Focus on SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical features of COVID-19 dramatically highlight the need to better understand why some patients are so strikingly more susceptible to a viral respiratory pathogen. Several researchers involved in RESIST are successfully working to solve this challenge. They are seeking new diagnostic methods, improving vaccines and cloning broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodies.
On this page, we have bundled publications on research related to SARS-CoV-2, as well as news related to the topic of corona infections. It also contains videos and press releases explaining the research, as well as questions and their answers about the topic. We will be happy to keep you up to date.
RESIST-News about SARS-CoV-2
What leads to severe COVID-19 diseases?
Team analyses genetic and epicenetic regulators: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to severe disease in some people, whereas others do not get ill or only experience mild disease. But why is this the case? Unfortunately, we do not know exactly. We do [...]
Research with change
The Corona pandemic also turned one of the first doctoral theses produced in RESIST on its head One of the first doctoral theses produced in a RESIST project is that of Matthias Bruhn; he defended his work at the end of January 2023. The course was [...]
COVID – and what happens next?
Professor Dr. Melanie Brinkmann and Professor Dr. Reinhold Förster summarised the past three years with SARS-CoV-2 and ventured a look into the future on 17 January at Herrenhausen Palace as part of Herrenhausen Late. Looking back, they recalled the [...]
Covid-19 pandemic: (no) end in sight?
2 January 2023 Join us, it's going to be exciting: On the evening of 17 January from 8.30 p.m., Professor Brinkmann and Professor Förster will discuss with the audience lessons learned from the pandemic - and how we can better prepare ourselves in t [...]
Corona research: What can the top five do?
Team investigates approaches for new drugs that act against many different coronaviruses: Finding active agents against SARS-CoV-2 and, if possible, against other coronaviruses - this is the goal that a team led by RESIST-Speaker Prof. Schulz, Insti [...]
Research on COVID-19
What works against SARS-CoV-2? Who falls ill despite vaccination? What role do genes play in the immune response? Numerous questions continue to revolve around the topic of corona. In order to be able to answer them, the "COVID-19 Research Network Lo [...]
RESIST researchers lead COFONI projects
The COVID-19 Research Network Lower Saxony (COFONI) is funding 13 projects with a total of around 6 million euros. Six of these projects are led by scientists who also conduct research in RESIST. The projects are funded with up to 500,000 euros each [...]
Corona pandemic: Prof. Falk and Prof. Meyer-Hermann are members of the expert council
In order to effectively combat the corona pandemic, the German government has set up a scientific expert council to advise it on the basis of current scientific findings on the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. Prof. Falk (MHH) and Prof. Meyer [...]
The third dose
The third vaccination – is it really necessary to be protected against Corona? Who should get vaccinated? In this interview, Prof. Schulz answers questions about the third vaccination as protection against Corona. Prof. Schulz, do we need a third va [...]
Study on SARS-CoV-2: Cross-vaccination protects effectively
Combination of vaccines from AstraZeneca and Biontech/Pfizer protects particularly well - even with virus variants The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) supports a second vaccination with an mRNA vaccine such as the one from Biontech/Pfizer [...]
The third dose
How long does the vaccination protection against SARS-CoV-2 last? Are ongoing vaccinations necessary? Prof. Schulz tells us what is currently known about it: Professor Schulz, how long is one protected against SARS-CoV-2 after the double vaccination [...]
RESIST team investigates antibiotic resistance
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on multidrug-resistant pathogens: How do the hygiene and distance rules introduced due to the pandemic influence the transmission of multidrug-resistant pathogens in hospitals? Professor Dr Marco Galardini and Pro [...]
Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus: Professor Schulz answered questions
Mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are on everyone's mind these days. Professor Schulz, there are British, South African and Brazilian variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Germany. How dangerous are these variants? In the case of the Engli [...]
