GRK 745:  Mucosal Host-Pathogen Interactions

• Subject Area: Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine
• Term: from 2001 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 273369

The main goal of the research training group is run by the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Medical School Hannover. Target and research area is the host-pathogen "cross-talk" at mucosal interfaces, i.e. interactions of bacterial and viral pathogens with their cellular and soluble mucosal counterparts. The 12 research projects focus on modification of bacterial gene expression in the respiratory tract, mechanisms of cell entry and damage of viruses, and modulation of mucosal defense mechanisms against pathogens. Long-term aim of the projects is to develop improved strategies for prevention and control of diseases, in particular by vaccination. Experimental approaches include functional genomics and proteomics applied in experimental infections in the mouse and pig, as well as in ex vivo and in vitro studies. Thus, host-pathogen interactions are analyzed in the infected organisms as well as at the cellular, subcellular and molecular level. The curriculum is designed to ensure a research focussed integration of the teaching program under the main topic "Host-Pathogen Interactions" and consists, e.g. of a summer school and workshops to be organized by the Ph.D. students.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
• Co-Applicant Institution: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Peter Valentin-Weigand
• Participating Researchers: Dr. Hendrikus Hans Bakker; Professor Dr. Axel Brakhage; Professorin Dr. Rita Gerardy-Schahn; Professor Dr. Gerald-Friedrich Gerlach; Professor Dr. Ralph Goethe; Privatdozentin Dr. Irene Greiser-Wilke; Dr. Beatrice Grummer; Professor Dr. Ludwig Haas (†); Privatdozent Dr. Albert Heim; Professor Dr. Georg Herrler; Professor Dr. Thomas Schulz; Professorin Dr. Beate Sodeik; Professor Dr. Ivo Steinmetz; Professor Dr. Sebastian Suerbaum; Professor Dr. Burkhard Tümmler; Privatdozent Dr. Gert Zimmer