Eröffnung der Vortragsreihe „Life Sciences“ mit dem Schwerpunktthema „From Bacterial Infection to Therapy”

mit Professor Dr. Sven Hammerschmidt und Professor Dr. Nikolai Siemens (beide Universität Greifswald, Abteilung Molekulare Genetik und Infektionsbiologie, Interfakultäres Institut für Genetik und Funktionelle Genomforschung)

Streptococcal species include commensals, but also pathobionts like pneumococci and group A streptococci (GAS). Despite available (conjugate-)vaccines, pneumococci are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children and older adults. However, vaccine coverage among serotypes is low, the vaccine is expensive and antimicrobial resistance is increasing. Thus, new protein-based serotype-independent vaccines or intervention strategies are needed. While pneumococci cause pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis, GAS diseases range from uncomplicated throat infections to severe invasive infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis. No vaccine is available against GAS. This presentation will highlight structure-function analysis as well as protectivity of putative pneumococcal vaccine candidates and GAS heterogeneity in severe infections.

Moderation: Professor Dr. Thomas Klinger