Graduation 19th January 2024

Belén Carriquí Madroñal        
Research Topic: Characterization of ADAM10 as a hepatitis C virus host factor
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gisa Gerold, Institute of Biochemistry, TiHo
Academic Background: Molecular Infection Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg

Nicoletta Schwermann
Research Topic: Staphylococcal modulation of apoptotic signaling pathways
Supervisor: Dr. Volker Winstel, Pathogenese bakterieller Infektionen, TWINCORE & Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Rebecca Siemes
Research Topic: Outwitting HCMV immunomodulatory functions – evaluation of NKG2D ligands to improve the immune response
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedical Science, Maastricht University, Netherlands

Katja Sophie Steppich
Research Topic: The role of γδ T cells in hepatitis B virus infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Markus Cornberg, Dpt. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Tao Yang
Research Topic: Development of γδ17 T Cells Across Life
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sarina Ravens, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedical Microbiology, Sun Yat-sen University, China
 

Graduation 14th June 2024

Angela Aringo
Research Topic: Comparative analysis of vaccine- and pathogen-induced antibody responses
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Erasmus Mundus in Vaccinology (Lyon, Barcelona, Antwerpen)

Sarah Beyer
Research Topic: Regulation of macrophages by OTUB2 in listeriosis and salmonellosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, MHH
Academic Background: Biomedicine, MHH

Safaa Bouheraoua
Research Topic: Investigation of the bi-directional interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the human host microenvironment in development of persistent infection in the lower respiratory tract of humans
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susanne Häußler, Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore
Academic Background: Infection, inflammation and cancer, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

Sven Cleeves
Research Topic: Influence of host-pathogen interactions in human lung tissue on the chronification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Armin Braun, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxikoloy and Experimental Medicine - ITEM and Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, Ulm University

Sabrina Clever
Research Topic: Recombinant MVA vaccines delivering SARS-2 antigens – search for correlates of protection against severe respiratory disease
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Asisa Volz, Institute for Virology, TiHo
Academic Background: Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences, TiHo

Dilfuza Djamalova
Research Topic: Pangenome wide prediction of gene function
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Marco Galardini, Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore
Academic Background: Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute, Moscow, Russia

Rajendra Khanal
Research Topic: Identification and functional evaluation of microRNAs during hepatitis delta virus infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer, Dpartment of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Applied and Commercial Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Carolina Mastella Botelho
Research Topic: Unravelling molecular mechanisms of resistance in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susanne Häußler, Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore
Academic Background: Infectious Disease and One Health Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree; Tours, Barcelona, Edinburgh

Pia Peppermüller
Research Topic: Deciphering the role of mesenteric lymph node stromal cells in the development of colonic inflammation
Supervisor: Dr. Manuela Büttner, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, MHH
Academic Background: Molecular Microbiology, Leibniz University Hannover

Rebecca Pospich
Research Topic: Investigations on the T cell response to skin microbiota in atopic dermatitis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Werfel, Clinic for Dermatology, Allergology and Venerology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Infection Biology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Germany

Isita Sagar
Research Topic: Function of OTUB1 in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages in salmonellosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Schlüter, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, MHH
Academic Background: Medical Biotechnology, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Indien

Melanie Urbanek-Quaing
Research Topic: Impact of different chronic hepatitis viral infections on the epigenetic signature of immune cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Markus Cornberg, Dpt. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, MHH
Academic Background: Biomedicine, MHH

Graduation 20th January 2023

Kris Gerard Alvarez
Research Topic: Role of Salmonella invasion mechanisms for disease development
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Guntram Graßl, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of the Philippines Los Baos

Matthias Bruhn
Research Topic: Molecular basis and early predictors of non-responsiveness to hepatitis B vaccination
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Genetics and Microbiology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany

Nicola Frericks
Research Topic: Viral determinants of hepatitis C virus resistance to interferon and their relevance for broad resistance to HCV specific antivirals
Supervisor: Dr. Julie Sheldon, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Medical Biology, University Duisburg-Essen

Alina Matthaei
Research Topic: Interaction between hepatitis C virus and lipoproteins and its role for
infection and viral persistence"
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Virology, Microbiology, Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg

Samuel Osanyinlusi
Research Topic: Immunomodulation by the Human Cytomegalovirus glycoprotein pUL11
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background:  Advanced Virology, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Timmy Richardo
Research Topic: Dynamics of Herpes-Simplex Virus spread in skin and to the peripheral nervous system
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background:  Microbiology, Virology, Shimane Univ., Japan

Katarzyna Szymanska-De Wijs
Research Topic: Interference of mouse cytomegalovirus M25 proteins with the tumor suppressor protein p53
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background:  Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Poland

Eshraq Tantawy
Research Topic: Unravelling a new virulence strategy by Staphylococcus aureus
Supervisor: Dr. Volker Winstel, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Infection Biology, University of Glasgow

Graduation 30th June 2023

Azadeh Azadegan
Research Topic: Exploring Kaposi Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus Capsid Assembly and its Thymidine Kinase as Potential Antiviral Drug Targets
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Medical Microbiology, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran

Luise Krajewski
Research Topic: Impact of HCMV infection on antigen presentation by primary human antigen presenting cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Institute for Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Molecular Microbiology, LUH Hannover

Felix Mulenge
Research Topic: Exploitation of integrated multi-omics approaches for the analysis of brain responses to viral infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Institute for Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya

Kodwo Appoh Odum        
Research Topic: Use of synthetic microbial communities to investigate the role of commensal bacteria in the development of murine norovirus-induced intestinal inflammation
Supervisor: Prof. André Bleich, PhD, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, MHH
Academic Background: Microbiology, Uni Jena

Sunayana Shyam Jandhyala
Research Topic: The Role of the Autophagy Protein Optineurin in KSHV Infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Microbiology, Virology, Bioinformatics, Cell Biology; South Dakota State University, USA

Tanvi Tikla
Research Topic: Exploring the recruitment of phospholipase C gamma 1 by Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K15 protein as a potential drug target
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Delhi, India

Jiayi Wang        
Research Topic: Development of human neuronal models to investigate establishment of latency by varicella zoster virus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Abel Viejo-Borbolla, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Pathogenic Biology, Qingdao University, China

Melina Winkler        
Research Topic: Host factor usage of (+)-strand RNA viruses and their relevance for species tropism and their potential as targets for antiviral therapies
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kiel

 

Graduation 28th January 2022

Ryan Adriawan
Research Topic: Monitoring of human γδ T cell repertoires in healthy individuals and during chronic viral infections using next generation sequencing technologies
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Schmidt and Prof. Dr. Thorsten Witte, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Vaccinology, Barcelona, Antwerp, Lyon

Malte Deseke
Research Topic: In vivo study of the interaction of dendritic cells and γδ T cells in skin immunity, memory, and tolerance
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School and UKE Hamburg
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Germany

