Herold Lab

Irina Kuznetsova, PhD

Project description: In severe cases SARS-CoV2 disease-2019 (COVID-19), virus-induced pneumonia leads to development of disseminated intravascular coagulation, endothelial leakage, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure. The main goal of my project is to elucidate the molecular cross-talk between alveolar epithelial cells, tissue-resident alveolar macrophages and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in order to develop an approach for treatment of SARS-CoV2-induced lung injury.

Dr. biol. Hom. Learta Pervizaj-Oruqaj

Project description: This project is dedicated to elucidate the intricate mechanisms governing lung damage and recovery during severe Influenza A virus (IAV) infections, with a primary focus on alveolar macrophages and their expression of Placenta-expressed transcript 1 (Plet1). The project’s objectives encompass the advancement of our comprehension of the macrophage-epithelial cell crosstalk, ultimately preserving lung function and mitigating severe viral pneumonia consequences. Additionally, we are committed to delve into Plet1’s mode of action and signal transduction pathways it engages, to provide profound insights into lung repair, paving the way for innovative approaches to address respiratory infections and improve patient outcomes.

Margarida Barroso, PhD

Project description: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) show promising therapeutic potential in different forms of acute lung injury. However, it is not clear how MSC sense injury during viral lung infections. The aim of this project is to understand how the anti-viral and tissue-protective effects of bone marrow derived-MSC (BM-MSC) are mediated and can be applied in the context of influenza-virus (IV) infection.

Dr. med. Christina Malainou

Project description: Influenza virus-induced pneumonia initiates a variety of immune responses within the alveoli, which eventually compromise host defense, causing the depletion of the local, tissue-resident alveolar macrophage (TR-AM) pool, which paves the way for the establishment of secondary bacterial infections, with a potentially lethal outcome. In this project, we aim to elucidate the pathomechanisms behind influenza-associated TR-AM loss to attenuate disease progress and prevent the transition to post-influenza bacterial pneumonia.

Maximiliano Ferrero, PhD (Guest Scientist)

Project description: The immune response to severe respiratory infections can contribute to lung damage, but it is also crucial to promote repair once the infection is resolved. By unraveling the immune-epithelial cell cross talk, we study how alveolar macrophages mediate epithelial regeneration to preserve the lung during severe viral pneumonia.