Andrea Kröger

Head of Research Group Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Medical Microbiology and hospital hygiene, Medical Faculty at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Our team studies host pathogen interaction during viral infections of the central nervous system. We focus on innate antiviral mechanisms which regulates neuro-invasion and neuro-pathogenesis. Especially the interferon system promptly triggers a cellular anti-viral defense against the infectious agent. In addition type I IFNs link up the body’s two most important lines of defense: the innate and the acquired immune response. The focus of our research is to understand the interplay between the host and the virus during viral infections especially in the central nervous system with pathogens like Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Zika virus and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus.

Keywords: neurotrophic viral infection – innate immunity – type I interferon – host-pathogen interaction

Location: OVGU

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