Kevin Ciminski & Team

Influenza A viruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect a remarkably wide range of host species. Our team investigates the potential of emerging influenza A viruses to cross the species barrier to humans, and explores the molecular interactions between virus and host.

Determining the zoonotic potential of emerging influenza A viruses (FLU-ARMOR)

Influenza A viruses of animal origin repeatedly cross the human species barrier, often causing severe disease in infected individuals. For sustained human-to-human transmission, however, these zoonotic viruses must acquire genetic adaptations in their viral proteins that allow them to overcome host restriction. 
In the ERC-funded FLU-ARMOR project, we examine the molecular interplay between newly emerging influenza A viruses and the innate immune system to determine how these viruses evade restriction - in particular by human MxA.

Deciphering virus–host interactions in bat reservoirs

In recent years, bats have attracted increasing attention as hosts of a variety of zoonotic viruses, including Nipah, Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as SARS and MERS coronaviruses. Interestingly, while spillover of these bat-borne viruses to humans can cause severe and often fatal disease, infections in bats are usually innocuous. 
Using the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) and the bat influenza A virus H18N11, which represents a natural virus–host pairing, we study infection dynamics and the innate and adaptive immune responses that control viral infection. Through comparative immunological approaches, we aim to identify host-specific strategies for virus control in bats and humans.

Role of macrophages in influenza A virus infections (MAC'n FLU)

Zoonotic influenza A virus infections can cause severe disease in humans, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Several lines of evidence suggest that infection of alveolar macrophages with zoonotic influenza A viruses triggers excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which is central to disease development. 
In the DFG-funded Emmy Noether project MAC'n FLU, we combine bioinformatic modeling with molecular virology to examine macrophage host responses to influenza A virus infection and to identify the viral determinants that drive these pathogenic programs.