Schwarzer Lab

With broad expertise in viral persistence and immune regulation, Roland Schwarzer is a virologist who, together with Hannah Schwarzer-Sperber, leads the Schwarzer Lab. His work centers on understanding how viruses such as HIV establish long-term reservoirs and evade immune control, aiming to translate these insights into innovative cure strategies. After completing his doctorate at Humboldt University Berlin, he trained at the Weizmann Institute and the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco. Roland has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications on HIV latency, immune modulation, and emerging viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and hantaviruses, bridging basic science with translational medicine.

Hannah Sabeth Schwarzer-Sperber (née Sperber) is a virologist with deep expertise in viral persistence and translational virology. Since January 2024, she has co-led the Schwarzer Lab together with Roland Schwarzer, focusing on HIV latency, immune regulation, and emerging virus mechanisms. After earning her Dr. rer. nat. in San Francisco—where she conducted postdoctoral research at Essen from March 2021 to December 2023 and doctoral studies at Vitalant Research Institute—she brings a strong foundation in molecular virology and systems biology. Hannah has coauthored several peer-reviewed publications, including work on glucocorticoid receptor modulators and coronavirus inhibitors.

Zehra Karaköse is a virologist and postdoctoral researcher in the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen, where she has worked since February 2024. Before beginning her PhD in the Sutter Lab at UK Essen (April 2020–November 2023), she gained valuable experience as a research associate at the Institute for HIV Research. Zehra holds a Master’s degree in Molecular Biomedicine from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and a Bachelor’s in Biology from the University of Duisburg-Essen. In the Schwarzer Lab, she leads research on host factors influencing HIV pathogenesis and the molecular regulation of pyroptosis. Her work has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on antiviral interferon responses and immune function in viral infections.

Luisa Betke is a virologist and postdoctoral researcher in the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen, where she joined in April 2025 after transitioning from the Fleischhauer Lab. Her current focus is quantifying HIV reservoir size and transcriptional activity in clinical samples, contributing to the lab’s ongoing efforts in understanding viral persistence. Previously, she graduated with a doctorate at UK Essen and conducted earlier research linked to cytomegalovirus immune response modulation under Prof. Trilling and Fleischhauer.

Eva Müller is a doctoral candidate in the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen, where she joined as a PhD student in October 2022. Her research investigates HIV latency and its links to cellular lipid metabolism, using cell models of HIV latency. Before starting her doctorate, she worked as a visiting researcher at Humboldt University in Berlin (May–September 2022) and supported research in the field of molecular biophysics in Berlin laboratories. Eva holds an M.Sc. in Biophysics from Humboldt University (2022) and gained B.Sc. experience in the study of influenza virus and in molecular biophysics. In the Schwarzer Lab, her doctoral work pioneers profiling lipid-driven mechanisms of HIV persistence with a translational vision toward new cure strategies.

Tamara Mussfeldt is a highly experienced Biological Technical Assistant (BTA) who joined the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen after nearly four decades in the Institute for Medical Radiobiology. With a professional background spanning all major areas of molecular biology, Tamara expertly manages cell culture, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, transfection, PCR, and a wide range of molecular techniques. She is skilled in laboratory software, from data analysis to SAP-based ordering, and regularly assists with student training and the preparation of practical courses. Tamara’s deep technical knowledge, organizational talent, and team spirit make her an indispensable member of the lab, ensuring that complex experiments run smoothly and that new team members are quickly integrated into daily research routines.

Lisa Weber is a doctoral researcher in the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen, where she investigates how HIV persists in female-specific tissues. Joining the team in May 2024, she is part of a pioneering project funded by the Jürgen Manchot Foundation that examines the role of the endometrium and placenta in HIV infection and latency. Lisa’s research, conducted in partnership with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, seeks to uncover how latent HIV reservoirs are established and maintained within the reproductive tract, including during pregnancy. Through this innovative approach, Lisa contributes new perspectives to HIV cure research, helping to illuminate viral mechanisms in tissues that have received little attention to date.

Tina Dluzak is a doctoral researcher in the Schwarzer Lab at University Hospital Essen, where she joined in May 2025. Her work centers on understanding how hantaviruses interact with host cells, with the goal of identifying new molecular targets for antiviral therapies. As part of a DFG-funded project, Tina investigates how hantaviruses reprogram cellular structures and processes to facilitate infection. She brings prior experience in microbiology and antimicrobial materials research from her Master’s studies, where she focused on the microbiome of aircraft environments. In the Schwarzer Lab, Tina contributes key expertise in experimental virology and cellular microbiology, advancing the group’s research on the mechanisms of hantavirus infection and host-pathogen interactions.

Nahara Souza Leite is a Master's Student in the Schwarzer Lab, where she investigates the transcriptional regulation of immunomodulatory and antiviral proteins by human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). Trained in molecular biomedicine at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Nahara brings a strong background in molecular biology and infection research from her studies and prior work at FIOCRUZ in Brazil. Her current project explores how HERVs shape host immune responses and modulate the expression of key antiviral effectors, advancing our understanding of the interplay between endogenous retroelements and the human immune system. Fluent in English, German, and Portuguese, Nahara combines experimental expertise with international experience to drive innovative research at the interface of virology and immunology.