EBV Immunity

Mononucleosis and Epstein-barr virus blood test sample in lab on the white background

Our research focus is on the immune response against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and EBV-associated disease. With a better understanding of how immunity against EBV is established, we seek to establish predictive markers for the development and novel strategies for the treatment of virus-associated disorders.

EBV is carried by the vast majority of the human population. Following primary infection, EBV persists lifelong in the human host. In most virus carriers, EBV is contained as asymptomatic infection by the immune system. However, EBV is an oncogenic virus and causes different types of tumors that account for 1 to 2% of all human cancers. Furthermore, EBV has been linked with the development of several autoimmune disorders, most notably multiple sclerosis. Why EBV infection remains asymptomatic in most virus carriers and causes various diseases in a subset of infected individuals is still incompletely understood.

Comparing T- and B-cell responses against EBV in healthy virus carriers and patients with EBV-associated disease

Human (animal) cell under microscope. 3d illustration

Identifying immune evasion mechanisms employed by EBV

Unraveling the link between EBV infection and autoimmunity

Medical concept of cancer. 3d illustration of T cells or cancer cells.

Dr. Josef Mautner

Group Leader

Xue, B. ; von Heyking, K. ; Gassmann, H. ; Poorebrahim, M. ; Thiede, M. ; Schober, K. ; Mautner, J. ; Hauer, J. ; Ruland, J. ; Busch, D.H. ; Thiel, U. ; Burdach, S.E.G.

T cells directed against the metastatic driver chondromodulin-1 in ewing sarcoma: Comparative engineering with CRISPR/Cas9 vs. retroviral gene transfer for adoptive transfer.

Nückel, J. ; Planatscher, E. ; Mohr, A.W. ; Deichl, K. ; Mijočević, H. ; Feuerherd, M. ; Wolff, L.S. ; Erber, J. ; Schneider, J. ; Quante, M. ; Winter, C. ; Ruland, J. ; Hapfelmeier, A. ; Hammerschmidt, W. ; Moosmann, A. ; Protzer, U. ; Behrends, U. ; Mautner, J.

Association between IgG responses against the nucleocapsid proteins of alphacoronaviruses and COVID-19 severity.

Cirac, A. ; Poirey, R. ; Dieckmeyer, M. ; Witter, K. ; Delecluse, H.J. ; Behrends, U. ; Mautner, J.

Immunoinformatic analysis reveals antigenic heterogeneity of Epstein-Barr virus is immune-driven.

Klüpfel, J. ; Koros, R.C. ; Dehne, K. ; Ungerer, M. ; Würstle, S. ; Mautner, J. ; Feuerherd, M. ; Protzer, U. ; Hayden, O. ; Elsner, M. ; Seidel, M.

Automated, flow-based chemiluminescence microarray immunoassay for the rapid multiplex detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma (CoVRapid CL-MIA).