HIV persistence meets hypoxia research in Essen

From EU2Cure to HypoxEU LIVE! Back in Essen, Hannah took the stage to present a core lab project investigating hypoxia and purinergic signaling in HIV persistence. This time, the conversation reached well beyond HIV: oxygen sensing, metabolism, and immunity brought researchers from different fields together. With Nobel laureate Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe among the participants, there was plenty of inspiration—and plenty to discuss.

Two posters, new ideas, and familiar faces in Ghent

Hannah and Lisa brought our research to the poster boards at the EU2Cure HIV Symposium in Ghent. Around them: a packed programme of HIV persistence and cure research, familiar faces, and new colleagues to meet. We enjoyed sharing our work, comparing perspectives on the field’s toughest questions, and catching up with the community working towards an HIV cure.

Farewell, Franzi and Anne!

Franziska Cronauer and Annesophie Hartmann have wrapped up their time in the lab. Franzi’s bachelor’s project focused on generating and characterizing hantavirus N protein mutants, while Anne investigated IFN-α subtypes in HIV persistence for her medical doctorate.

It’s been a pleasure working with you both and seeing your projects develop. We’re looking forward to hearing where your next steps take you—keep in touch!

Congratulations, Eva Müller—defense successfully completed!

A big day for Eva and a proud moment for the lab: Eva successfully defended her thesis! Behind this milestone lie years of hard work, persistence, and scientific curiosity. Thank you, Eva, for the ideas and energy you brought to the team. We’re delighted to celebrate this achievement with you!

New methods paper on rapid lentivirus concentration

Our latest paper is now published in Molecular Biology Reports. The study presents a rapid and accessible method for concentrating lentiviral particles in just 15 minutes using a standard tabletop centrifuge.

Roland presents at the 5th VIRAL NRW Retreat

Roland presented our hantavirus research in his talk “Cellular Determinant of Hantavirus Infections” at the 5th VIRAL NRW Retreat in Eitorf.

Thea joins the lab

We are happy to welcome Thea, who joined the Schwarzer Lab at the beginning of May. Welcome to the team!

Roland gives seminar at the Robert Koch Institute

Roland visits the Robert Koch Institute for the Infectiological Seminar series and presents our work on “Host Determinants of Viral Infections”.

New iScience paper on pan-coronavirus inhibition

Our collaborative study on CGM23, a lipopeptide inhibitor with broad activity against coronavirus fusion, is now published in iScience.

Orthohantavirus workflow paper published

Our standardized workflow for orthohantavirus production, detection, and antiviral screening is out in Virology Journal. The study provides a practical framework for making comparative hantavirus experiments more robust and reproducible.

Nanocarrier study published

Our collaborative work on biocompatible polylactide- and chitosan-based nanocarriers for antiretroviral delivery has been published in AAPS PharmSciTech.

Puumala virus cell biology paper published

Our study on how Orthohantavirus puumalaense remodels P-bodies and the cytoskeleton is now published in Journal of General Virology. A long road from cell biology observations to the final paper and a central piece of our hantavirus work.

Roland speaks at the 28th WZI Infectious Diseases Colloquium

Roland opens the year with a talk at the WZI Infectious Diseases Colloquium, presenting our work on HIV reservoirs and viral persistence.

Farewell to Eva Müller and Nahara Souza Leite

At the end of 2025, Eva Müller and Nahara Souza Leite leave the lab for their next steps. Thank you both for your work, energy, and contributions to the group. We wish you all the best.

Roxadustat paper published in Journal of Immunology

Our collaborative study with the Fandrey and Winning groups is out in Journal of Immunology. The paper explores how roxadustat affects oxygen sensing, inflammation, and metabolic reprogramming in human leukocytes.

Coronavirus nsp16 inhibitor study published

Another collaborative coronavirus paper is out in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, identifying FDA-approved drug candidates targeting nsp16 across SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV.

Luisa Betke joins the lab

Welcome, Luisa! Luisa joins us from the Fleischhauer group and will focus on quantifying HIV reservoir size and transcriptional activity in clinical samples.

Visiting scientist: Nneoma Confidence Anyanwu

We are happy to welcome Nneoma Confidence Anyanwu for a three-month lab exchange funded by DFG and TWAS. During her stay, she will explore the role of miRNAs in HIV persistence.

Two presentations at DÖAK 2025

Eva and Roland presented lab projects at DÖAK 2025: Eva spoke about lipids in HIV persistence, while Roland discussed mechanisms of HIV latency.

HIV latency reactivation paper published

Our collaborative work with the Sauter lab is published in Journal of Virology, showing that the glucocorticoid receptor modulator AZD9567 can reactivate latent HIV-1.

Broad-spectrum coronavirus entry inhibitor paper published

Our collaborative study on a natural-product-derived coronavirus entry inhibitor is published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.

Two new team members

Paula Brennecke will explore Type I interferons in HIV persistence, while Nahara Souza Leite will investigate the regulation of TRIM5α expression by HERVs.

DFG grant approved

We received three years of funding for Orthohantavirus research.

Coronavirus entry inhibitor published

Together with the labs of Thomas Efferth and Kathrin Sutter, our study on a new coronavirus entry inhibitor was published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.

Talks at HIV Immunology, Vaccines & Cure

Two talks by Hannah and Eva at the 2nd Symposium on HIV Immunology, Vaccines and Cure Approaches organized by our institute.

VBBN oral presentation

Eva gave another oral presentation at the 3rd annual Virus Biology and Biophysics Network in Braunschweig.

Orthohantavirus cell biology study online

Our newest study on the cell biology of Orthohantavirus infections is online as a preprint. Exciting to see how Puumala virus remodels infected cells.

Hannah wins Top Young Science Best Paper Award

Recognition from the Medical Faculty for the CD73 paper in Cell Reports.

Lisa Weber joins

Lisa Weber joins the team for her Master’s project dealing with antivirals.

Maria Leonhardt internship

Maria returned for a six-week internship after her Bachelor project in our lab.

Welcome, Yasmin Yusuf

Yasmin joins as our newest Bachelor student contributing to Eva’s project.

Goodbye Julia G.

We wish Julia all the best for her next steps.

Zehra Karakoese joins as Postdoc

Zehra switched over from Kathrin’s lab to start as our newest postdoc.

Goodbye Samson Folami

Wishing Samson success on his journey ahead.

New Master’s student: Nathalie Balog

Meet our newest Master’s student.

DFG project approved

Funding for our Hypoxia/Purinergic Signaling project.

CD73 paper online

Hannah’s CD73 paper is online. Applause to all co-authors.

Welcome, Kristina Grgic

Kristina will work on ART-loaded nanoparticles and a TRIM5α promoter study with Carina Elsner.

Two arrivals

Julia Graute’s first day as Master’s student; Sarah Oster visits for two weeks from TH Bingen.

Poster prize at 2nd ITHF Poster Day

Jouly, Kathi and Eva presented their work. Eva won the poster award.

Welcome, Samson Folami

Samson joins from Uppsala University.

Farewell, Balkissa

Balkissa’s last day with our group.

ART-loaded nanoparticles paper

First paper with Marek and the Polish Academy of Sciences collaboration.

Rieke W. finishes Bachelor project

Congrats, Rieke!

Roland’s return to the lab

Happy to be back at the bench.

Kathi Hock joins for Master’s

Welcome, Kathi!

Welcome, Rieke Wingenfeld

First day for our newest Bachelor student.

Eva wins GfV Science Slam 2023

Great job, Eva!

Forooz’s lab work concludes

All the best, FA!

Seamless transition in leadership

Hannah and Roland swap stay-home parent/PI positions.

Maria L’s last day

End of an era — thank you, Maria!

First ELAN student with Fandrey lab

Our first ELAN student starts.

Forooz Afiuny starts Bachelor project

Welcome, Forooz!

Eva rejoins as first doctoral student

The lost child returns — great to have you back, EM!

PDC-109 antiviral study out

Joint work with Sutter lab, Karin Müller and Peter Müller.

HIV-1 paper in mBio

With the Institute of Virology, Gladstone Institutes and Kim Hasenkrug’s group.

Balkissa Mountessoumoun’s first day

Welcome, Balkissa.

Novel Ca²⁺-binding motif in HIV Env

Check out our paper on a new calcium-binding motif in the HIV envelope protein.

Laila Smaina’s last day

All the best!

Carolin Kruth rejoins ITHF

Continues rotation project in collaboration with Sutter lab.

Vivienne Schneider & Maria Leonhard join

Seamless replacement of E & F by Vivienne and Maria.

Eva and Frederic left the house

Thank you both for your contributions!

First lab paper published

Congrats to Hannah and Robert for their publication on Hantavirus N protein.

Frederic rejoins the lab

Once MVP, always MVP.

Carolina van Gelder starts rotation

Welcome, Carolina!

Laila Smaina joins from Italy

Buongiorno, Laila!

Eva Müller joins for Master’s

Welcome, Eva.

Frederic presents Praxisphasenbericht

And nailed it.

Hannah defends PhD

Congrats, Dr. S!

Frederic Borkamp joins

Welcome, KB!

Tamara joins the lab

Welcome aboard.