Dirk Schlüter

Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

The central goal of our research is to understand immune reactions in CNS infections and autoimmunity. In particular, we focus on the role of brain resident cells, i.e. astrocytes and neurons, as regulators of immune reactions. In these experiments, we use cell-type-specific conditional gene-deficient mice to selectively delete genes in astrocytes and neurons. Currently, we a address the role of deubiquitinating enzymes (A20, CYLD, OTUB1, Cezanne) as regulators of pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in astrocytes. As experimental models, we use murine Toxoplasma encephalitis, listeriosis and cerebral malaria, and as a model for CNS autoimmunity murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Keywords: CNS infections – CNS autoimmunity

Location: OVGU (FME)

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