Corona pandemic: explained to the public
RESIST researchers are not only busy doing research on SARS-CoV-2 at this time, but also explaining it. For example, on 11 January, RESIST speaker Professor Schulz explained facts about mutated variants of the coronavirus for a feature on NDR televi [...]
Together against the Corona pandemic
RESIST researchers are part of the Network of University Medicine: To better tackle the corona pandemic the German university hospitals have joined forces by establishing the "Network of University Medicine". The Federal Ministry of Education and Re [...]
SARS-CoV-2: Recovered but not protected
Simple test developed for detection of protective neutralising antibodies: Infections with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can take very different courses. While some people have no symptoms, others get seriously ill. An important question that often ari [...]
COVID-19: T lymphocytes play an important role
A team from Hannover Medical School, which also includes RESIST researchers, publishes the first European study of this kind in the Lancet journal "EBioMedicine” / The course of infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can progress very differently [...]
After a “corona break”: Recruitment of RESIST cohort resumed
SARS-CoV-2 has made it very clear to us: As we age, the defense by our immune system against viruses can be very poor sometimes. Unfortunately, also vaccinations show often only weak effects in elderly individuals and infections can progress more se [...]
SARS-CoV-2: This is what the RESIST teams are working on
Numerous RESIST scientists in the various institutions have expanded their work and are now also focusing on SARS-CoV-2: Professor Dr. Luka Čičin-Šain at the HZI is developing new technologies for improved serological virus diagnostics, for vaccine [...]
Particularly potent antibodies should help against SARS-CoV-2
People who have successfully mastered an infection with SARS-CoV-2 have various protective antibodies in their blood. Some of these substances are particularly effective. Detecting these highly potent antibodies, producing them genetically in the la [...]
With smallpox vaccination vector against the new Coronavirus
In his search for a suitable vaccine against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, Professor Förster relies on old friends. In cooperation with the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), the co-speaker of RESIST is testing a promising vaccine based on [...]
RESIST-Research on the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
Many different research projects on SARS-CoV-2 are carried out in the Cluster of Excellence RESIST - always with the aim of protecting and treating people in the best possible way. Professor Schulz gives an overview of the work: Professor Schulz, wh [...]
RESIST Publications on SARS-CoV-2
- Persicamidines-Unprecedented Sesquarterpenoids with Potent Antiviral Bioactivity against Coronaviruses Keller L, Oueis E, Kaur A, Safaei N, Kirsch SH, Gunesch AP, Haid S, Rand U, Čičin-Šain L, Fu C, Wink J, Pietschmann T, Müller R. . Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023 Feb 1. Epub 2023 Jan 4.
- COVID-19 in pediatric lung transplant recipients: Clinical course and outcome. J Heart Lung Transplant. Schütz K, Davids J, Petrik B, Zychlinsky Scharff A, Carlens J, Heim A, Salman J, Ius F, Bobylev D, Hansen G, Müller C, Schwerk N. 2023 Apr;42(4):533-538.
- A validated protocol to UV-inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and herpesvirus-infected cells. PLoS One. 2023 May 10;18(5):e0274065. Soh TK, Pfefferle S, Wurr S, von Possel R, Oestereich L, Rieger T, Uetrecht C, Rosenthal M, Bosse JB.
- Omicron infection-associated T- and B-cell immunity in antigen-naive and triple-COVID-19-vaccinated individuals. Barros-Martins J, Hammerschmidt SI, Morillas Ramos G, Cossmann A, Hetzel L, Odak I, Köhler M, Stankov MV, Ritter C, Friedrichsen M, Ravens I, Schimrock A, Ristenpart J, Janssen A, Willenzon S, Bernhardt G, Lichtinghagen R, Bošnjak B, Behrens GMN, Förster R. Front Immunol. 2023 May 5;14:1166589.