Sarah Elsheik
Research Topic: Targeting biofilm resistance mechanisms
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susann Häußler, Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biotechnology, University of Leeds, UK

Anika Freise
Research Topic: Regulation of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus Latency through Interferon-Dependent Mechanisms
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Cell Biology, University of Braunschweig, Germany

Christopher Kesthely
Research Topic: Targeting biofilm resistance mechanisms
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susann Häußler, Institute of Molecular Bacteriology, Twincore
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of New Brunswick, Canada

Rebecca Möller
Research Topic: Characterization of hepatitis C virus and arenaviruses co-infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gisa Gerold, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Immunology, Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany

Gwendolyn Patzer
Research Topic: Targeted TLO induction
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Infection Biology and Immunology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany

Marie-Madlen Pust
Research Topic: Airway microbial metagenomics in health, bronchiectasis and COPD
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Tümmler, Clinic for Paediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background:  Microbiology, Infection Biology, University College Dublin, Ireland

George Liam Ssebyatika
Research Topic: Structural and biochemical characterization of viral and cellular glycoproteins with immunomodulatory functions
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School and Biochemistry, University Lübeck
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium

Barbora Veselkova
Research Topic: Structural and biochemical characterization of the envelope glycoproteins gp2,gp3 and gp4 of the Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School and Biochemistry, University Lübeck
Academic Background: Biology, LMU, Germany

 

Graduation 8th July 2022

Cornelius Angela
Research Topic: Binding of the N-terminal region of the large tegument protein HSV1-pUL36 to the host nucleoporin Nup358 C-terminus might initiate NPC docking
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Neurobiology, TU Braunschweig

Jasper Götting
Research Topic: DNA viral genomic diversity data for epidemiologic and diagnostic studies
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Biomedicine, MHH

Carina Jürgens
Research Topic: On the track: How a single viral protein may influence different steps of leukocyte migration and virus spread
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Abel Viejo-Borbolla, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Infection Biology, Uni Lübeck

Laura Ospina Quintero
Research Topic: Dynamics of human and mouse Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells and infected targets in lung explants
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, MHH
Academic Background: Biomedical Sciences, University of Antioquia, Medellín

Miguel Palacios Pedrero
Research Topic: Age-related changes affecting the immune system contribute to suboptimal B and T cell responses in older adults receiving SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Guus Rimmelzwaan and Prof. Dr. Ab Osterhaus, Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, TiHo
Academic Background: Molecular and Cellular Immunology, University of Granada, Spain

Guorong Sun
Research Topic: HSV-1 glycoprotein G promotes neurite outgrowth via exosome-associated factors to facilitate viral neuroinvasion
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Abel Viejo-Borbolla, Institute of Virology, MHH
Academic Background: Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Harbin Veterinary Research; Institute (HVRI), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Nahuel Villarreal
Research Topic: Characterization of the colitogenic candidate gene Alpk1 during infection
Supervisor: Prof. André Bleich, PhD, Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, MHH
Academic Background: Molecular Biotechnology, Univerity of Pisa

Razieh Zargari
Research Topic: The role of innate immune response in controlling Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 acute infection in vivo
Supervisor: Dr. Stephan Halle, PhD and Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann, Institute of Immunology, MHH
Academic Background: Biology, Microbial Biotechnology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

 

Graduation 29th January 2021

Elmira Aliabadi
Research Topic: Role of HBV-specific immune responses for ‘HBV cure’
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Markus Cornberg, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Germany

Antonia Gunesch
Research Topic: Antiviral mechanism of action and structure-function relationship of cationic amphiphilic drugs
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas von Hahn, Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology and Genetics, RWTH Aachen, Germany

Eleonora Naimo
Research Topic: Identifying Key Components of the Virus-Cell Interaction using a Chemical Biology Approach
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular and cellular biology, University of Siena, Italy

Georgia Papadogianni
Research Topic: Characterization and functional analysis of invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells from wild type and mutant mice
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Günter Bernhardt, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology and Biomedicine, University of Crete, Greece

Manutea Serrero
Research Topic: Cytosolic host factors of immune cells interacting with HSV1 capsids
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Instute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Toulouse, France
 

Graduation 9th July 2021

Christoph Binz
Research Topic: Investigating the specificity of γδ TCR
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Giacomo Castoro
Research Topic: Structural and functional characterization of the Scavenger receptor BI
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Biotechnology, University of Messina, Italy

Jared Kirui
Research Topic: The role of TIM-1 and TSPAN9 in alphavirus host cell entry
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gisa Gerold, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Christian Lanfermann
Research Topic: Functional characterization of Chlamydia trachomatis 166 homologous effector proteins of C. psittaci, C. muridarum and other chlamydia species
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klos, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany

Graduation 17th January 2020

Peter Naniima
Research Topic: Molecular characterization of the capsid vertex specific component of herpesviruses
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Krey, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Brussels, Belgium

Ginka Nikolova
Research Topic: Role of memory T cells in adaptive immune responses
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Immunology, Sofia University, Bulgaria

David Andres Nivia Torres
Research Topic: Developing Inhibitors of the Kaposi Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus LANA protein
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Oldenburg, Germany

Dorcas Otoo
Research Topic: Characterization of functional domains in the large tegument protein pUL36 of Herpes-Simplex Virus Type 1
Supervisor: Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Basel, Switzerland

Likai Tan
Research Topic: Are tissue-resident γδ T cells local rheostats of inflammation?
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Preventive Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, China

 

Graduation 26th June 2020

Guilhermina Carriche
Research Topic: Identification and functional characterization of metabolites with T cell modulatory capacity derived from the intestinal commensal microbiota
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Life Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal

Alibek Galeev
Research Topic: Role of glycoproteins in gastrointestinal infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Guntram Graßl, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Food Safety / Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Finland

Martin Kohn
Research Topic: The immunoregulatory role of the C3a/C3R axis in experimental chlamydial lung Infection’
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klos, Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Science, University of Leipzig, Germany

Shuting Li
Research Topic: Targeting the cellular fatty acid metabolism in intestinal infection and inflammation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Matthias Lochner, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Sun Yat-sen University, China

Joana Martins
Research Topic: How γδ T cells regulate immune responses and immune tolerance
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Lisbon University, Portugal

Ana Nascimento
Research Topic: The role of ubiquitin in nuclear targeting of HSV1 capsids
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Instute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Porto, Portugal

Svenja Sake
Research Topic: Determinants of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) receptor usage and species tropism
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Institute for Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, TiHo, Hannover, Germany

Samriti Sharma
Research Topic: Susceptibility of toll like receptor-11 deficient mice to Salmonella infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Guntram Graßl, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnoloy, Univ. College Dublin, Ireland

