SPP 1110:  Innate Immunity

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: from 2002 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5470898

Innate immunity comprehends a network of cells and soluble factors that defend the host in the first hours and days against invading pathogenic microorganisms. A second important role of innate immunity is to establish a framework for the inititation of an adaptive, antigen-specific immune response. The initial uptake and processing of pathogen-derived antigens through a spatially and temporally coordinated action of diverse components of the innate immune system plays a pivotal role in setting the stage for a balanced adaptive immune response. The priority programme "Innate Immunity" brings together geographically dispersed experts in the various fields to focus on four research topics:(1) Identification and structural-functional characterization of pathogen-associated patterns that are recognized by the innate immune system as "foreign",(2) Identification and structural-functional characterization of pattern recognition receptors expressed by cells of the innate immune system that are pivotal to the initiation and coordination of the innate and subsequent adaptive immune response,(3) Regulation of intra- and intercellular effector mechanisms of the innate immune system,(4) The role of innate immunity for the immunopathogenesis of infectious disease. The basic science-oriented priority programme is meant to further our understanding of the functional roles of molecular components triggering innate immunity to provide signals that regulate particular effector mechanisms of both innate and adaptive immune responses.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes

Projects

• Activation of Innate Immune Responses in Plants by Lipopolysaccharides (Applicant Durner, Jörg )
• An evolutionary perspective in innate immunity using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (Applicant Schulenburg, Hinrich )
• Chemical and biological characterization of peptidoglycan and lipopeptides/lipoproteins from Gram-positive bacteria (Applicant Zähringer, Ulrich )
• Crosstalk between Signaling Processes of Innate Immunity and Yersinia YopP Effector Functions (Applicant Ruckdeschel, Klaus )
• Cytokine induction by Gram-positive bacteria (Applicant Hartung, Thomas )
• Cytokine induction by Gram-positive bacteria (Applicant Hermann, Corinna )
• Destruction of vacuolar pathogens by p47 GTPases (Applicant Howard, Jonathan Charles )
• Gfi1 in innate immunity: a downstream effector of Toll like receptor signaling and a novel regulator of endotoxin tolerance (Applicant Möröy, Tarik )
• Human NK Cell Regulation at the Interface of Innate and Acquired Immunity (Applicant Jacobs, Roland )
• Identification of essential genes and receptors for the signaling of TLR2-dependent bacterial virulence factors (lipopeptides, peptidoglycan and lipoteichoic acid) (Applicant Heine, Holger )
• Innate immune functions of human gamma-delta T lymphocytes (Applicant Kabelitz, Dietrich )
• Interferons, plasmacytoid dendritic cells and NK cells in the innate response to Leishmania parasites (Applicant Bogdan, Christian )
• LPS (lipopolysaccharide, endotoxin) susceptibility, an important factor in the innate immune response to Gram-negative bacterial infections. Benefits and hazards of LPS hypersensitivity (Applicant Freudenberg, Marina Alexandra )
• Mechanisms of mast cell activation and function in natural immunity to bacteria (Applicant Maurer, Marcus )
• Molecular mechanisms of Toll-like receptor 9 activation and the role of TLRs in autoimmunity (Applicant Bauer, Stefan )
• Molecular Mode of Antibiotic Action of Defensins and Related Innate Immunity Peptides (Applicant Sahl, Hans-Georg )
• Molecular pathways of complement-mediated effects in the pathophysiology of shock (Applicant Männel, Daniela N. )
• Molecular Patterns of Borrelia - Chemical Structure and Innate Immune Responses involving LPS Binding Protein (LBP) (Applicant Schröder, Nicolas )
• Regulation of function of innate immune cells through direct and indirect TLR-dependent signals (Applicant Heeg, Klaus Michael )
• Regulation of innate immune responses by suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins (Applicant Dalpke, Alexander )
• Role of ASMase in select secretory pathways of macrophages, NK cells, and mast cells (Applicant Utermöhlen, Olaf )
• Strukturanalyse komplexer Biomoleküle als Stimulatoren des angeborenen Immunsystems (Applicant Lindner, Buko )
• The role of bacteria-induced cell death in phagocytes for the development of the anti-bacterial immune response (Applicant Häcker, Georg )
• The role of neutrophil granulocytes as target cells and transport vehicle for intracellular pathogens (Applicant Laskay, Tamás )
• The role of the Lymphotoxin beta receptor in innate immunity (Applicant Pfeffer, Klaus )
• The Structural Basis of Recognition of LPS by Receptors of the Innate Immune System (Applicant Welte, Wolfram )
• TLR-induzierte Signalwege bei der Differenzierung und Aktivierung humaner mononukleärer Phagozyten (Applicant Rehli, Michael )
• Toll-like Receptors in the Intestinal Epithelium: Receptors of Survival or Death or Both? (Applicant Cario, Elke )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Martin Krönke