- The MEK1/2-inhibitor ATR-002 efficiently blocks SARS-CoV-2 propagation and alleviates pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses. Schreiber A, Viemann D, Schöning J, Schloer S, Mecate Zambrano A, Brunotte L, Faist A, Schöfbänker M, Hrincius E, Hoffmann H, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Rescher U, Planz O, Ludwig S. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2022 Jan 10;79(1):65.
- Optical genome mapping identifies rare structural variations as predisposition factors associated with severe COVID-19. Sahajpal NS, Jill Lai CY, Hastie A, Mondal AK, Dehkordi SR, van der Made CI, Fedrigo O, Al-Ajli F, Jalnapurkar S, Byrska-Bishop M, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Levy B, Schieck M, Illig T, Bacanu SA, Chou JS, Randolph AG, Rojiani AM, Zody MC, Brownstein CA, Beggs AH, Bafna V, Jarvis ED, Hoischen A, Chaubey A, Kolhe R; COVID19hostgenomesv consortium. iScience. 2022 Jan 10:103760.
- Wahrnehmung der Corona-Pandemie durch Neurodermitispatienten – Ergebnisse aus dem Neurodermitisregister TREATgermany. Helmert C, Siegels D, Haufe E, Abraham S, Heratizadeh A, Kleinheinz A, Harder I, Schäkel K, Effendy I, Wollenberg A, Sticherling M, Stahl M, Worm M, Schwichtenberg U, Schwarz B, Rossbacher J, Buck PM, Schenck F, Werfel T, Weidinger S, Schmitt J; das TREATgermany Studienteam. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2022 Jan;20(1):45-58.
- Robust induction of neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after homologous Spikevax or heterologous Vaxzevria-Spikevax vaccination. Hammerschmidt SI, Thurm C, Bošnjak B, Bernhardt G, Reinhold A, Willenzon S, Ritter C, Reinhold D, Schraven B, Förster R. Eur J Immunol. 2022 Feb;52(2):356-359.
- Dysregulated PI3K Signaling in B Cells of CVID Patients. Harder I, Münchhalfen M, Andrieux G, Boerries M, Grimbacher B, Eibel H, Maccari ME, Ehl S, Wienands J, Jellusova J, Warnatz K, Keller B. Cells. 2022 Jan 28;11(3):464. doi: 10.3390/cells11030464.
- NK cell dysfunction in severe COVID-19: TGF-β-induced downregulation of integrin beta-2 restricts NK cell cytotoxicity. Barros-Martins J, Förster R, Bošnjak B. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Jan 31;7(1):32.
- Clinical development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines. Kalinke U, Barouch DH, Rizzi R, Lagkadinou E, Türeci Ö, Pather S, Neels P. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2022 Feb 14.
- Evolution of biofilm-adapted gene expression profiles in lasR-deficient clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Jeske A, Arce-Rodriguez A, Thöming JG, Tomasch J, Häussler S. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2022 Feb 14;8(1):6.
- Toll-like receptors matter: plasmacytoid dendritic cells in COVID-19. Becker J, Kalinke U. EMBO J. 2022 Apr 26:e111208. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022111208. Epub ahead of print.
- Longitudinal Tracking of Immune Responses in COVID-19 Convalescents Reveals Absence of Neutralization Activity Against Omicron and Staggered Impairment to Other SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Odak I, Schultze-Florey CR, Hammerschmidt SI, Ritter C, Willenzon S, Friedrichsen M, Ravens I, Sikora R, Bayir LM, Gutierrez Jauregui R, Bernhardt G, Stankov MV, Cossmann A, Hansen G, Krey T, Cornberg M, Koenecke C, Behrens GMN, Bošnjak B, Förster R. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 14;13:863039. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863039. PMID: 35359969; PMCID: PMC8964088.
- Clinical development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines. Expert Rev Vaccines. Kalinke U, Barouch DH, Rizzi R, Lagkadinou E, Türeci Ö, Pather S, Neels P. 2022 May;21(5):609-619.