Graduation 18th January 2019

Sergej Franz
Research Topic: Impact of Type I Interferons on Maintaining HIV-1 Latency
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christine Goffinet, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Technical Genetics, TU Darmstadt, Germany

Ivana Kutle
Research Topic: Role of tegument proteins on acute and chronic mouse cytomegalovirus infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Zagreb University, Croatia

Shahab Nahrevanian
Research Topic: Strategies for identification and characterization of antivirals against cytomegalovirus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Umea University, Sweden

Sara Nogueira
Research Topic: Homing via afferent lymphatics
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal

Katarzyna Pienkowska
Research Topic: Co-evolution of the intestinal and airways microbial metagenomes in people with cystic fibrosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Tümmler, Clinic for Paediatric Pneumology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Warsaw University, Poland

Brenda Raud
Research Topic: Metabolic influences that regulate CD4 T cell function
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Argentina

Thomas Schirdewahn
Research Topic: The role of NK cells and T cells in the pathogenesis of hepatitis delta  
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans-Heinrich Wedemeyer, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Carl von Ossietzky Uni Oldenburg, Germany

 

Graduation 28th June 2019

Amare Gebrehiwot Aregay
Research Topic: Effect of anti-viral therapy and liver transplantation on T and NK cells during chronic hepatitis C
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans-Heinrich Wedemeyer, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Medical Biotechnology, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Akshay Dhingra
Research Topic: Next generation sequencing of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) populations directly from clinical specimens of immunocompromised hosts
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Pondi-cherry University, India

Nadine Eckert
Research Topic: Role of CCRL1 in controlling intestinal immunity
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, Georg-August-University Göttingen

Luca Ghita
Research Topic: Virus control and pathology in herpes simplex encephalitis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Medical Microbiology, Molecular Medicine, University of Milan, Italy

Ana Hickford-Martinez
Research Topic: Cell-type specific cytosolic host factors interacting with HSV1 capsids
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, University of Lancaster, UK

Chai Fen Soon
Research Topic: Role of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the induction of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans-Heinrich Wedemeyer, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Cancer Biology, Immunology, Osaka University, Japan

Julio Cesar Villalvazo Guerrero
Research Topic: Molecular characterization of small chemical compounds blocking HSV1 replication
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular and Physiological Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Anneke Wilharm
Research Topic: Sentinels of the Oral Epithelium - Elucidating the Development and Function of Oral γδ T Cells and their Interplay with Langerhans Cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background:  Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Francisco Jose Zapatero Belinchon
Research Topic: Definition of a minimal set of cell surface molecules required for filovirus cell entry
Supervisor: PD Dr. Thomas von Hahn, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School  
Academic Background:  Infection Biology, University of Glasgow, UK

Graduation 26th January 2018

Bizunesh Abere Alamirew
Research Topic: The role of cellular tyrosine kinases in Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) –mediated pathological angiogenesis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Genetics, Mahi-dol University, Thailand

Sandra Koch
Research Topic: A novel role for a viral interferon regulatory factor during the establishment of latency
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, TU Braunschweig, Germany

Girmay Desalegn Tarekegn
Research Topic: Context-dependent modulation of monocyte differentiation and function in the gut
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Clinical Laboratory Science, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

 

Graduation 15th June 2018

Sudeep Bhushal
Research Topic: Dynamics of IFN-virus interplay
Supervisor: Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Immunology, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
 
Rui Costa
Research Topic: Impact of host variation in the SCARB1 gene on the development and maintenance of chronic hepatitis C
Supervisor: PD Dr. Sandra Ciesek, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Sebastian Joecks
Research Topic: Pathways of Intracellular Lipoprotein Recruitment During Hepatitis C Virus Assembly and Maturation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Bielefeld, Germany

Jenny Poetzsch
Research Topic: Homing of immune cells via afferent lymphatics
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, University of Jena, Germany

Naira Samarina
Research Topic: A genetic approach to identifying host factors involved in herpesviral reactivation in humans
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostow-am-Don, Russia

Shuyong Zhu
Research Topic: Modulation of the immune and nervous system mediated by human alphaherpesviruses
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Abel Viejo-Borbolla, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Botany, Lanzhou University, China

 

Graduation 13th January 2017
 
Yvonne Bischoff
Research Topic: Immune mechanisms controlling latent MCMV infections in mice
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Inga Brüsch
Research Topic: Cdcs1-determined colitis susceptibility: immunological and microbial factors
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. André Bleich, Central Animal Laboratory, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, Giessen University, Germany

Elias Hage
Research Topic: A role for paradoxically activated MEK/ERK signalling pathways and persistent known and novel viruses in non-melanoma skin cancer of patients treated with BRAF inhibitors
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Infection & Immunity, University of Leeds, UK

Ciro Lino
Research Topic: Effector functions and antigen-specificity of tissue-resident γδ T cells in the course of fungal infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Mario Schmidt
Research Topic: Tubulin modifications and their cellular functions during infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Lothar Jänsch, Cellular Proteom Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Anika Schridde
Research Topic: Functional plasticity of intestinal macrophages in steady state and infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Sylvia Wagenknecht
Research Topic: Immunological effects of the antimicrobial peptide RNAse7
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Werfel, Clinic for Dermatology, Allergology and Venerology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen, Germany

Stephanie Walter
Research Topic: Characterization of viral and host factors controlling trans-species transmission of hepaciviruses
Supervisor: PD Dr. Eike Steinmann, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Molecular Biotechnology, University of Bielefeld, Germany

Graduation 16th June 2017

Janina Brüning
Research Topic: Proteomic analysis of lipoprotein-dependent changes in the Hepatitis C virus receptor complex
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann/Dr. Gisa Gerold, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Bettina Buchmann
Research Topic: Identification of host cell requirements and antiviral targets hepatitis D virus infection
Supervisor: PD Dr. Thomas von Hahn, Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Oldenburg, Germany

Mathias Riehn
Research Topic: T cell response and inflammation upon controlled antigen presentation in lung
Supervisor: Dr. Dagmar Wirth, Model Systems for Infections, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, FU Berlin, Germany

Valery Volk
Research Topic: A humanized mouse model of stem cell transplantation to evaluate B cell development and humoral responses against cytomegalovirus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Renata Stripecke, Department of Hematology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Immunology, Belarusian State University, Belarus
 

Graduation 10th November 2017
 
Marcela Françozo
Research Topic: To investigate the anti-viral function of MyD88 dependent signalling in dendritic cell and macrophages during MCMV infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Cellular Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
 

Graduation 22 January 2016
 
Nkacheh Atenchong
Research Topic: Tight junction components as cell entry factors for epitheliotropic viruses
Supervisor: Dr. Thomas von Hahn, Institute for Molecular Biology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Oldenburg University, Germany

Christoph Hirche
Research Topic: Impact of type I interferon-induced hematopoietic stem cell proliferation on immune cell homeostasis and anti-viral immune cell responsiveness
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore Institute
Academic Background: Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

Karan Kohli
Research Topic: Spatio-temporal distribution of plasmacytoid DC in immunity and tolerance: A 2Photon microscopy study
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Texas, USA

Patricia Morán Losada
Research Topic: The upper and lower airways microbiome of individuals with cystic fibrosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Tümmler, Clinic for Paediatric Pneumology and Neonatology , Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Bioinformatics, Madrid, Spain

Gülhas Solmaz
Research Topic: To investigate the role of neonatal toll like receptor 7 in a VSV infection model
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore Institute
Academic Background: Microbiology, University of Ankara, Turkey

Kim Tappe
Research Topic: Interference of HIV-1 with lysosomal degration: Implication for pathogenesis and viral immunity
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg Behrens, Clinic for Immunology and Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Kai Yu
Research Topic: Differentiation and function of regulatory macrophages (regMФ)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Mucosal Immunology, China CDC, Beijing, China

Guigen Zhang
Research Topic: The changing composition of KSHV LANA containing nuclear speckles in different phases of the cell cycle
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Peking Union Medical College, China

Kaiyi Zhang
Research Topic: Spacial and temporal changes of the intestinal epithelial gene expression and its functional role for mucosal homeostasis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mathias Hornef, Department for Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Jasmin Zischke
Research Topic: Viral immune modulation: properties and applications of Human Cytomegalovirus UL11
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz/ Dr. Penelope Kay-Fedorov, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

 

Graduation 17th June 2016

Hristo Georgiev
Research Topic: Regulation of the expression of the T and NK cell inhibitory receptor TIGIT
Supervisor: Dr. Günter Bernhardt, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Cell Biology, Sofia University, Bulgaria

Peyman Ghorbani
Research Topic: Role of CD103-expressing T cells and dendritic cells for immune regulation during bacterial infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Immunology, University of Toronto, Canada

Angelika Hinz
Research Topic: Cytosolic host restriction factors recognizing incoming HSV1
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leipzig University, Germany

Carolin Maria Hoppe
Research Topic: Importance of UDP-glucose Biosynthesis for the Parasite Leishmania major
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Françoise Routier, Department of Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Mohammed Nooruzzaman
Research Topic: Functional implications of host genetic factors affecting control of hepatitis C virus infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Institute for Experimental Infection Research, Twincore Institute
Academic Background: Veterinary Pathology, immunopathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University

Jörn Pezoldt
Research Topic: Identification of microenvironmental factors and molecular signals modulating the tolerogenic properties of stromal cells in gut-draining lymph nodes
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jochen Hühn, Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Germany

Annika Reinhardt
Research Topic: Antigen-specific activation, effector functions, and spatio-temporal distribution of γδ T cells in the course of microbial infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Kathrin Werth
Research Topic: Role of neutrophils and eosinophils in adaptive immune responses
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation

Graduation 23rd January 2015

Dagmara Bialy
Research Topic: The dynamics of intracellular transport of Herpes Simplex Virus during neuronal infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, University of Gdánsk, Poland

Juliane Mohr
Research Topic: The effect of protease-mediated peptide and amino acid catabolism in Campylobacter jejuni on its proliferation, intracellular survival and persistence in a murine colonization model
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Hofreuter, Department of Medical Microbiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, University of Halle, Germany

Ulrike Richter
Research Topic: The dynamics of interaction between herpes- and retroviral genomes and host chromatin
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany

Monika Schniederjans
Research Topic: Identification of novel antibiotic resistance determinants in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susanne Häußler, Chronic Pseudomonas Infections, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Animal Biology & Bio-medical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany

Andrzej Taranta
Research Topic: Interaction of hepatitis B virus – hepatitis Delta Virus co-infection in a humanized mouse model
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Michael Manns/Dr. Karsten Wursthorn, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Gdansk, Poland

Nguyen Dinh Van
Research Topic: Anti-viral potential of inflammatory non-interferon mediators
Supervisor: Dr. Thomas von Hahn, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Animal Biotechnology Virology, Seoul, Korea

Julia Visic (née Bortfeld)
Research Topic: The role of IRAK-1 in inflammatory responses of the lung
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gesine Hansen, Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Diploma in Biology, Leibniz University, Hannover

 

Graduation 10th July 2015

Silvia Gramolelli
Research Topic: The PLCγ/calcineurin/NFAT pathway as a novel therapeutic target for Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus-induced aberrant angiogenesis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Biomedical Research, Rome, Italy

Lyudmila Ivanova
Research Topic: The assembly of Herpes Simplex Virus – the inner tegument protein pUL36
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Sofia University, Bulgaria

Dino Kocijancic
Research Topic: Therapy of solid tumors using recombinant probiotic E. coli
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Biomedicine, Copenhagen, Denmark

Jennifer Oduro
Research Topic: Congenital CMV Infection in Development and Maintenance of the T-Cell Compartment
Supervisor: Dr. Luka Cicin-Sain, Immune Aging and Chronic Infections, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, Charité, Berlin, Germany

Solomon Owusu Sekyere
Research Topic: Relevance of serological and immune marker in HBV/HCV-coinfected patients
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans Heinrich Wedemeyer, Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology/ Immunology, Uppsala, Sweden

Paula Perin
Research Topic: Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus-specific antiviral compounds and viral resistance mechanisms
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore Institute
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, University of Göttingen, Germany

Nantaporn Ruangkiattikul
Research Topic: Molecular interactions of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis with host cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Valentin-Weigand, Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover
Academic Background: Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Grad. Institute, Thailand

Inga Sandrock
Research Topic: Contribution of Th17-type cytokine producing γδ T cells to the control of microbial infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany

Danim Shin
Research Topic: Interplay of TLR and RIG-I mediated anti-viral signalling in virus infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Biotechnology, TU Braunschweig, Germany

Nadine Thiel
Research Topic: Characterization of mouse cytomegalovirus genes affecting surface molecules on antigen presenting cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Graduation 24th January 2014

Marijana Basic
Research Topic: Dynamic interaction between bacteria and the intestinal barrier
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. André Bleich, Central Animal Laboratory, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Anusara Daenthanasanmak
Research Topic: Genetically programmed dendritic cells expressing the non-structural Hepatitis C virus protein cluster: in vitro and in vivo analyses of multiantigenic and antigen-specific T cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Renata Stripecke, Department of Hematology, Hemostasiology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Molecular Life Sciences, University of Stockholm

Marius Döring
Research Topic: Functional analysis of rare allotypes of human Toll-like receptor 9
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: MSc Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen

Henrike Fleige
Research Topic: Imaging of Antigen-presentation and DC-T interaction in Bronchus associated lymphoid tissue, BALT
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute for Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Kerstin Gnirss
Research Topic: Comparative analysis of HIV and Ebolavirus counteraction of tetherin, a novel antiviral host cell protein
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann, Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Kirstin Jurrat
Research Topic: Signal network analyses of the Met pathway activated by the invasin Internalin B from Listeria monocytogenes
Supervisor: Dr. Lothar Jänsch, Department of Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Diploma in Biochemistry, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald

Felix Stahl
Research Topic: Spatio-temporal distribution of mCMV following oral infection and inti-viral defence strategies in new born mice
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Medicine, University of Hamburg, Germany
 
 

Graduation 11th July 2014

Patrick Bartholomäus
Research Topic: Analysis of the superagonistic anti-CD28 mediated T cell stimulation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore Institute
Academic Background: Biology, Molecular Virology, Johannes-Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Friederike Behler-Janbeck
Research Topic: Dynamics of the lung host defense against S. pneumoniae infection in mice: role of the macrophage-inducible C-type lectin Mincle
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Maus, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Life Science, University of Lübeck, Germany
 
Fiordiligie Casilag
Research Topic: Immune Evasion in the initial phase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Susanne Häußler, Department for Pathophysiology of Bacterial Biofilms, Twincore
Academic Background: Biology, Mokpo National University, South Korea

Michael Frahm
Research Topic: LPS attenuated Salmonella typhimurium for tumor therapy
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary

Rebecca Geyer
Research Topic: Signaling processes inducing cytoskeletal rearrangements upon Yersinia host cell interaction
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Petra Dersch, Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, University of Mainz, Germany

Julia Heinrich
Research Topic: Redundant and non-redundant pathways of virus sensing
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Department of Experimental Infection Research, Twincore
Academic Background: Human Biology, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Greifswald, Germany

Elham Kashani
Research Topic: Analysis of TCR-repertoire dynamics of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and γδ T cells in the course of microbial infections
Supervisor: Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Ulm University, Germany

Jennifer Kleine-Albers
Research Topic: Longitudinal analysis of maintenance mechanisms of cytomegalovirus genomes and of the immunological control during the chronic infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, University of Aberdeen, UK

Thalea Koithan
Research Topic: Identification and characterization of new host factors required for the cell entry of herpes simplex virus type 1 into neurons
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Johannes Schwerk
Research Topic: Identification of Interferon target cells and their time-resolved induction by viral infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, TU Braunschweig, Germany

Milas Ugur
Research Topic: Modulation of immune cell egress during infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey

Zuobai Wang
Research Topic: Mechanisms of dendritic cell mediated recognition and immune regulation in intestinal infections with Citrobacter rodentium
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Biology, Uppsala University, Sweden

 

Graduation 25th Jan 2013

Anna Buch
Research Topic: The secondary envelopment of HSV 1 in epithelial cells and neurons
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Elena Grabski
Reserarch Topic: Virus-Induced type I interferon responses by human antigen presenting cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke, Experimental Infection Research, Twincore, Hannover
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

Sarah Hinkelmann
Research Topic: Egress of morbilliviruses from host cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg Herrler & Prof. Dr. Ludwig Haas, Department of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: MSc Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Yi-Ju Huang
Research Topic: Functional properties, plasticity and de novo induction of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells within the gut mucosa and gut-associated lymphoid tissues
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jochen Hühn, Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: MSc Virology, National Taiwan University

Lucas Kemper
Research Topic: Crosstalk of T cell receptor signaling and IFN receptor signaling
Supervisor: Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Diploma in Biology, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg

Uliana Komor
Research Topic: An animal model for biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Diploma in Biology, Novosibirsk State University

Cornelia Lindner
Research Topic: The function of follicular nodules in the gut and peritoneal cavity for the generation of intestinal Immunoglobulin A
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute for Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

 

Graduation 28th June 2013

Andrea Bischof
Research Topic: Role of basophils in immunological memory responses to pneumococcal protein antigens and S. pneumoniae infections in mice
Supervisor: PD Dr. Ulrich Maus, Department of Experimental Pneumology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Molecular Life Science, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg

Simon Danisch
Research Topic: Function of the CD155 ligands TIGIT/WUCAM, CD96 and CD226 in the induction of humoral immunity
Supervisor: Dr. Günter Bernhardt, Institute for Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Baishakhi Datta
Research Topic: Comparison of Chlamydia trachomatis serovars D and L2 with serovars A and Ba on human dendritic cells and peripheral blood monocytes
Supervisor: PD Dr. Annette Wagner, Department of Nephrology, Hannover MedicalSchool
Academic Background: MSc Molecular Biology, University of Sussex

Deepika Devadas
Research Topic: The dynamics and modes of Herpes Simplex Virus entry into different cell types
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Molecular Medical Microbiology, University of Nottingham

Adarsh Dharan
Research Topic: Hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein domains required for the formation and correct subcellular targeting of the viral replication complex
Supervisor: Dr. Benno Wölk, Institute for Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: MSc Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology, University of Sussex

Harro Frauendorf
Research Topic: Impact of in vivo reduced regulatory T cells on priming of respiratory virus-specific T cell responses, immunopathology and pathogen clearance
Supervisor: Dr. Dunja Bruder, Department of Immunregulation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Kathrin Hüging
Research Topic: Identification of host factors limiting HCV replication and assembly in non-human and non-liver cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Department of Experimental Virology, Twincore
Academic Background: MSc Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School

Natascha Kruse
Research Topic: Establishment of a mouse model for liver specific HCV expression and replication
Supervisor: Dr. Dagmar Wirth, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Diploma in Biochemistry, Leibniz University, Hannover

Wiebke Opitz
Research Topic: Host factors implicated in β1-integrin initiated transcytosis of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Petra Dersch, Department of Molecular Infection Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: MSc Biology, TU Braunschweig

 

Graduation 8th November 2013

Wiebke Ginter
Research Topic: Role of human DC-SIGN in anti-fungal immunity
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tim Sparwasser, Institute for Infection Immunology, Twincore
Academic Background: Diploma in Biology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Graduation 20th January 2012

Asolina Braun
Research Topic: Role of lymph node stromal cells for tissue maintenance under homeostatic and inflammatory conditions
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Jan Haas
Research Topic: Elucidation of the contribution of  T cells to γδ Th17-type immune reactions in steady state and in the course of infections
Supervisor: Dr. Immo Prinz, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Semrah Kati
Research Topic: The role of the epigenetic modifications during KSHV latent persistence
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany

Georgios-Leandros Moschovakis
Research Topic: Conditional CCR7-deficient and CCR7-proficient mice to study Tolerance and Immunity
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria

Christina Ziegler
Research Topic: Host-microbe interplay in persistant Staphylococcus aureus infection
Supervisor: Dr. Eva Medine, Department of Infection Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Norway, Germany

 

