycobacteria with dendritic cells, macrophages, epithelial cells, immune T and B cells as well as the organization of in vivo granulomas and various functional anti-mycobacterial responses. We employ this knowledge to identify new targets for host-directed therapies, which in return also provides new insights in host-pathogen interactions.