Booster vaccination strengthens existing defences
Memory B cells play a key role in adapting to new coronavirus variants
Infection research at the interface between clinical practice and basic research
TWINCORE was founded in 2008 by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School. We combine the expertise of medical professionals and scientists from a wide range of disciplines to find answers to the pressing questions in infection research. Our focus: translational research – the bridge between basic science and clinical application.
TWINCORE Symposium 2026
This year's TWINCORE Symposium
Pathways to infection resilience
will take place on 3 - 4 September.
Research
We conduct translational infection research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in humans. We focus on three areas that characterize our research work. Find out here how we proceed and what results we achieve.
Labs at TWINCORE
Under the leadership of our best scientists, various labs are working on different projects within our research topics.
2026Msystems : e0075425
High-resolution taxonomic profiling and metatranscriptomics identify microbial, biochemical, host, and ecological factors in peri-implant disease
Szafrański S, Joshi A, Steglich M, Yang I, Qu T, Behrens W, Muthukumarasamy U, Melidis D, Schaefer-Dreyer P, Grischke J, Hegermann J, Nejdl W, Häussler S, Stiesch M
2026Interdisciplinary Sciences, Computational Life Sciences : 10.1007/s12539-026-00855-2
Integrated Genome-Wide Association Study and Machine Learning Approach for Characterizing the Determinants of Biofilm Formation in Staphylococcus aureus
Sidarous L, Ibrahim M, Elhadidy M, Abouelfetouh A, Saif N, Aboelnaga N, Shehat M, Youssef M, Badr E
2026Nature Communications17 (1) : 7266
JN.1-adapted vaccination is associated with readjustment of ancestral memory B cells toward neutralization within the JN.1 antigenic space
Stankov M, Bruhn M, Hoffmann M, Salam A, Eichmann A, Nehlmeier I, Manthey L, Witte T, Pöhlmann S, Ahrenstorf G, Happle C, Dopfer-Jablonka A, Kalinke U, Behrens G
Bartsch Lab
Immunology
Harnessing antibody Fc effector functions as therapeutic target
The project is researching how the effect of monoclonal antibodies can be improved. These antibodies are already being used successfully against viruses. The aim is to optimize the so-called Fc effector functions in order to fight infections even more effectively.
Pietschmann Lab
Virology
Mechanisms of HCV tissue and species tropism: A guide for development of animal models
The project investigates the factors that determine the species barrier mechanism of HCV and make it impossible to study the infection in animal models. The aim is to use genetic screening systems to develop in vivo models for vaccine research.
Pietschmann Lab
Virology
Host and viral factors that govern susceptibility to HCV and RSV
We are investigating why HCV infections sometimes heal spontaneously, but often become chronic, and why RSV infections are severe in some children. We use modern sequencing technologies to analyze the genetic characteristics of hosts and pathogens in order to understand susceptibility.
Lauber Lab
Virology
Pandemic preparedness: assessing spill-over risk of RNA viruses
The CoViPa consortium uses computer-assisted high-throughput virus discovery and evolutionary analyses to identify RNA viruses with high spillover risk and potential animal host reservoirs and to investigate new pathogenicity factors.
Career at TWINCORE
Want to become part of TWINCORE?
Take a look at our job advertisements to see if there is something suitable for you or send us an unsolicited application.