Graduation 13th July 2012
 
Lucie Bartonícková
Research Topic: Characterization of the type IV secretion system and secreted effectors in host interaction by Helicobacter hepaticus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christine Josenhans, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Microbiology and Medicine, Charles University Prague, Czech Republic

Christina Brumshagen
Research Topic: Role of mononuclear phagocytes in lung protective immunity against S. pneumoniae infections
Supervisor: PD Dr. Ulrich Maus, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Marcin Cebula
Research Topic: T cell response to hepatropic viruses in transgenic mice
Supervisor: Dr. Dagmar Wirth, Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland

Johanna Eberhard
Research Topic: Hepatitis C Virus - Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection: Immune Mechanisms, Viral Interactions and Pathogenesis
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Schmidt and Dr. Dirk Meyer- Olson, Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Ildar Gabaev
Research Topic: Characterization of the immunomodulatory polymorphic RL11 glycoprotein of human cytomegalovirus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Irkutsk State University, Russia

Stephan Halle
Research Topic: In vivo visualisation of the immune response and its modulation during herpes virus infections
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Bahram Kasmapour Seighalani
Research Topic: Intracellular trafficking of phagosomes and immunity: lessons from mycobacteria
Supervisor: Dr. Maximiliano Gutierrez, Department of Vaccinology and Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: MSc Biotechnology, University of Mannheim

Anna Pelnikevich
Research Topic: Exogenous modulation of virulence in pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Dr. Lutz Wiehlmann, Department of Molecular Pathology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Kazan State University, Russia

Malte Sandbaumhüter
Research Topic: The function of pUL37 for the cell entry, the assembly and the egress of Herpes Simplex Virus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Olga Schulz
Research Topic: Immune homeostasis in the small intestine: a critical role for constitutive antigen sampling by M cells and dendritic cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biomedicine, Hannover Medical School, Germany

Christian Stern
Research Topic: Tumor targeting of filamentous phages displaying therapeutic molecules by bacterial carriers
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Department of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
Academic Background: Biology, Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelm-University Bonn, Germany

Darya Haas (née Stsepanenka)
Research Topic: Identification of cellular kinases involved in the reactivation of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus

Elisabeth Wende
Research Topic: The role of anaphylatoxin receptors in animal models of experimental colitis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klos, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Medicine, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany

Yuri Yakushko
Research Topic: Characterization of the pulmonary “virome” in patients at risk for the development of BOS (Bronchiolitits obliterans syndrome) by high throughput sequencing
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University, Ukraine

Graduation 21st January 2011

Paulina Blazejewska
Research Topic: Genetic susceptibility in mammals to influenza infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Klaus Schughart, Experimental Mouse Genetics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic background: Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, Poland

Ines Hahn
Research Topic: Role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase g in the pulmonary host defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae infections
Supervisor: PD Dr. Ulrich Maus, Experimental Pneumology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Antje Ksienzyk
Research Topic: Cellular and molecular analysis of antigen specific immune responses triggered by Interferon Regulatory Factor-1
Supervisor: Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Molecular Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, University of Leipzig, Germany

Zofia Magnowska
Research Topic: Identification and profiling of antigens from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in clinicalisolates of CF patients by state-of-the-art immunoproteomics
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wehland & Dr. Lothar Jänsch, Cell Biology & Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland & Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, Cracow, Poland

Imke Steffen
Research Topic: Signal sequence of HIV-1 glycoprotein: A determinant of posttranslational processing, folding and function?
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann, Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Ruhr-University, Bochum, Germany

Jörg Willenborg
Research Topic: Role of the arginine deiminase system (ADS) in survival of Streptococcus suis in pigs
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Valentin-Weigand, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Science Foundation Hannover
Academic Background: Plant Biotechnology, Leibniz University Hannover , Germany

 

Graduation 1st July 2011

Wiebke Albrecht
Research Topic: The role of USP7 during KSHV latency
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Constantin Bode
Research Topic:Uncovering the routes of distribution and metabolism of extracellular sphingosine 1-phosphate in vivo and in vitro by imaging and analyzing fluorescently-labelled sphingolipids
Supervisor:Dr. Markus Gräler, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Imke Bargen
Research Topic: Establishment of a murine infection model for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Tamás Dolowschiák
Research Topic: The Role of Polarisation and Horizontal Communication during Proinflammatory Stimulation of Epithelial Cells
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mathias Hornef, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, University of Pecs, Hungary

Henriette Langhans
Research Topic:The role of the global transcriptional regulator SlyA for the virulence of enteric Escherichia coli
Supervisor:Prof. Dr. Petra Dersch, Department of Microbiology, TU Braunschweig
Academic Background:Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Anja Marquardt
Research Topic: In vivo monitoring of MCMV-mutants provoking an altered immune response
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Julia Schneider
Research Topic: Structure-based design of specific inhibitors for Apicomplexa myosins
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dietmar Manstein, Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Germany

Evgeniya Solodova
Research Topic: Role of type I interferons in the innate and adaptive immune defense against Gram-negative bacteria
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University

Benjamin Wahl
Research Topic: Assessing oral tolerance on the basis of T cell migratory routes
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Graduation 22nd January 2010

Nadja Bakocevic
Research Topic: Functional characterization of follicular T-helper cells and dendritic cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue: a two photon microscopy study
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Nupur Bhatnagar
Research Topic: Innate immunity in HIV-1 infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Schmidt & Dr. Hans Heiken, Department of Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology (BSc), University of Delhi; Biotechnology (MSc), AIIMS, India

Nicole Dietrich
Research Topic: Signal induction in host cells by listeriolysin the cholesterol dependent cytolysin of Listeria monocytogenes – consequences of Ca2+ mobilisation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Siegfried Weiß, Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Jan Hänisch
Research Topic: Signal dependent activation of actin-polymerisation during Salmonella invasion
Supervisor: Dr. Theresia Stradal, Signalling and Motility Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic background: Biotechnology, University of Münster, Germany

Florian Klauschies
Research Topic: Infection of the respiratory epithelium by Canine distemper virus: importance of lipid rafts for virus entry and exit
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg Herrler & Prof. Dr. Ludwig Haas, Institute for Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: Biology, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

Manju Nagarajan
Research Topic: Molecular aspects for the control of immune surveillance by blood-borne sphingosine 1- phosphate (S1P)
Supervisor: Dr. Markus Gräler, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Genomics (MSc), Madurai Kamaraj University, India & Biochemistry/Biotechnology (BSc), Bharathiyar University, India

Quan Qiu
Research Topic: Role of the receptor for poliovirus/CD 155 in the differentiation of T cells. T cells as putative reservoir for poliovirus replication
Supervisor: Dr. Günter Bernhardt, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (MSc), Shanghai Second Medical University; Biotechnology (BSc), Soochow University, China

