Graduates
Graduates Project area I
Modulation of APC and NK cell function

Ylenia Longo, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Ingo Drexler (project 1)
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Düsseldorf
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
ylenia.longo@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Project title:
Regulation of T cell immunity by
innate signals during poxvirus infection

Heba Islam, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Carsten Kirschning (project 2)
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Analysis of rapid IFNγ production of NK cells
towards adaptive immunity and anti-bacterial
activities of macrophages early upon
bacterial infection

Jia Li, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Mengji Lu (project 3)
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Graduates Project area II
Crosstalk between APCs/NKs and lymphocytes

Philine Steinbach, M.Sc.
Supervisors: T. Knuschke, J. Buer (project 5)
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
The impact of CD47 signaling on the immune
response during influenza virus infection

Julia Falkenstein, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Wiebke Hansen (project 7)
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Impact of different macrophage subsets on
T cell responses and pathogen clearance
during Plasmodium yoelii infection

Zhongwen Hu, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Karl Lang (project 8)
Institute of Immunology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Role of acid ceramidase in immune response

Julia Werner, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Philipp Lang (project 9)
Department of Molecular Medicine II
University Hospital Düsseldorf
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
julia.werner2@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Project title:
Interaction between NK cells
and CD8+ T cell immunity

Lara Katharina Olejnik, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Jörg Timm (project 10)
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Düsseldorf
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Project title:
Role of NKT cells in HCV infection
and HCV/HIV co-infection
Graduates Project area III
Cytokine-mediated regulation of immune responses

Mara Schwerdtfeger, M.Sc.
Supervisors: K. Sutter, U. Dittmer (project 11)
Institute for Virology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
mara.schwerdtfeger@uk-essen.de
Project title:
Modulation of anti-retroviral T cell responses
by different IFNα subtypes

Veronica Raba, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Klaus Pfeffer (project 12)
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene
University Hospital Düsseldorf
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Project title:
Functional characterization of guanylate binding proteins (GBPs) in the
host defense against pathogens

Alan Herdman, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Mirko Trilling (project 13)
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
The role of interferon-dependent JAK-STAT signalling
for adaptive immune responses against cytomegaloviruses

Yulia Alejandra Flores Martinez, M.Sc.
Associated PhD student
Supervisor: Mirko Trilling
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
yulia.flores-martinez@stud.uni-due.de
Project title:
Identification and characterization of
DDB1/CRLs-interacting proteins
encoded by MLN4924-sensitive viruses

Franziska Baier, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Astrid Westendorf (project 14)
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Interleukin-33-mediated dysbiosis and
the consequences for enteric bacterial infection

Kai Robin Pfeifer, M.Sc.
Supervisor: Astrid Westendorf
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Virus infection in the intestinal mucosa
MD students

Dani Miteva, cand. med.
Supervisor: Stefanie Flohé
Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
Project title:
Association of the Inhibition of NK-Cells in geriatric Patients with the Occurrence of Nosocomial Infections after Monotrauma

Bêceng Urtanur, cand. med.
Supervisor: Astrid Westendorf
Institute of Medical Microbiology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
beceng.urtanur@students.uni-due.de
Project title:
Characterization of Bacteria-Host interactions in Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

Friederike-Charlotte Krempe, cand. med.
Supervisor: Mirko Trilling
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Essen
University of Duisburg-Essen
friederike.krempe@stud.uni-due.de
Project title:
Identification and characterization of
anti-leukaemic factors secreted by AML cells
upon contact with HCMV particles