- Longitudinal Tracking of Immune Responses in COVID-19 Convalescents Reveals Absence of Neutralization Activity Against Omicron and Staggered Impairment to Other SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern. Odak I, Schultze-Florey CR, Hammerschmidt SI, Ritter C, Willenzon S, Friedrichsen M, Ravens I, Sikora R, Bayir LM, Gutierrez Jauregui R, Bernhardt G, Stankov MV, Cossmann A, Hansen G, Krey T, Cornberg M, Koenecke C, Behrens GMN, Bošnjak B, Förster R. Front Immunol. 2022 Mar 14;13:863039.
- Testing and isolation to prevent overloaded healthcare facilities and reduce death rates in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Italy. Bandyopadhyay A, Schips M, Mitra T, Khailaie S, Binder SC, Meyer-Hermann M. Commun Med (Lond).
- The impact of the first COVID-19 wave on office-based dermatological care in Germany: a focus on diagnosis, therapy and prescription of biologics. Nordhorn I, Weiss D, Werfel T, Zink A, Schielein MC, Traidl S. Eur J Dermatol.
- BNT162b2-boosted immune responses six months after heterologous or homologous ChAdOx1nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination against COVID-19. Behrens GMN, Barros-Martins J, Cossmann A, Ramos GM, Stankov MV, Odak I, Dopfer-Jablonka A, Hetzel L, Köhler M, Patzer G, Binz C, Ritter C, Friedrichsen M, Schultze-Florey C, Ravens I, Willenzon S, Bubke A, Ristenpart J, Janssen A, Ssebyatika G, Krähling V, Bernhardt G, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Krey T, Bošnjak B, Hammerschmidt SI, Förster R. Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 18.
- BNT162b2-boosted immune responses six months after heterologous or homologous ChAdOx1nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination against COVID-19. Behrens GMN, Barros-Martins J, Cossmann A, Ramos GM, Stankov MV, Odak I, Dopfer-Jablonka A, Hetzel L, Köhler M, Patzer G, Binz C, Ritter C, Friedrichsen M, Schultze-Florey C, Ravens I, Willenzon S, Bubke A, Ristenpart J, Janssen A, Ssebyatika G, Krähling V, Bernhardt G, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Krey T, Bošnjak B, Hammerschmidt SI, Förster R. Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 18.
- Hide and seek with SARS-CoV-2: spike receptor-binding domain-specific memory B cells still recognize Omicron variant. Signal Transduct Target Ther. Odak I, Förster R, Bošnjak B. 2022 Oct 2;7(1):343.
- Binding of Glycans to the SARS CoV-2 Spike Protein, an Open Question: NMR Data on Binding Site Localization, Affinity, and Selectivity. Maass T, Ssebyatika G, Brückner M, Breckwoldt L, Krey T, Mallagaray A, Peters T, Frank M, Creutznacher R. Chemistry. 2022 Dec 20;28(71):e202202614.Epub 2022 Oct 26.
- COVID-19 in pediatric lung transplant recipients: Clinical course and outcome. J Heart Lung Transplant. Schütz K, Davids J, Petrik B, Scharff AZ, Carlens J, Heim A, Salman J, Ius F, Bobylev D, Hansen G, Müller C, Schwerk N. 2022 Dec 5
- Altered and allele-specific open chromatin landscape reveals epigenetic and genetic regulators of innate immunity in COVID-19. Zhang B, Zhang Z, Koeken VACM, Kumar S, Aillaud M, Tsay HC, Liu Z, Kraft ARM, Soon CF, Odak I, Bošnjak B, Vlot A; Deutsche COVID-19 OMICS Initiative (DeCOI); Swertz MA, Ohler U, Geffers R, Illig T, Huehn J, Saliba AE, Sander LE, Förster R, Xu CJ, Cornberg M, Schulte LN, Li Y. Cell Genom. 2022 Dec 2
- Immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 variants after heterologous and homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/BNT162b2 vaccination. Barros-Martins J, Hammerschmidt SI, Cossmann A, Odak I, Stankov MV, Morillas Ramos G, Dopfer-Jablonka A, Heidemann A, Ritter C, Friedrichsen M, Schultze-Florey C, Ravens I, Willenzon S, Bubke A, Ristenpart J, Janssen A, Ssebyatika G, Bernhardt G, Münch J, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Krey T, Bošnjak B, Förster R, Behrens GMN. Nat Med. 2021 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01449-9. Online ahead of print. PMID: 34262158
- Immunogenicity and efficacy of the COVID-19 candidate vector vaccine MVA-SARS-2-S in preclinical vaccination. Tscherne A, Schwarz JH, Rohde C, Kupke A, Kalodimou G, Limpinsel L, Okba NMA, Bošnjak B, Sandrock I, Odak I, Halwe S, Sauerhering L, Brosinski K, Liangliang N, Duell E, Jany S, Freudenstein A, Schmidt J, Werner A, Gellhorn Serra M, Klüver M, Guggemos W, Seilmaier M, Wendtner CM, Förster R, Haagmans BL, Becker S, Sutter G, Volz A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jul 13;118(28):e2026207118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2026207118. PMID: 34162739 Free PMC article.
- Immunogenicity and efficacy of the COVID-19 candidate vector vaccine MVA-SARS-2-S in preclinical vaccination. Tscherne A, Schwarz JH, Rohde C, Kupke A, Kalodimou G, Limpinsel L, Okba NMA, Bošnjak B, Sandrock I, Odak I, Halwe S, Sauerhering L, Brosinski K, Liangliang N, Duell E, Jany S, Freudenstein A, Schmidt J, Werner A, Gellhorn Serra M, Klüver M, Guggemos W, Seilmaier M, Wendtner CM, Förster R, Haagmans BL, Becker S, Sutter G, Volz A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Jul 13;118(28):e2026207118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2026207118. PMID: 34162739.
- Development of the reproduction number from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 case data in Germany and implications for political measures. Khailaie S, Mitra T, Bandyopadhyay A, Schips M, Mascheroni P, Vanella P, Lange B, Binder SC, Meyer-Hermann M. BMC Med. 2021 Jan 28;19(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s12916-020-01884-4. PMID: 33504336 Free PMC article.
- Case Report: Convalescent Plasma Therapy Induced Anti-SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Expansion, NK Cell Maturation and Virus Clearance in a B Cell Deficient Patient After CD19 CAR T Cell Therapy. Bošnjak B, Odak I, Ritter C, Stahl K, Graalmann T, Steinbrück L, Blasczyk R, Falk CS, Schulz TF, Wedemeyer HH, Cornberg M, Ganser A, Förster R, Koenecke C. Front Immunol. 2021 Aug 12;12:721738
- Intranasal Delivery of MVA Vector Vaccine Induces Effective Pulmonary Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2 in Rodents. Bošnjak B, Odak I, Barros-Martins J, Sandrock I, Hammerschmidt SI, Permanyer M, Patzer GE, Greorgiev H, Gutierrez Jauregui R, Tscherne A, Schwarz JH, Kalodimou G, Ssebyatika G, Ciurkiewicz M, Willenzon S, Bubke A, Ristenpart J, Ritter C, Tuchel T, Meyer Zu Natrup C, Shin DL, Clever S, Limpinsel L, Baumgärtner W, Krey T, Volz A, Sutter G, Förster R. Front Immunol. 2021 Nov 11;12:772240.
- Robust induction of neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant after homologous Spikevax or heterologous Vaxzevria-Spikevax vaccination. Hammerschmidt SI, Thurm C, Bošnjak B, Bernhardt G, Reinhold A, Willenzon S, Ritter C, Reinhold D, Schraven B, Förster R. Eur J Immunol. 2021 Dec 6.
- Long-Lasting Immunity Against SARS-CoV-2: Dream or Reality? Gussarow D, Bonifacius A, Cossmann A, Stankov MV, Mausberg P, Tischer-Zimmermann S, Gödecke N, Kalinke U, Behrens GMN, Blasczyk R, Eiz-Vesper B. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Nov 25;8:770381.
- Safety and efficacy of abatacept in patients with treatment-resistant SARCoidosis (ABASARC) – protocol for a multi-center, single-arm phase IIa trial. Frye BC, Rump IC, Uhlmann A, Schubach F, Ihorst G, Grimbacher B, Zissel G, Quernheim JM.Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2020 May 29;19:100575. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100575. PMID: 32551397; PMCID: PMC7292904.
- Reappearance of effector T cells is associated with recovery from COVID-19. EBioMedicine. 2020 Jul;57:102885. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102885. Epub 2020 Jul 7. PMID: 32650275; PMCID: PMC7338277. Odak I, Barros-Martins J, Bošnjak B, Stahl K, David S, Wiesner O, Busch M, Hoeper MM, Pink I, Welte T, Cornberg M, Stoll M, Goudeva L, Blasczyk R, Ganser A, Prinz I, Förster R, Koenecke C, Schultze-Florey CR.
- Combating COVID-19: MVA Vector Vaccines Applied to the Respiratory Tract as Promising Approach Toward Protective Immunity in the Lung. Förster R, Fleige H, Sutter G. Front Immunol. 2020 Aug 7;11:1959. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01959. PMID: 32849655; PMCID: PMC7426738.
- Strategic Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Serology Testing in a Low Prevalence Setting: The COVID-19 Contact (CoCo) Study in Healthcare Professionals. Behrens GMN, Cossmann A, Stankov MV, Schulte B, Streeck H, Förster R, Bosnjak B, Willenzon S, Boeck AL, Thu Tran A, Thiele T, Graalmann T, Kayser MZ, Zychlinsky Scharff A, Dopfer C, Horke A, Pink I, Witte T, Wetzke M, Ernst D, Jablonka A, Happle C. Infect Dis Ther. 2020 Dec;9(4):837-849. doi: 10.1007/s40121-020-00334-1. Epub 2020 Sep 4. PMID: 32886335; PMCID: PMC7472691.
- COVID-19 related reduction in pediatric emergency healthcare utilization – a concerning trend. Dopfer C, Wetzke M, Zychlinsky Scharff A, Mueller F, Dressler F, Baumann U, Sasse M, Hansen G, Jablonka A, Happle C. BMC Pediatr. 2020 Sep 7;20(1):427. doi: 10.1186/s12887-020-02303-6. PMID: 32894080; PMCID: PMC7475725.
- Low serum neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels in mildly affected COVID-19 convalescent patients revealed by two different detection methods. Bošnjak B, Stein SC, Willenzon S, Cordes AK, Puppe W, Bernhardt G, Ravens I, Ritter C, Schultze-Florey CR, Gödecke N, Martens J, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Cossmann A, Yilmaz M, Pink I, Hoeper MM, Behrens GMN, Pöhlmann S, Blasczyk R, Schulz TF, Förster R. Cell Mol Immunol. 2020 Nov 2:1–9. doi: 10.1038/s41423-020-00573-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33139905; PMCID: PMC7604543.
- Double-edge anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody levels in mildly affected COVID-19 convalescent patients revealed by two different detection methods Bosnjak B, Stein SC, Willenzon S, Cordes AK, Puppe W, Bernhardt G, Ravens I, Ritter C, Schultze-Florey CR, Gödecke N, Martens J, Kleine-Weber H, Hoffmann M, Cossmann A, Yilmaz M, Pink I, Hoeper MM, Behrens GMN, Pöhlmann S, Blasczyk R, Schulz TF, Forster R. Cell Mol Immunol 2020