Fabienne Rehren
Research Topic: Inhibition of the Coxackievirus B3 induced Cytokine Expression by Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist
Supervisor: PD Dr. med. Albert Heim, Dept. of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Julia Schipke
Research Topic: Mutation of the large tegument protein VP1-3 of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
Supervisor: PD Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Swati Shukla
Research Topic: Influence of intestinal bacteria on the antibody repertoire of B-1 cells.
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiss, Research Group Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biochemistry (BSc) & Biomedical Sciences (MSc), University of Delhi, India

Rachel Thomas
Research Topic: Genetic susceptibility factors associated with HIV-1 disease progession and CMV reactivation in co-infected patients
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Witte, Dept. of Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Environmental Technology and Management (MSc), De Montfort University, England & Biological Sciences (BSc), University of Guelph, Canada
 

Graduation 18th June 2010

Christiane Brohm
Research Topic: Molecular Interactions in the course of hepatitis C virus assembly
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Department for Experimental Virology, Twincore Center, Hannover
Academic Background: Biology, Ruprechts-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany

Sirine El Houry
Research Topic: The DNA polymerase III holoenzyme of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Dr. Ute Curth, Institute for Biophsical Chemistry, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular and Cell Biology (MSc), Pasteur Institute, Paris, France & Biology (BSc), American University of Beirut, Lebanon

Anika Hävemeier
Research Topic: The role of KSHV K15 in B cell maturation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Swantje Hammerschmidt
Research Topic: Elucidating the role of intestinal plasmacytoid dendritic cells during infection and inflammation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Sonja Horatzek
Research Topic: Metabolic control of virulence in Pseudomona aeruginosa
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Burkhard Tümmler & Dr. Lutz Wiehlmann, Clinical Research Group, Molecular Pathology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Rajesh Kolli
Research Topic: Analyses of Hepatitis C virus-host cell interactions by live cell microscopy
Supervisor: Dr. Benno Woelk, Dept . of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology (MTech), Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India & Pharmacy (B.Pharm), V. Bharati College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India

Anna Leibo
Research Topic: Immune evasion, suppression and polarization by pathogenic Heliobacter species
Supervisor: PD Dr. Christine Josenhans, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Microbiology, Moscow Lomonosov State University, Russia

Claudia Moccia
Research Topic: Mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori to generate genetic variability during chronic infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Suerbaum, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, University Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela & Mayor de San Andrés de la Paz University, La Paz, Bolivia

Miriam Nörder
Research Topic: Development of mice containing the human immune system and/or human liver for the preclinical validation of vaccine candidates
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Carlos Guzmán, Department of Vaccinology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Germany

Ulfert Rand
Research Topic: Monitoring the IFN response upon infection
Supervisor: Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Germany

Anchana Rathinasamy
Research Topic: Sphingosine-1 phosphate – a novel regulator of dendritic cell traffic and positioning during the course of infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology (MSc) University of Madras, India & Microbiology (BSc) Bharathidasan University, India

Barkha Srivastava
Research Topic: Immunogenetics of the host response to Influenza A infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Klaus Schughart, Experimental Mouse Genetics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Barkatullah University Bhopal, India and Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
 

Graduation 30th January 2009

Janet Krege
Research Topic: The role of the immune system of the upper respiratory tract in immunity and tolerance
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany

Sara Bartels (neé Leschner)
Research Topic: Tumor specific gene expression by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhiumurium
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiss, Research Group Molecular Immmunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, University of Hohenheim, Germany

Julia Micklinghoff
Research Topic: Pathogenesis of tuberculosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Franz-Christoph Bange, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Pharmacy, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Florence Njau
Research Topic: Effects of TNF alpha receptor blockage on C. pneumoniae-infected dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo
Supervisor: Dr. Anette Wagner, Department of Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine (BSc), Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania; Molecular Biology (MSc), Free University of Brussels, Belgium

Girish Ramachandran
Research Topic: Functional characterization of Streptococcus suis OFS – protein.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Valentin-Weigand, Institute for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover
Academic Background: Biotechnology (BSc), Dr. G.R.D College of Science, India; MSc Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute, India; Molecular Genetics (MSc), University of Leicester, England

Melanie Rust
Research Topic: Helicobacter type III secretion system: Protein secretion, protein interaction and gene regulation
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christine Josenhans, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Malgorzata Szczodrak
Research Topic: Dissection of dynamic actin rearrangements during host-pathogen interaction
Supervisor: Dr. Klemens Rottner, Research Group Cytoskeleton Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology & Molecular Biology, University of Agriculture, Poland

Milena Tosiek
Research Topic: Molecular and functional characterisation of regulatory T cells in infectious disease and autoimmunity
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jan Buer, Research Group in Mucosal Immunity, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Poland

 

Graduation 26th June 2009

Mandy Glaß
Research Topic: Characterization of the essential cytomegalovirus protein pUL77 as basis for the development of new antivirals and of a replication-deficient DISC-vaccine
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Martin Messerle, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Biochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

Jessica Janus
Research Topic: Identification of host and viral factors mediating axonal transport of herpes simplex virus type 1
Supervisor: PD Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Lydia Janus
Research Topic: Transmission of Mice Minute Virus in mouse population
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Hedrich, Central Animal Laboratory, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany

Vanessa Jensen
Research Topic: Influence of environmental factors on intercellular signaling and secondary metabolite production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Supervisor: Dr. Susanne Häußler, Research Group Cell Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, University of Bielefeld & University of Kiel, Germany

Stefan Pachnicke
Research Topic: Molecular mechanisms of anthelmintic resistance
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany

Marcel Pietrek
Research Topic: Characterization of proximal elements in the signaling cascade induced by KSHV K15
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Halina Tegetmeyer
Research Topic: Functional characterization of the autotransporter adhesins of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nina Baltes, Institute for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: Biology, University of Dresden, Germany

Sarvari Velaga
Research Topic: Structure, organogenesis and function of solitary intestinal lymphoid tissue
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Oliver Pabst, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India & University of Skövde /Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Tetyana Yevsa
Research Topic: Development of a Bordetella bronchiseptica-based technology platform to deliver vaccine antigens by the mucosal route
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Carlos Guzmán, Research Group Vaccine Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Microbiology, Odessa National University, Ukraine

 

Graduation 25th Janary 2008

Maike de Buhr
Research Topic: Analysis of Cd14 as a candidate gene for experimental inflammatory bowel disease
Supervisor: Prof. Hans-Jürgen Hedrich, Central Animal Laboratory, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, University of Münster, Germany & University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Nicolas Fasnacht
Research Topic: Analysis of infection of mice with Trichuris muris
Supervisor: Dr. Werner Müller, Research Group Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic background: Chemical Engineering/Biotechnology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland

Kay Johswich
Research Topic: Cell responses to inflammatory mediators and bacterial pathogens
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klos, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Priyanka Narang
Research Topic: The reaction of the innate immune system towards an infection with the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus
Supervisor: Dr. Matthias Gunzer, Research Group Immunodynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biomedical Science (BSc), University of Delhi; Biotechnology (MSc), AIIMS, New Delhi, India

Peter Reichardt
Research Topic: T-cell activation by varying antigen presenting cells (APC) and by altered peptide ligands - consequences in vitro und in vivo
Supervisor: Dr. Matthias Gunzer, Research Group Immunodynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Human Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany

Sebastian Seth
Research Topic: Analyzing the function of CD155 in T cell priming and differentiation
Supervisor: Dr. Günter Bernhardt, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Jessica Thalmann
Research Topic: Functional characterization of chlamydia trachomatis protein CT166 and host cell response in chlamydial persistence
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klos, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Stefanie Weiß
Research Topic: Purification and characterisation of N- WASP and WASP associated protein complexes
Supervisor: Dr. Theresia Stradal, Research Group Signaling and Motility, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Germany

 

Graduation 27th June 2008

Vanessa Barroso
Research Topic: Interaction of extracellular matrix components with group C and G streptococci
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Singh Chhatwal, Research Group Microbial Pathogenicity, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Microbial Biology and Genetics, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Davide Ferraris
Research Topic: Structural analysis of host-pathogen interaction
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Dirk Heinz, Research Group Structural Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Chemistry, University of Turin, Italy

Julia Heinzmann
Research Topic: Functional characterisation of a 38Kb pathogenicity island of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gerald-F. Gerlach, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: Biology, University of Konstanz, Germany

Marcin Lyszkiewicz
Research Topic: Imaging of early events during Listeria monocytogenes infection in the intact spleen
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiss, Research Group Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology & Immunology, University of Wroclaw, Poland

Patrick Olbermann
Research Topic: Helicobacter pylori virulence factors: Aspects of bacterial variability, host response and adaption
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christine Josenhans, Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany

Julia Pulverer
Research Topic: Imaging activation of the interferon system
Supervisor: Dr. Hansjörg Hauser, Research Group Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnology and Food Engineering, University of Agricultural Science, Vienna, Austria

Kerstin Radtke
Research Topic: Biochemical characterization of Herpes Simplex Virus receptors for the microtubule motors dynein and kinesin
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Upneet Sandhu
Research Topic: Establishment of a mouse immunisation model for strictly controlled antigen expression
Supervisor: Dr. Dagmar Wirth, Research Group Gene Regulation and Differentiation, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Microbiology & Biochemistry (BSc), University of Mumbai, India / Biotechnology (MSc), University of Essex, UK

Sven Christian Sensken
Research Topic: Signaltransduction of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and its receptor S1P1 in the immune system
Supervisor: Dr. Markus Gräler, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, University of Bielefeld, Germany

Nuno Viegas
Research Topic: In vivo function of listeriolysin in the murine spleen during the early phase of Listeria moncytogenes infection
Supervisor: Dr. Siegfried Weiss, Research Group Molecular Immmunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biotechnological Engineering, University of the Algarve, Portugal

Caroline Zaoui
Research Topic: Intercellular communication in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: analysis of the molecular mechanism underlying the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) transduction
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Wehland, Research Group Cell Biology & Dr. Susanne Häußler, Research Group Chronic Pseudomonas Diseases, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biochemistry (BSc), Claude Bernard University, Lyon 1 (France); Microbiology (MSc) René Descartes University, Paris 5 (France)

Beata Zygmunt
Research Topic: Development and characterization of novel vaccine candidates against HCV
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Carlos Guzmán, Research Group Vaccine Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Molecular Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland & International Max Planck Research School, Göttingen, Germany
 

 

Graduation 16th February 2007
 
Eva Gellermann (neé Brüning)
Research Topic: Identification and functional characterisation of intracellular interaction partners of the KSHV (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA-1) protein.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Schulz, Department of Virology, Hannover MedicalSchool , Germany
Academic Background: Biology, Hannover Medical School

Michael Düwel
Research Topic: Functional properties of the Coated Vesicle-Associated-Kinase of 104 kDa (CVAK104) in clathrin-mediated vesicular trafficking
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ernst Ungewickell , Department of Cell Biology, Center for Anatomy, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Heidi Imhoff
Research Topic: The Role of Lipid Rafts in Canine Distemper Virus Infection
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg Herrler & Prof. Dr. Ludwig Haas, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic background: Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Susanne Lerch
Research Topic: Epitope mapping of the Classical Swine Fever Virus glycoprotein E2
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Volker Moennig, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation
Academic Background: Biology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany

Petra Lüthje
Research Topic: Molecular basis of pirlimycin resistance in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from cases of bovine mastitis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stefan Schwarz, Institute for Animal Breeding, Federal Agricultural Research Centre (FAL), Mariensee
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany

Simone Reinwald
Research Topic: Molecular and Functional Characterization of regulatory T cells – Tracing new molecules associated with regulatory phenotype
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jan Buer, Junior Research Group in Mucosal Immunity, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Kristina Theusner
Research Topic: Herpes Simplex Virus triggers Myosin II Activation during Cell Entry
Supervisor: PD Dr. Beate Sodeik, Department of Virology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ( BSc), University of the West of England, Bristol, UK ; Molecular Biology (MSc), Georg August University Göttingen, Germany

Ulrike Wittkop
Research Topic: Characteristics of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in human dendritic cells
Supervisor: Dr. Annette Wagner, Department of Rheumatology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Tim Worbs
Research Topic: Chemokine Receptor CCR7 contributes to intranodal T cell motility and functional organization of the intestinal immune system
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biotechnology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Graduation 6th July 2007

Simon Berberich
Research Topic: Dynamic expression of chemokine receptors and integrins regulate B cell migration between the peritoneal cavity and the periphery
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic Background: Biochemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt & Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
 
Tanja Bosse
Research Topic: Dissection of Rho-GTPase function in c-Met-induced actin reorganization
Supervisor: Dr. Klemens Rottner, Research Group Cytoskeleton Dynamics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig
Academic Background: Biology, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany

Maren Mönkemeyer
Research Topic: New pathogenic immune mechanisms in viral coinfections with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-1 – Role of apoptosis and genetic susceptibility
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Schmidt, Department of Clinical Immunology, Hannover Medical School
Academic background: Biology, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany

Angelika Waltermann
Research Topic: The identification, subcellular localization and functional characterization of 6K1 of plum pox virus and other members of the genus Potyvirus
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Edgar Maiss, Institute of Plant Diseases and Plant Protection, Leibniz University Hannover
Academic Background: Human Biology, Philipps University Marburg, Germany

Claudia Welz
Research Topic: Identification, characterization, and expression of latrophilin-like proteins in parasitic nematodes
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Academic Background: Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany