Laboratory for Adaptive Immunity
Institute of Immunology
The Laboratory for Adaptive Immunity investigates the immune response mechanisms in different acute infections and after immunization. The emphasis lies on infections with Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV), Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus (ILTV) for the species poultry and on infections with Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Influenza and Aujeszky Virus in swine.
In parallel, we carry out tumor-immunological investigations on the oncolytic potential of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in a mouse model.
Main research topics and projects
Poultry
- Infection immunological investigations after virus infection (e.g. AIV, HPAIV, NDV, ILTV) in poultry
- Generation of monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens of avian lymphocytes
- Development of Cytokine-ELISA and –real-time PCR
- Development of functional tests for poultry immunology
- Description of immunological processes in poultry in comparison to mammals
Swine
- Infection immunological investigations after virus infection in swine (classical swine fever, influenza, Aujeszky virus)
- Comparative immunological investigations in domestic pigs and wild boar
- Immunological explanation of the action principle of potential vaccines
- „Immunological error search“ in lethal courses of disease
Tumor Immunology (Mouse)
- NDV as oncolytic virus for human medicine: Selection of a suitable APMV isolate or test of particular virus recombinants from a reverse genetic system
- Mouse model for NDV infection
- NDV as oncolytic virus in a mouse tumor model
Overview of methods
The following methods are used for immunological investigations:
- Cell culture techniques
- Flow cytometry (FACS Analysis and Sorting)
- Magnetic cell sorting
- Proliferation and CTL assay
- Immunofluorescence
- Immunohistology
- Western blot and ELISA techniques
- PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR