—A recent study by the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the University of Bonn shows that pH plays a crucial role in sperm motility in sea urchins and salmon. A rise in pH activates the enzyme soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), which produces the messenger molecule cAMP and thereby regulates sperm movement. This mechanism may be widespread in many marine invertebrates and fish. The findings have now been published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
—A new AI-based method reconstructs spatial information about where immune cells were originally located in an organ, even after these cells have been removed from the tissue and analyzed individually. To accomplish this, Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn use the transcriptome, i.e., the entirety of all messenger RNA transcripts produced by genes within a cell at a given time. The work has now been published in the journal Advanced Science and introduces the new MERLIN algorithm.
B cells maintain antigen presentation in the splenic marginal zone
—A team of international researchers, including ImmunoSensation³ members Prof. Niels Lemmermann and Prof. Andreas Schlitzer, shows that B cells support antiviral CD8⁺ T-cell responses beyond antibody production. In a murine CMV model, B-cell deficiency weakened virus-specific CD8⁺ T-cell responses. Mechanistically, B-cell-derived lymphotoxin β maintained CD169⁺ macrophages and Langerin⁺ cDC1 cells in the splenic marginal zone, enabling efficient T-cell priming. The study was published in Cellular & Molecular Immunology.
University of Bonn and University Hospital Bonn strengthen early-career clinical scientists
—The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) are jointly launching the EKFS doctoral program IMMUNE PILOT, which introduces medical students to clinical-scientific research at an early stage. The structured program is positioned at the interface of immunology, neuroscience, and genetics and is aimed at students with a strong interest in research who aspire to pursue a career as clinician scientists. The program is funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS).
Precise active ingredients against pancreatic cancer
—Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer. At the German Cancer Congress 2026, German Cancer Aid is now presenting three large-scale projects that it is funding as part of its “German Alliance for Pancreatic Cancer” funding priority. In the funded project PrepAIred, Bonn researchers , in cooperation with the University of North Carolina (USA), want to use AI-based protein design to specifically combat pancreatic cancer. German Cancer Aid is funding the project with a total of 1.99 million euros over a period of four years.
New findings on infection with the Epstein-Barr virus
—The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause certain types of cancer or autoimmune diseases, but how the body controls this common viral infection is largely unknown. Bonn researchers have now identified genetic and non-genetic factors that help the body fight EBV. To do this, they evaluated genome sequencing data, which is actually intended for characterizing the human genome, in a new way. Using the new technique, they were able to estimate the amount of EBV in the blood and find correlations in large health data sets. Their findings have now been published in the renowned journal Nature.
New insights into the human immune defense against poxviruses
—An international research team involving Bonn scientist has made an important contribution to understanding the human immune response to poxviruses: The scientists were able to show for the first time that different human cell types recognize poxviruses via different sensors in order to trigger inflammatory responses. At the same time, the team developed the world's first nanobodies that can specifically block the DNA sensor AIM2 – a tool that opens up new possibilities for inflammation and infection research. The paper has now been published in The EMBO Journal.
—Our giant phagocytes in the liver are the “butlers” of the tissues: they not only fight bacteria, but also eat metabolic waste and even microplastics. “They also make sure that the neighboring cells are happy,” says developmental biologist and immunologist Prof. Dr. Elvira Mass from the LIMES Institute. In the new episode of Bonn University's podcast "die Hypothese" (the hypothesis), she discusses the thesis “We have our macropahges under control!” with host Denis Nasser.
Multiple Sclerosis: Potential biomarker linked to progression and brain inflammation identified
—Better ways to detect ongoing brain damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) are urgently needed. An international team of scientists, including ImmunoSensation³ member Prof. Anne-Katrin Pröbstel, has identified a molecular circuit that drives brain injury in MS. In a mouse model, blocking the enzyme Bruton's tyrosine kinase prevented harmful clustering of immune cell and brain tissue demage. Patient data revealed the same immune signaling pattern, suggesting strong translational potential for diagnosis. The study was recently published in Nature Immunology.
