Structural elucidation of nameless viruses and insights into immunological overreactions

Dr Kristina Meier dealt with the Sin Nombre virus (virus without a name). This hantavirus can be transmitted from deer mice to humans and cause severe cardiopulmonary syndrome. The young scientist analysed the multifunctional L protein of the virus. It plays an important role in its replication in the host cell and is therefore an ideal starting point for future antiviral strategies. In order to develop these in a targeted manner, as much as possible must be known about the structure and function of the L protein.

Dr Kristina Meier has carried out very successful research in the Structural Virology research group led by Dr Maria Rosenthal. Using cryo-electron microscopy, she was able to elucidate the structure of the L protein - it was the first high-resolution structure of an L protein of a so-called new-world hantavirus. Further biochemical experiments shed light on the various enzymatic functions of the L protein and its ability to interact with viral RNA. The results were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens in 2023.

Dr Michaela Raacke was interested in the immune response to infections with the most dangerous malaria pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, and more specifically in the cytokine response of human brain endothelial cells. This may be a key to understanding severe courses of malaria. Infants in particular can suffer fatal cerebral oedema, which can be the result of immunological overreaction.

For her medical dissertation, Raacke conducted research in the laboratory of Prof Iris Bruchhaus (Host-Parasite Interaction Group) in cooperation with Prof Steffen Stenger (Institute of Microbiology at the University of Ulm). Among other things, she found that the plasma of malaria patients increases the production of pro-inflammatory signalling substances by the brain endothelial cells. This suggests that malaria can cause inflammatory reactions in the brain through this mechanism. A corresponding paper was published in CELLS in 2021, and the doctor presented her dissertation in 2022.