Research

The Research Department of Virus-Host-Interaction headed by Prof Dr. Wolfram Brune focuses on the interaction of herpesviruses (cytomegalovirus CMV and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus KSHV) with host cells and the elucidation of the molecular basis of the species specificity of certain herpesviruses.
The aim of the research is to uncover the mechanisms by which herpes viruses influence the host cell's defence reactions (innate and intrinsic immunity). This should provide new insights into the defence mechanisms of the host and countermeasures of the virus. In addition, key molecules of virus-host interactions may serve as targets for new antiviral therapies.

 

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Herpesviruses induce aggregation and selective autophagy of host signalling proteins NEMO and RIPK1 as an immune-evasion mechanism.
Muscolino E, Schmitz R, Loroch S, Caragliano E, Schneider C, Rizzato M, Kim YH, Krause E, Juranić Lisnić V, Sickmann A, Reimer R, Ostermann E, Brune W. Nat Microbiol. 2020 Feb;5(2):331-342.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31844296/

Human cytomegalovirus forms phase-separated compartments at viral genomes to facilitate viral replication.
Caragliano E, Bonazza S, Frascaroli G, Tang J, Soh TK, Grünewald K, Bosse JB, Brune W. Cell Rep. 2022 Mar 8;38(10):110469.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35263605/

A cytomegalovirus inflammasome inhibitor reduces proinflammatory cytokine release and pyroptosis.
Deng Y, Ostermann E, Brune W. Nat Commun. 2024 Jan 26;15(1):786.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38278864/