Innovative Pathogen Diagnostics and Immune Reactions research group

Heads of research group: Dr. Uwe Fiebig and Dr. Oliver Hohn

The research group focuses on various aspects of immune responses against sexually transmitted pathogens. In addition to the immunological detection of infection, pathogens and the characterisation of the induced immune response, the group investigates on mechanisms of pathogen control after repeated infection and the interaction of viral and bacterial co-infections in the human system. Particular attention is paid to co-infections caused by bacterial pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (pathogen of gonorrhoea) or Treponema pallidum (pathogen of syphilis) in the context of HIV infection.

An overview of the research group's main working areas:

• Development of immunological and molecular biological methods for detecting known or novel sexually transmitted pathogens and their application in public health-relevant studies
• Investigation of the interaction of viral and bacterial pathogens in co-infection with retroviruses
• Examination of the impact of retroviral infections on the immune system, characterisation of immune responses to defend against and control sexually transmitted pathogens
• Analysis of the interaction of sexually transmitted pathogens with the host on an immunological and molecular biological level
• Testing the efficacy of antiviral agents on new, potentially transmissible viral pathogens

Recent projects:

• Impact of HIV-induced immune system damage on HIV-1/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (joined project with RG "HPI Retroviruses")
• Development of in vitro models to study the influence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae on HIV-1 infection (joined project with "STI study laboratory")
• Immunological and molecular biological investigations of symptomatic and asymptomatic bacterial infections (e.g. Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae), in patients with increased risk behaviour regarding the influence of viral and bacterial co-infections
• Development of qPCR-based methods for the rapid detection of antibiotic susceptibility in cases of confirmed infection with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Prevention of the transmission of exogenous retroviruses in animal models using antiretroviral drugs from HIV therapy

It is generally possible for students to work on one of these projects as part of an internship or Master's thesis. If you are interested, please send an application to: Dr. Uwe Fiebig or Dr. Oliver Hohn

Publications in scientific journals

1. “Gene Gun Her2/neu DNA Vaccination: Evaluation of Vaccine Efficacy in a Syngeneic Her2/neu Mouse Tumor Model”.

   Nguyen-Hoai T, Hohn O, Pezzutto A, Westermann J.; Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2521:129-154. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2441-8_7.; PMID: 35732996

2. “HERVs New Role in Cancer: From Accused Perpetrators to Cheerful Protectors.” Bannert N, Hofmann H, Block A, Hohn O.; Front Microbiol. 2018 Feb 13;9:178. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00178. eCollection 2018; PMID: 29487579
3. Suppressing active replication of a live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus vaccine does not abrogate protection from challenge. Gabriel B, Fiebig U, Hohn O, Plesker R, Coulibaly C, Cichutek K, Mühlebach MD, Bannert N, Kurth R, Norley S. Virology. 2016 Feb;489:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.11.030. Epub 2015 Dec 11. PMID: 2668579
4. A novel small animal model to study the replication of simian foamy virus in vivo. Blochmann R, Curths C, Coulibaly C, Cichutek K, Kurth R, Norley S, Bannert N, Fiebig U. 2014 Jan 5;448:65-73. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.09.027. Epub 2013 Oct 18. PMID: 24314637
5. Transspecies transmission of the endogenous koala retrovirus. Fiebig U, Hartmann MG, Bannert N, Kurth R, Denner J. J Virol. 2006 Jun;80(11):5651-4. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02597-05. PMID: 1669904

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