Immunobiology and Respiratory Infections
Our research lab Immunobiology and Respiratory Infections is part of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
The group is working on pulmonary and immunological defense mechanisms in response to bacterial and viral infections to understand capacities and limitations of the host defense. Learn more about our different approaches and research projects.
We are always looking for people joining our team. If you are interest, send Geraldine an email (geraldine.nouailles@charite.de).
Group Leader, PD Dr.-Ing., she/her
Lab technician, she/her
DVM student, she/her
Postdoc, Dr. rer. nat., he/him
PhD student, he/him
Postdoc, Dr. rer. nat., she/her
DVM student, she/her
MD student, she/her
Postdoc, Dr. med., he/him
MD student, he/him
PhD student, she/her
Master student, she/her
Find more about our research at the Nouailles Lab!
Single-cell sequencing and immunology reveal host responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens.
Orchestration of chemokine expression and neutrophil responses in acute and chronic lung infections.
Respiratory epithelial glycocalyx and glycoproteins – host defense or entry point for pathogens.
Developing 2D and 3D human lung models, xeno-free culturing and implementation of 3R principles.
Host immunity – innate pulmonary immunity booster or dampener of phage therapy efficacy.
Protective mode of action of immunoglobulin (Trimodulin) therapy in pneumonia.
In vitro, in vivo and real-world data turned into mathematical models of pneumonia and cardiovascular complications thereof.
Single-cell sequencing and immunology reveal host responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens.
Geraldine Nouailles
Peter Pennitz
Ulrike Behrendt
Cengiz Gökeri
Jakob Trimpert and team
Emanuel Wyler/Markus Landthaler and team
Holger Kirsten/Markus Scholz and team
Samantha Praktiknjo and team
Michael Mülleder and team
Achim Gruber and team
Christine Goffinet and team
…many more
Friedrich VD*, Pennitz P*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Müller K, Teixeira Alves LG, Prigann J, Pott F, Vladimirova D, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Saliba AE, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Neural network-assisted humanisation of COVID-19 hamster transcriptomic data reveals matching severity states in human disease. EBioMedicine. 2024;108:105312. *,#: equal contribution.
Peidli S*, Nouailles G*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Kunder S, Voß A, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Pennitz P, Postmus D, Teixeira Alves LG, Goffinet C, Gruber AD, Blüthgen N, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J#, Landthaler M#, Praktiknjo SD#. Single-cell-resolved interspecies comparison shows a shared inflammatory axis and a dominant neutrophil-endothelial program in severe COVID-19. Cell Rep. 2024;43(6):114328. *,#: equal contribution.
Adler JM, Martin Vidal R, Langner C, Vladimirova D, Abdelgawad A, Kunecova D, Lin X, Nouailles G, Voss A, Kunder S, Gruber AD, Wu H, Osterrieder N, Kunec D, Trimpert J. An intranasal live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine limits virus transmission. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):995.
Friedrich VD#, Pennitz P#, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Teixeira Alves LG, Prigann J, Pott F, Vladimirova D, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Saliba AE, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J, Kirsten H*, Nouailles G*. Neural Network-Assisted Humanization of COVID-19 Hamster scRNAseq Data Reveals Matching Severity States in Human Disease. bioRxiv. 2024.01.11.574849. #shared first, *shared last
Peidli S#, Nouailles G#, Wyler E, Adler JM, Kinder S, Voß A, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Pennitz P, Postmus D, Teixeira Alves LG, Goffinet C, Gruber AD, Blüthgen N, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J*, Landthaler M*, Praktiknjo SD*. Single-cell-resolved interspecies comparison identifies a shared inflammatory axis and a dominant neutrophil-endothelial program in severe COVID-19. bioRxiv. 2023.08.25.551434. #shared first, *shared last
Nouailles G#, Adler JM#, Pennitz P, Peidli S, Alves LGT, Baumgardt M, Bushe J, Voss A, Langenhagen A, Langner C, Vidal RM, Pott F, Kazmierski J, Ebenig A, Lange MV, Mühlebach MD, Goekeri C, Simmons S, Xing N, Abdelgawad A, Herwig S, Cichon G, Niemeyer D, Drosten C, Goffinet C, Landthaler M, Blüthgen N, Wu H, Witzenrath M, Gruber AD, Praktiknjo SD, Osterrieder N, Wyler E*, Kunec D*, Trimpert J*. Live-attenuated vaccine sCPD9 elicits superior mucosal and systemic immunity to SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamsters. Nat Microbiol. 2023;8(5):860-874. #shared first, *shared last
Pennitz P, Goekeri C, Trimpert J, Wyler E, Ebenig A, Weissfuss C, Mühlebach MD, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Protocol to dissociate healthy and infected murine- and hamster-derived lung tissue for single-cell transcriptome analysis. STAR Protoc. 2022;4(1):101957
Pennitz P, Kirsten H, Friedrich VD, Wyler E, Goekeri C, Obermayer B, Heinz GA, Mashreghi MF, Büttner M, Trimpert J, Landthaler M, Suttorp N, Hocke AC, Hippenstiel S, Tönnies M, Scholz M, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Hoenzke K, Nouailles G. A pulmonologist’s guide to perform and analyse cross-species single lung cell transcriptomics. Eur Respir Rev. 2022;31(165):220056.
Wyler E, Adler JM, Eschke K, Teixeira Alves G, Peidli S, Pott F, Kazmierski J, Michalick L, Kershaw O, Bushe J, Andreotti S, Pennitz P, Abdelgawad A, Postmus D, Goffinet C, Kreye J, Reincke SM, Prüss H, Blüthgen N, Gruber AD, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Landthaler M, Nouailles G, Trimpert J. Key benefits of dexamethasone and antibody treatment in COVID-19 hamster models revealed by single-cell transcriptomics. Mol Ther. 2022;30(5):1952-1965.
Nouailles G, Wyler E, Pennitz P, Postmus D, Vladimirova D, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Dietert K, Muelleder M, Farztdinov V, Obermayer B, Wienhold SM, Andreotti S, Hoefler T, Sawitzki B, Drosten C, Sander LE, Suttorp N, Ralser M, Beule D, Gruber AD, Goffinet C, Landthaler M, Trimpert J, Witzenrath M. Temporal omics analysis in Syrian hamsters unravel cellular effector responses to moderate COVID-19. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):4869.
Ebenig A, Muraleedharan S, Kazmierski J, Todt D, Auste A, Anzaghe M, Gömer A, Postmus D, Gogesch P, Niles M, Plesker R, Miskey C, Gellhorn Serra M, Breithaupt A, Hörner C, Kruip C, Ehmann R, Ivics Z, Waibler Z, Pfaender S, Wyler E, Landthaler M, Kupke A, Nouailles G, Goffinet C, Brown RJP, Mühlebach MD. Vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory pathology in COVID-19 hamsters after TH2-biased immunization. Cell Rep. 2022;40(7):111214.
Andreotti S, Altmüller J, Quedenau C, Borodina T, Nouailles G, Teixeira Alves LG, Landthaler M, Bieniara M, Trimpert J, Wyler E. De Novo-Whole Genome Assembly of the Roborovski Dwarf Hamster (Phodopus roborovskii) Genome: An Animal Model for Severe/Critical COVID-19. Genome Biol Evol. 2022;14(7):evac100.
ERS Congress 2024, 07. – 11.09.2024, Vienna, Austria
Pennitz P*, Friedrich VD*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Teixeira Alves LG, Prigann J, Pott F, Vladimirova D, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Saliba AE, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Neural Network-Assisted Humanization of COVID-19 Hamster Transcriptomic Data Reveals Matching Interspecies Severity States. European Respiratory Journal 2024 64(suppl 68): PA5318; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.PA5318.
64. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e. V. 20. – 23.04.2024, Mannheim
Pennitz P*, Friedrich V*, Wyler E, Adler J, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira Alves L, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in CVID19. Pneumologie 2024; 78(S 01): S115-S116. DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1778987
ERS Congress 2023, 09. – 13.09.2023, Milan, Italy
Pennitz P*, Friedrich VD*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira Alves LG, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19. European Respiratory Journal 2023 62 (suppl 67): PA2334; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.congress-2023.PA2334
63. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e. V. 29.03. – 01.04.2023, Düsseldorf.
Pennitz P*, Friedrich V*, Wyler E, Adler J, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira-Alves L, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect cellular transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19. Pneumologie 2023; 77(S 01): S41-S42, DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760966.
SCOG Conference “Single Cell Omics in Clinical Applications”, 07 – 09.11.2022, Bonn.
Pennitz P *, Friedrich VD *, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira-Alves LG, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect cellular transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19.
21st International Conference on Systems Biology, 08.-12.10.2022, Berlin.
Pennitz P*, Kirsten H*, Friedrich VD, Wyler E, Goekeri C, Obermayer B, Heinz GA, Mashreghi MF, Büttner M, Trimpert J, Landthaler M, Suttorp N, Hocke AC, Hippenstiel S, Tönnies M, Scholz M, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Hoenzke K, Nouailles G. Integrational approaches for cross-species analysis of lung pathologies at single-cell resolution.
e:Med Meeting 2021, 20 – 22.09.2021, online.
Pennitz P, Kirsten H, Goekeri C, Behrendt U, Gutbier B, Heinz G, Mashreghi MF, Wienhold SM, Witzenrath M, Scholz M, Nouailles G. Single-cell RNA-seq for a murine pneumonia lung atlas improving pathomechanistical understanding of community acquired pneumonia.
How AI is helping to bridge the research gap between animals and humans (idw, 25.09.2024)
A new approach to a Covid-19 nasal vaccine shows early promise (CNN, 03.04.2023).
Nasal vaccine to prevent COVID-19 passes first tests (upi.com, 03.04.2023).
Nasenimpfstoff gegen Corona erfolgreich getestet (aerzteblatt.de, 04.04.2023).
Kommt die Nasenspray-Impfung gegen Corona? (zdfheute, 04.04.2023).
Impfung per Nasenspray könnte Pandemie beenden (Berliner Zeitung, 18.05.2022)
Corona-Impfung per Nasenspray: Schnief und Schluss (Zeit-Online, 19.05.2022)
Lebendimpfstoff aus Berlin erzeugt Schleimhautimmunität (Spektrum.de, 18.05.2022)
Nasale Corona-Impfstoffe: Hoffnung auf sterile Immunität (Deutschlandfunk, 18.05.2022)
Neues Nasenspray aus Berlin soll besser als RNA-Impfung sein (mdr.de, 19.05.2022)
Spray könnte besser wirken als Spritze (blick.ch, 20.05.2022)
Corona-Impfung: Forscher sehen Erfolge im Tierversuch (sueddeutsche.de, 18.05.2022)
Orchestration of chemokine expression and neutrophil responses in acute and chronic lung infections.
Geraldine Nouailles
Cengiz Gökeri
Ulrike Behrendt
Sarah Berger (Alumni)
Anca Dorhoi
Stefan Kaufmann
Sarah Hedtrich and team
Fiocca Vernengo F, Röwekamp I, Boillot L, Caesar S, Dörner PJ, Tarnowski B, Gutbier B, Nouailles G, Fatykhova D, Hellwig K, Witzenrath M, Hocke AC, Klatt AB, Opitz B. Diabetes impairs IFNγ-dependent antibacterial defense in the lungs. Mucosal Immunol. 2025;18(2):431-440.
Berger S*, Goekeri C*, Pennitz P*, Gutbier B, Michalick L, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Wienhold SM, Behrendt U, Taylor A, Dietert K, Kirsten H, Kunder S, Mueller K, Weigel M, Hain T, Volkers SM, Weis S, Gruber AD, Sander LE, Kuebler WM, CAPSyS study group, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Neutrophil-chemoattractant CXCL5 induces lung barrier permeability in acute lung injury. bioRxiv. 2024. *shared first
Goekeri C, Pennitz P, Groenewald W, Behrendt U, Kirsten H, Zobel CM, Berger S, Heinz GA, Mashreghi M-F, Wienhold S-M, Dietert K, Dorhoi A, Gruber AD, Scholz M, Rohde G, Suttorp N, CAPNETZ Study Group, Witzenrath M*, Nouailles G*. MicroRNA-223 Dampens Pulmonary Inflammation during Pneumococcal Pneumonia. Cells. 2023;12(6):959. *shared last
Nouailles G, Dorhoi A, Koch M, Zerrahn J, Weiner J 3rd, Faé KC, Arrey F, Kuhlmann S, Bandermann S, Loewe D, Mollenkopf HJ, Vogelzang A, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Mittrücker HW, McEwen G, Kaufmann SH. CXCL5-secreting pulmonary epithelial cells drive destructive neutrophilic inflammation in tuberculosis. J Clin Invest. 2014;124(3):1268-82.
Dorhoi A, Iannaccone M, Maertzdorf J, Nouailles G, Weiner J 3rd, Kaufmann SH. Reverse translation in tuberculosis: neutrophils provide clues for understanding development of active disease. Front Immunol. 2014;5:36.
Arrey F, Löwe D, Kuhlmann S, Kaiser P, Moura-Alves P, Krishnamoorthy G, Lozza L, Maertzdorf J, Skrahina T, Skrahina A, Gengenbacher M, Nouailles G*, Kaufmann SHE*. Humanized Mouse Model Mimicking Pathology of Human Tuberculosis for in vivo Evaluation of Drug Regimens. Front Immunol. 2019;10:89. *shared last
Dorhoi A, Iannaccone M, Farinacci M, Faé KC, Schreiber J, Moura-Alves P, Nouailles G, Mollenkopf HJ, Oberbeck-Müller D, Jörg S, Heinemann E, Hahnke K, Löwe D, Del Nonno F, Goletti D, Capparelli R, Kaufmann SH. MicroRNA-223 controls susceptibility to tuberculosis by regulating lung neutrophil recruitment. J Clin Invest. 2013;123(11):4836-48.
CAPSyS: Systemmedizin der ambulant erworbenen Pneumonie (BMBF)
The alveolar glycocalyx is a sugar-rich fluid layer that sits above the epithelium in our lungs. Consisting of membrane-anchored and freely floating glycoproteins, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, it is located at a critical position, where oxygen exchange takes place and microbes exert their pathogenicity. As a group, we seek to demonstrate the precise involvement of the epithelial glycocalyx in maintaining normal physiology of the lungs including regulation of barrier permeability and immune cell transmigration. On the flip side, microbes have evolved to utilize sugar-harboring structures as attachment points to initiate their virulence programs. Whether the glycocalyx acts as our friend or foe during microbe-triggered pulmonary inflammation remains to be solved.
Geraldine Nouailles
Cengiz Gökeri
Karen Hoffmann
Niall Hardiman
Ulrike Behrendt
Alina Nettesheim
Kerstin Linke
Sebastian Schickinger
Martin Witzenrath
Peter Seeberger and team
Wolfgang Kübler and team
Matthias Ochs and team
Kevin Pagel and team
Goekeri C#, Linke KAK#, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger SMK, Zobel CM, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Enzymatic Modulation of the Pulmonary Glycocalyx Enhances Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024;71(6):646-658. #shared first.
Goekeri C#, Linke KAK#, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger SMK, Zobel CM, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Enzymatic modulation of the pulmonary glycocalyx alters susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae. bioRxiv. 2024.01.03.573996. #shared first.
Herbst CJ, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Schulz S, Brandt R, Timm S, Abledu J, Falivene J, Pennitz P, Kirsten H, Nouailles G, Witzenrath M, Ochs M, Kuebler WM. Characterization of Commercially Available Human Primary Alveolar Epithelial Cells. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024;70(5):339-350.
Timm S, Lettau M, Hegermann J, Rocha ML, Weidenfeld S, Fatykhova D, Gutbier B, Nouailles G, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Hocke A, Hippenstiel S, Witzenrath M, Kuebler WM, Ochs M. The unremarkable alveolar epithelial glycocalyx: a thorium dioxide-based electron microscopic comparison after heparinase or pneumolysin treatment. Histochem Cell Biol. 2023;160(2):83-96.
Ochs M, Hegermann J, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Timm S, Nouailles G, Matuszak J, Simmons S, Witzenrath M, Kuebler WM. On Top of the Alveolar Epithelium: Surfactant and the Glycocalyx. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(9):3075.
Jenner Glycobiology and Medicine Symposium 2025, 10. – 13 June 2025, Maynooth, Ireland
Goekeri C, Schickinger S, Nettesheim A, Linke K, Bechtella L, Vos G, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Bath J, Ribbeck K, Pagel K, Gruber A, Ochs M, Seeberger P, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Unraveling the Role of Terminal Fucosylation in Pneumococcal Pneumonia
Lung Science Conference (ERS), 20. – 23 March 2025, Estoril, Portugal
Goekeri C, Linke K, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger S, Zobel C, Bechtella L, Vos G, Pagel K, Gruber A, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Pulmonary glycosaminoglycans and fucosylation regulate lung barrier function and defense against S.pneumoniae
28th Joint Symposium: Infection and Immune Defense, 24. – 26 March 2025, Burg Rothenfels, Germany
Goekeri C, Schickinger S, Nettesheim A, Linke K, Bechtella L, Vos G, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Bath J, Ribbeck K, Pagel K, Gruber A, Ochs M, Seeberger P, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Inhibition of pulmonary fucosylation alleviates pneumococcal pneumonia
28th Joint Symposium: Infection and Immune Defense, 24. – 26 March 2025, Burg Rothenfels, Germany
Hardiman N, Goekeri C, Linke K, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger S, Zobel C, Pagel K, Gruber A, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Enzymatic Modulation of the Pulmonary Glycocalyx Enhances Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae
ERS Congress 2024, 7. – 11 September 2024, Vienna, Austria
Goekeri C, Schickinger SMK, Nettesheim A, Linke KAK, Bechtella L, Vos G, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Bath J, Ribbeck K, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Seeberger PH, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Unraveling the role of α-(1,2)-fucosylation in bacterial pneumonia. European Respiratory Journal. 2024 64(suppl 68): PA2395
ATS Conference 2024, 17. – 22 May 2024, San Diego, USA
Goekeri C, Nettesheim A, Schickinger SMK, Linke KAK, Behrendt U, Barthel D, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Schmidt K, Bechtella L, Voß A, Kunder S, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Hedtrich S, Ochs M, Seeberger PH, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Elucidating the Role of Epithelial α-(1,2)-fucosylation in Pneumococcal Virulence. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2024;209:A4360
ERS International Congress 2023, 09.-13.09.2023, Milan
Goekeri C, Nettesheim A, Linke KAK, Schickinger SMK, Behrendt U, Barthel D, Pennitz P, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Schmidt K, Bechtella L, Voß A, Kunder S, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Hedtrich S, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Deciphering the role of pulmonary α-(1,2)-fucosylation in pneumococcal pneumonia. Eur Respir J. Sep 2023, 62 (suppl 67) PA1098.
1st International Symposium of the CRC 1449 on “Dynamic hydrogels at biointerfaces”, 06.-07.10.2022, Berlin
Linke K, Goekeri C, Nettesheim A, Behrendt U, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, and Nouailles G. – Epithelial glycocalyx and bacterial pneumonia.
1st International Symposium of the CRC 1449 on “Dynamic hydrogels at biointerfaces”, 06.-07.10.2022, Berlin
Nettesheim A, Linke K, Behrendt U, Barthel D, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Ochs M, Gorenflos López J L, Hackenberger C P R, Seeberger P H, Witzenrath M, Goekeri C, and Nouailles G. – Characterizing the role of fucosylation in bacterial pneumonia
Highlights/Papers by Junior Investigators in December 2024 issue of AJRCMB
Editorial comment for Goekeri et al. 2024
CRC 1449 Dynamic Hydrogels at Biointerfaces
Complete announcement from the Tagesspiegel supplement, issue of 3.10.2022
Developing 2D and 3D human lung models, xeno-free culturing and implementation of 3R principles.
Geraldine Nouailles
Karen Hoffmann
Cengiz Gökeri
Ulrike Behrendt
Lisa Pfeiffer
Peter Pennitz
Christian Zobel, Werner Wenzel and team
Goekeri C#, Linke KAK#, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger SMK, Zobel CM, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Enzymatic Modulation of the Pulmonary Glycocalyx Enhances Susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024;71(6):646-658. # shared first
Hoffmann K, Obermayer B, Hönzke K, Fatykhova D, Demir Z, Löwa A, Alves LGT, Wyler E, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Mieth M, Baumgardt M, Hoppe J, Firsching TC, Tönnies M, Bauer TT, Eggeling S, Tran HL, Schneider P, Neudecker J, Rückert JC, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Landthaler M, Beule D, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S, Hocke AC, Kessler M. Human alveolar progenitors generate dual lineage bronchioalveolar organoids. Commun Biol. 2022;5(1):875.
Hoffmann K, Berger H, Kulbe H, Thillainadarasan S, Mollenkopf HJ, Zemojtel T, Taube E, Darb-Esfahani S, Mangler M, Sehouli J, Chekerov R, Braicu EI, Meyer TF, Kessler M. Stable expansion of high-grade serous ovarian cancer organoids requires a low-Wnt environment. EMBO J. 2020;39(6):e104013.
EMBL – Infection: pathogens, hosts, and microbiomes, EMBO, 26. – 29 May 2025, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hoffmann K, Goekeri C, Behrendt U, Pohl J, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Weissfuss C, Kollmeier J, Tönnies M, Brill S, Steinestel K, Witzenrath M, Wenzel W, Zobel C, Nouailles G. Pneumonia-on-a-chip models highlight the crucial role of the glycocalyx and mechanical strain in regulating susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Human 3D Organ Models Networking Event of Charité 3R, 14 November 2024, Berlin, Germany
Hoffmann K, Weißfuß C, Goekeri C, Zobel C, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G.– In vitro models to study bacterial pneumonia.
DZL Annual Meeting, 05.06. – 07.06.2024, Bad Nauheim
Goekeri C, Linke KAK, Hoffmann K, Lopez-Rodriguez E, Gluhovic V, Voß A, Kunder S, Zappe A, Timm S, Nettesheim A, Schickinger SMK, Zobel CM, Pagel K, Gruber AD, Ochs M, Witzenrath M, Geraldine Nouailles. Enzymatic modulation of the pulmonary glycocalyx alters susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Si-Mposium, 12.09.2024, Berlin
Hoffmann K, Goekeri C, Zobel CM, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Alveolus-on-a-chip for pneumonia research.
ERS Congress, 07.09. – 11.09.2024, Vienna
Hoffmann K, Goekeri C, Obermayer-Wasserscheid B, Hocke AC, Kessler M, Zobel CM, Witzenrath M and Nouailles G. Advanced in vitro models for pneumonia research.
63rd Congress of the DGP, 29.03 – 01.04.2023, Düsseldorf
Pfeiffer L, Weißfuß C, Behrendt U, Wienhold S, Gutbier B, Krishnamoorthy G, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G, Goekeri C, Pennitz P. Approaching xeno-free cultivation and utilization of pulmonary pathogens in vitro.
International Conference of the SFB-TR 84, 8. – 10.09.2022, Berlin
Pfeiffer L, Weißfuß C, Behrendt U, Wienhold S, Gutbier B, Krishnamoorthy G, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G, Goekeri C, Pennitz P. – Approaching xeno-free cultivation and utilization of pulmonary pathogens in vitro.
2nd Summer School on „infection Biology“ of the Universitöt Greifswald and FLI, 26. – 28.09.2022, Greifswald
Pfeiffer L, Weißfuß C, Behrendt U, Wienhold S, Gutbier B, Krishnamoorthy G, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G, Goekeri C, Pennitz P. – Approaching xeno-free cultivation of pulmonary pathogens in vitro.
NoVAP Lab Bundeswehr Krankenhaus
Host immunity – booster or dampener of phage therapy efficacy
Geraldine Nouailles
Chantal Weißfuß
Ulrike Behrendt
Martin Witzenrath
MAPVAP consortium
Bürkle M, Korf IHE, Lippegaus A, Krautwurst S, Rohde C, Weissfuss C, Nouailles G, Tene XM, Gaborieau B, Ghigo JM, Ricard JD, Hocke AC, Papenfort K, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, Wienhold SM, Krishnamoorthy G. Phage-phage competition and biofilms affect interactions between two virulent bacteriophages and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ISME J. 2025:wraf065.
Weissfuss C, Li J, Behrendt U, Hoffmann K, Bürkle M, Krishnamoorthy G, Korf IHE, Rohde C, Gaborieau B, Debarbieux L, Ricard J-D, Witzenrath M, Felten M, Nouailles G. Adjunctive phage therapy improves antibiotic treatment of Ventilator-Associated-Pneumonia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Preprint. 2024
Weissfuss C, Wienhold SM, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Bushe J, Behrendt U, Bischoff R, Korf IHE, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber AD, Ricard JD, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Repetitive Exposure to Bacteriophage Cocktails against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Escherichia coli Provokes Marginal Humoral Immunity in Naïve Mice. Viruses. 2023;15(2):387
Wienhold SM, Brack MC, Nouailles G, Krishnamoorthy G, Korf IHE, Seitz C, Wienecke S, Dietert K, Gurtner C, Kershaw O, Gruber AD, Ross A, Ziehr H, Rohde M, Neudecker J, Lienau J, Suttorp N, Hippenstiel S, Hocke AC, Rohde C, Witzenrath M. Preclinical Assessment of Bacteriophage Therapy against Experimental Acinetobacter baumannii Lung Infection. Viruses. 2021;14(1):33.
Lung Science Conference (ERS). 20. – 23 March 2025, Estoril, Portugal.
Weissfuss C, Hoffmann K, Behrendt U, Bürkle M, Debarbieux L, Ricard J-D, Witzenrath M, Zobel CM, Nouailles G. Immunophage Synergy: Supporting Innate Immunity with Phages to Combat Bacterial Pneumonia.
Joint DGP/DZL Academy Lung Science Meeting. 22. – 23 November 2024, Freiburg.
Weissfuß C, Li J, Behrendt U, Hoffmann K, Bürkle M, Krishnamoorthy G, Korf IHE, Rohde C, Gaborieau B, Debarbieux L, Ricard J-D, Witzenrath M, Felten M, Nouailles G. – Adjunctive phage therapy with antibiotics improves Ventilator-Associated-Pneumonia with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
7th joint conference “Joint Microbiology & Infection Conference 2024” of the DGHM and VAAM. 02. – 05. June 2024, Würzburg.
Weißfuß C, Li J, Behrendt U, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Korf I, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber A D, Gopinath K, Ricard J-D, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, Felten M, and Nouailles G. – Combining a phage cocktail with antibiotics improves recovery from Pseudomonas-induced VAP in mice.
64. Congress of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) Section Cell Biology. 20. – 23. March 2024, Mannheim.
Weißfuß C, Li J, Behrendt U, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Korf I, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber A D, Gopinath K, Ricard J-D, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, Felten M, and Nouailles G. – Combining a phage cocktail with antibiotics improves recovery from Pseudomonas-induced VAP in mice.
Herbsttagung 2023 of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) Section Cell Biology. 10. – 11. November 2023, Essen.
Weißfuß C, Li J, Behrendt U, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Korf I, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber A D, Gopinath K, Ricard J-D, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, Felten M, and Nouailles G. – Combining a phage cocktail with antibiotics improves recovery from Pseudomonas-induced VAP in mice.
Herbsttagung 2021 of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) Section Cell Biology. 12. – 13. November 2021, Hannover. (shared 1st place)
Weißfuß C, Wienhold S-M, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Bushe J, Behrendt U, Bischoff R, Korf I, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber A D, Ricard J-D, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, and Nouailles G. – Repetitive exposure to bacteriophage cocktails against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa or E. coli does not induce pronounced immunity in naïve mice.
62. Congress of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) Section Cell Biology. 25. – 28. May 2022, Leipzig. (Best of Herbsttagung 2021)
Weißfuß C, Wienhold S-M, Bürkle M, Gaborieau B, Bushe J, Behrendt U, Bischoff R, Korf I, Wienecke S, Dannheim A, Ziehr H, Rohde C, Gruber A D, Ricard J-D, Debarbieux L, Witzenrath M, and Nouailles G. – Repetitive exposure to bacteriophage cocktails against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa or E. coli does not induce pronounced immunity in naïve mice.
Combination of in vivo phage therapy data with in silico model highlights key parameters for pneumonia treatment efficacy. Cell Reports. May 2022;39(17).
Protective mode of action of immunoglobulin (Trimodulin) therapy in pneumonia.
Geraldine Nouailles
Romina Bischoff
Kerstin Linke
Alexander Taylor (Alumni)
Martin Witzenrath
Biotest AG
Achim Gruber
Jahn K, Handtke S, Palankar R, Weißmüller S, Nouailles G, Kohler TP, Wesche J, Rohde M, Heinz C, Aschenbrenner AF, Wolff M, Schüttrumpf J, Witzenrath M, Hammerschmidt S, Greinacher A. Pneumolysin induces platelet destruction, not platelet activation, which can be prevented by immunoglobulin preparations in vitro. Blood Adv. 2020;4(24):6315-6326.
In vitro, in vivo and real-world data turned into mathematical models of pneumonia and cardiovascular complications thereof.
Geraldine Nouailles
Peter Pennitz
Martin Witzenrath, Markus Brack and team
Markus Scholz and team
CAPSyS consortium
Berlin Hamster consortium
Schirm S, Nouailles G, Kirsten H, Trimpert J, Wyler E, Teixeira Alves LG, Landthaler M, Ahnert P, Suttorp N, Witzenrath M, Scholz M. A biomathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian hamsters. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):30541.
Ramezani Rad P, Nageswaran V, Peters L, Reinshagen L, Roessler J, Simmons S, Asmus E, Wittig C, Brack MC, Nouailles G, van der Vorst EPC, Maas SL, Sonnenschein K, Verhaar BJH, Szulcek R, Witzenrath M, Landmesser U, Kuebler WM, Haghikia A. Pneumonia Induced Rise in Glucagon Promotes Endothelial Damage and Thrombogenicity. Circ Res. 2024;135(11):1116-1118.
Friedrich VD*, Pennitz P*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Müller K, Teixeira Alves LG, Prigann J, Pott F, Vladimirova D, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Saliba AE, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Neural network-assisted humanisation of COVID-19 hamster transcriptomic data reveals matching severity states in human disease. EBioMedicine. 2024;108:105312. *,#: equal contribution.
Peidli S*, Nouailles G*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Kunder S, Voß A, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Pennitz P, Postmus D, Teixeira Alves LG, Goffinet C, Gruber AD, Blüthgen N, Witzenrath M, Trimpert J#, Landthaler M#, Praktiknjo SD#. Single-cell-resolved interspecies comparison shows a shared inflammatory axis and a dominant neutrophil-endothelial program in severe COVID-19. Cell Rep. 2024;43(6):114328. *,#: equal contribution.
Wyler E, Adler JM, Eschke K, Teixeira Alves G, Peidli S, Pott F, Kazmierski J, Michalick L, Kershaw O, Bushe J, Andreotti S, Pennitz P, Abdelgawad A, Postmus D, Goffinet C, Kreye J, Reincke SM, Prüss H, Blüthgen N, Gruber AD, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Landthaler M, Nouailles G, Trimpert J. Key benefits of dexamethasone and antibody treatment in COVID-19 hamster models revealed by single-cell transcriptomics. Mol Ther. 2022;30(5):1952-1965.
Nouailles G, Wyler E, Pennitz P, Postmus D, Vladimirova D, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Dietert K, Muelleder M, Farztdinov V, Obermayer B, Wienhold SM, Andreotti S, Hoefler T, Sawitzki B, Drosten C, Sander LE, Suttorp N, Ralser M, Beule D, Gruber AD, Goffinet C, Landthaler M, Trimpert J, Witzenrath M. Temporal omics analysis in Syrian hamsters unravel cellular effector responses to moderate COVID-19. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):4869.
Schirm S, Haghikia A, Brack M, Ahnert P, Nouailles G, Suttorp N, Loeffler M, Witzenrath M, Scholz M. A biomathematical model of atherosclerosis in mice. PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272079.
Schirm S, Ahnert P, Berger S, Nouailles G, Wienhold SM, Müller-Redetzky H, Suttorp N, Loeffler M, Witzenrath M, Scholz M. A biomathematical model of immune response and barrier function in mice with pneumococcal lung infection. PLoS One. 2020;15(12):e0243147.
Berger S, Goekeri C, Gupta SK, Vera J, Dietert K, Behrendt U, Lienau J, Wienhold SM, Gruber AD, Suttorp N, Witzenrath M, Nouailles G. Delay in antibiotic therapy results in fatal disease outcome in murine pneumococcal pneumonia. Crit Care. 2018;22(1):287.
Schirm S, Ahnert P, Wienhold S, Mueller-Redetzky H, Nouailles-Kursar G, Loeffler M, Witzenrath M, Scholz M. A Biomathematical Model of Pneumococcal Lung Infection and Antibiotic Treatment in Mice. PLoS One. 2016;11(5):e0156047.
e:Med Meeting 2024, 21 – 23.11.2024, Hamburg
Brack M, Steinhorst R, Pennitz P, Mueller K, Nouailles G, Teixeira Alves LG, Wyler E, Witzenrath M, Scholz M, Kirsten H. From Lung to Heart: scRNA-seq Illuminates Post-Pneumonia Cardiovascular Risks.
American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference, 17 – 22.05.2024, San Diego, USA
Melnikov A, Solymosi PD, Pennitz P, Schupp JC, Nouailles G, Perret PL, Gallo K, Hegemann N, Nambiar Veetil N, Klepetko W, Sinn K, Erfinanda L, Simmons S, Kucherenko MM, Knosalla C, Preissner R, Kwapiszewska G, Witzenrath M, Kuebler WM. Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Pathogenetic Role of the Primary Cilium in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (abstract). Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2024;209:A6790. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2024.209.1_MeetingAbstracts.A6790
e:Med Meeting 2023, 10 – 11.10.2023, Berlin
Pennitz P*, Friedrich VD*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira Alves LG, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19.
e:Med Meeting 2022, 28 – 30.11.2022, Heidelberg
Pennitz P*, Kirsten H*, Friedrich VD, Wyler E, Goekeri C, Obermayer B, Heinz GA, Mashreghi MF, Büttner M, Trimpert J, Landthaler M, Suttorp N, Hocke AC, Hippenstiel S, Tönnies M, Scholz M, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Hoenzke K, Nouailles G. Integrational approaches for cross-species analysis of lung pathologies at single-cell resolution.
Friedrich VD*, Pennitz P*, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira Alves LG, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect cellular transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19.
SCOG Conference “Single Cell Omics in Clinical Applications”, 07 – 09.11.2022, Bonn.
Pennitz P *, Friedrich VD *, Wyler E, Adler JM, Postmus D, Andreotti S, Teixeira-Alves LG, Kazmierski J, Pott F, Hoefler T, Goekeri C, Landthaler M, Goffinet C, Trimpert J, Scholz M, Witzenrath M, Kirsten H#, Nouailles G#. Interspecies analysis to dissect cellular transcriptomic signatures of humans and hamsters in COVID-19.
21st International Conference on Systems Biology, 08.-12.10.2022, Berlin.
Pennitz P*, Kirsten H*, Friedrich VD, Wyler E, Goekeri C, Obermayer B, Heinz GA, Mashreghi MF, Büttner M, Trimpert J, Landthaler M, Suttorp N, Hocke AC, Hippenstiel S, Tönnies M, Scholz M, Kuebler WM, Witzenrath M, Hoenzke K, Nouailles G. Integrational approaches for cross-species analysis of lung pathologies at single-cell resolution.
e:Med Meeting 2021, 20 – 22.09.2021, online.
Pennitz P, Kirsten H, Goekeri C, Behrendt U, Gutbier B, Heinz G, Mashreghi MF, Wienhold SM, Witzenrath M, Scholz M, Nouailles G. Single-cell RNA-seq for a murine pneumonia lung atlas improving pathomechanistical understanding of community acquired pneumonia.
How AI is helping to bridge the research gap between animals and humans (idw, 25.09.2024)
