(from left to right: Sriram Kumar, Saskia Hinse, Franziska Günl, Anmari Christersson, Beate Conrad, Merve Duygu Çalışkan, Selina Rehländer, Josua Janowski, Linda Brunotte, Julius Lange, Aileen Faist, Angeles Mecate Zambrano)

Seasonal influenza viruses of the subtype H3N2 and H1N1 as well as influenza B viruses cause annually recurring outbreaks of respiratory disease. Infections are generally well managed by our fascinating immune system, which rapidly activates virus-tailored antiviral programs. However, influenza viruses have evolved versatile mechanisms to counteract these antiviral programs and escape from immune recognition which facilitates progressive viral replication and can lead to severe disease. Our group studies the host immune responses as well as the viral escape mechanisms to identify new targets for antiviral treatments.

In addition, we aim to unravel the complex mechanisms that contribute to the development of uncontrollable and overshooting inflammatory responses that are induced by highly pathogenic influenza viruses (HPAIV) as well as the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 in humans. We investigate different host directed strategies, including the role of cellular kinases and the ubiquitin system, to limit viral replication and mitigate the harmful virus-induced pro-inflammatory responses. For our research, we collaborate closely with other research groups as well as clinicians at the University Hospital Münster (UKM) and other Universities. We combine classical research methods with novel pre-clinical models of the human lung, including primary lung explants and patient-derived lung organoids to characterize virus isolates and the host responses.

Funding

Our research is supported by funds from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) as well as funding from the Innovative Medizinische Forschung (IMF) and the Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Klinische Forschung (IZKF) of the Medical Faculty of the Universität Münster. Our lab is also part of the CRU342 and Cells in Motion (CiM).

Group Leader

Mail:
brunotte(at)uni-muenster.de
phone:
83 52213

PhD student
Project: Therapeutic potential of human IFNA subtypes against IAV

Mail:
sriram.kumar(at)uni-muenster.de

phone:
83 57796

PhD student
Project: Mechanisms of cytokine storm induction during HPAIV infection

Mail:
josua.janowski(at)ukmuenster.de

Tel.:
83 57796

PhD student
Project: Targeting p38 MAPK for anti-inflammatory approaches during infection with HPAIV and SARS-CoV-2

Mail:
a_fais01(at)uni-muenster.de

phone.:
8357795

PhD student
Project: single cell analysis of human lung tissue and organoids

Mail:
 

Tel.:

PhD student
Project: Epidemiological and molecular characterization of Influenza B virus isolates from hospitalized patients during the severe 2017/18 flu season in Germany

Mail:
 

phone:

Technical assistant

Mail:
christea(at)uni-muenster.de

Tel.:
83 52214

Master-Student
Project: Investigating the immunemodulatory and antiviral functions of MAPK p38 during Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection

Mail:
k_bros04 (at) uni-muenster.de

Master Student
Project: Investigating the Dynamics and Kinetics of STAT phosphorylation Induced by Exogenous IFN-α Subtypes

Mail:
j_sobo03(at)uni-muenster.de