Working group PD Dr. med. Thomas Wirth
The immune system plays a decisive role in the defense against infections and in the fight against malignant degenerated cells. CD8 T cells are of particular importance in this context. As a central component of the adaptive immune response, they contribute significantly to the success of the immune response through their cytotoxic properties and the secretion of cytokines. Our group investigates the role of CD8 T cells in acute and chronic infection models as well as in animal models of gastrointestinal tumors. A particular research focus of our group is hepatocellular carcinoma.
For the investigation of T cells in acute and chronic infections, numerous infection models have been established in our working group (Listeria monocytogenes, vaccinia viruses, LCMV viruses, etc.) On the basis of these established infection models, we analyze in particular the kinetics of T cell immune responses as well as the phenotype and trafficking of pathogen-specific T cells.
The focus of our oncological investigations is the establishment of practical animal models for hepatocellular carcinoma and other gastrointestinal tumors (e.g. pancreas) and the development of innovative immunotherapies. The spectrum of our therapies primarily includes the development of T-cell vaccines, but also, for example, the further development of checkpoint inhibitor therapies and oncolytic virotherapy.
The importance of immunotherapies in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors has steadily increased in recent years. Another focus of our research group is the analysis of immune responses in patients undergoing oncological prevention, follow-up care and palliative systemic therapy. The aim of clinical research is to identify prognostic biomarkers for individual tumor entities, predictive biomarkers for oncological system therapies and diagnostic biomarkers for the early diagnosis of developing and recurrent tumor diseases.
Our working group
- Aditi Kumthekar (PhD)
- Lena Luisa Suhl (PhD)
- Arne Menze (PhD)
- Dmitrij Ostroumov (Dr. rer. nat.)
- Sarah Sauer (MTA)
- Benjamin Brinkhoff (Dr. med. vet.)
- Steven Duong (PhD)
- Supot Nimanong (Dr. med.)
- Jessica Wingerath (Dr. rer. nat.)