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Our main focus

The Max Planck Research Group investigates the interaction of the immune system with the organism, in particular the interaction of different cells of the immune system in local networks and with cells of other organ systems.

Research objectives

We investigate the migration of leukocytes between and within organs, and investigate where and how cells of the immune system interact to achieve an effective immune response or to prevent inflammatory disease processes. The group is also investigating lymphocytes that permanently settle in different tissues and specialise in the requirements of their environment. These "local defense forces" also play a role in the regeneration of organs or the regulation of metabolic processes, for example. Using intravital multiphoton microscopy, we were recently able to clarify the early cellular events during the adaptive immune response to a virus infection. Our research group is developing new genetic tools that allow us to visualise a wide variety of specific cell types and to test their function. The goal is to understand the basic principles for a successful immune response against infectious agents and tumors and to use them therapeutically.

Immunology beyond Würzburg

Recent Publications

Lymphatic migration of unconventional T cells promotes site-specific immunity in distinct lymph nodes, Immunity, 2022

Developmental dynamics of two bipotent thymic epithelial progenitor type, Nature, 2022

Type 1 conventional dendritic cells maintain and guide the differentiation of precursors of exhausted T cells in distinct cellular niches, Immunity, 2022

The glucose transporter GLUT3 controls T helper 17 cell responses through glycolytic-epigenetic reprogramming, Cell Metabolism, 2022

Group 1 ILCs regulate T-cell-mediated liver immunopathology by controlling local IL-2 availability, Science Immunology, 2022

Effector differentiation downstream of lineage commitment in ILC1 is driven by Hobit across tissues, Nature Immunology, 2021 open access

Chemotherapy-induced transposable elements activate MDA5 to enhance haematopoietic regeneration, Nature Cell Biology, 2021

Neutrophils self-limit swarming to contain bacterial growth in vivo, Science, 2021

BATF3 programs CD8+ T cell memory, Nature Immunology, 2020

In Situ Maturation and Tissue Adaptation of Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cell Progenitors, Immunity, 2020

A human liver cell atlas reveals heterogeneity and epithelial progenitors, Nature, 2019

News

New Players in the Immune Response Lymph nodes trigger very different immune responses – depending on which body tissue they are connected to. Special T cells are responsible for this newly discovered relation.....Learn more

A potential fountain of youth for the immune system In old age, the performance of the immune system decreases, and older people are more susceptible to infections. Research teams from Würzburg and Freiburg have now discovered an approach that could be used to slow down this process....Learn more

Why Sentinel Cells are so Important The presence of sentinel immune cells is vital to maintain and regulate the balance of the body’s immune response. Researchers have discovered an essential role of these cells in the treatment of cancer and severe viral infections......Learn more

How sugar promotes inflammation Excessive sugar consumption can promote inflammatory processes in the body and facilitate the development of autoimmune diseases. A research team at the University of Würzburg has now deciphered new details of these processes. …Learn more

Hobit Turns Immune Cells Into Killers ILCs are rapid reaction forces that reside in tissues to combat infections and tumors. WüSI scientist now show how these cells turn into effector cells…Learn more

Start-stop System of Hunting Immune Cells How immune cells coordinate their swarming behaviour to effectively eliminate pathogens: A publication in "Science" presents new findings...Learn more

New therapeutic approach against COVID-19 In January 2021, a supraregional research project will start that aims to develop a targeted therapy against SARS-CoV-2. Scientists from the University of Würzburg are involved....Learn more (german)

Immune cells as guests in the tissue Specialized immune cells settle permanently in tissues of the body and build “local task forces”. Wuerzburger scientists... Learn more

Memory training for the immune system The immune system will memorize the pathogen after an infection and can therefore react promptly after reinfection with the same pathogen. Now, scientists at the University of Würzburg...Learn more

WüSI's publication is among the top 10 most read Immunity articles.

New review articles is out from Katarzyna Jobin.

Research

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Graduate School for Life Science

The Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) provides structured doctoral research training in a highly interdisciplinary research environment.

IMPRS-IEM in Freiburg

The International Max Planck Research School for Immunobiology, Epigenetics and Metabolism (IMPRS-IEM) - a joint international PhD Programme of the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics and the University of Freiburg

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Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology