Molecular Virology and Tumor Virology
The Molecular Virology and Tumor Virology group, headed by Prof. Dr. Nicole Fischer, investigates the mechanisms that contribute to the lifelong persistence of DNA virus infections. The group's work focuses on the comparative study of clinically relevant human polyomaviruses such as BK polyomavirus, JC polyomavirus and the human tumor virus Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). In immunosuppressed patients, these viruses can cause serious diseases such as polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN and BKPyV), neurodegenerative diseases (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and JCPyV) and skin cancer (Merkel cell carcinoma and MCPyV).
The aim of the research is to identify cellular mechanisms that are essential for infection, persistence or pathogenesis and that may represent a potential intervention approach. To this end, the group works with primary human cells and stem cell-derived 3D organoid models (skin and kidney organoids) for use as infection and pathogenicity models.
In addition to this focus, the group is investigating the application of high throughput sequencing in clinical samples for pathogen detection and identification. This research focus builds on a long-standing collaborative infrastructure between the UKE and the LIV (Research Department Virus Genomics & technology platform Next Generation SequencingGrundhoff and technology platform) in the development and application of preanalytical and bioinformatic methods in high-throughput sequencing for pathogen detection.
Contact
Senior Scientist (Guest)
Phone: +49 (0)40 48051-275
Team members

Contact
Senior Scientist (Guest)
Phone: +49 (0)40 48051-275