Experimental Infection Research
If we are attacked by a virus, the immune system reacts within a matter of hours. Highly specialized immune cells recognise the pathogen and release highly efficient messengers, which activate the immune system. These messengers include the interferons, which ensure that individual host cells are mildly infected . At the same time, interferons can also influence the course of the immune response and the memory of the immune system. Without these messengers virus infections - which we normally overcome almost unnoticeably - become fatal within just a few days. The group Experimental Infection Research is based at the TWINCORE in Hannover.
Leader
Selected Publications
Kalinke U, Arnold B, Hämmerling GJ (1990) Strong xenogeneic HLA response in transgenic mice after introducing an alpha 3 domain into HLA B27. Nature 348: 642-644.
Barchet W, Cella M, Odermatt B, Asselin-Paturel C, Colonna M, Kalinke U (2002) Virus-induced interferon alpha production by a dendritic cell subset in the absence of feedback signaling in vivo. J Exp Med 195: 507-516.
Kamphuis E, Junt T, Waibler Z, Forster R, Kalinke U (2006) Type I interferons directly regulate lymphocyte recirculation and cause transient blood lymphopenia. Blood 108: 3253-61.
Prinz M, Schmidt H, Mildner A, Knobeloch KP, Hanisch UK, Raasch J, Merkler D, Detje C, Gutcher I, Mages J, Lang R, Martin R, Gold R, Becher B, Bruck W, Kalinke U (2008) Distinct and nonredundant in vivo functions of IFNAR on myeloid cells limit autoimmunity in the central nervous system. Immunity 28: 675-686.
Detje CN, Meyer T, Schmidt H, Kreuz D, Rose JK, Bechmann I, Prinz M, Kalinke U (2009) Local Type I IFN Receptor Signaling Protects Against Virus Spread Within the Central Nervous System. J Immunol, 182, 2297-2304.
Further Information
A current overview of the team and further information about the research group can be found on the TWINCORE page.
