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Diagnostik- und Forschungszentrum
Genetic and environmental mechanisms of diseaseResearchDiagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BiomedicineResearch centers and institutesMedical University of Graz

Research team of Steinmetz

Infection and Immunity research area

PI's: Ivo Steinmetz, Gabriel Wagner-Lichtenegger, Sabine Wagner-Lichtenegger

Focus: One area of our research involves the analysis of immune defense mechanisms and virulence mechanisms of bacterial pathogens (host-pathogen interaction). The goal of our work is to identify new therapeutic targets for both host-directed therapy and pathogen-directed therapy. In our investigations, we model infection with the human pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei (agent that causes melioidosis). Another focus is on developing innovative tests for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to different antigens of individual infectious agents. These multiplex tests are required in infectious disease diagnostics and for analysis of immune response after vaccinations.

Networking: In both basic research and our translational research projects, we cooperate with numerous local groups and a variety of national and international cooperation partners worldwide.

Projekte

Lipid metabolism: A potential target for the treatment of infectious diseases?

  • While lipids are known mediators in the host-pathogen interplay, the role of lipid-hydrolyzing enzymes during infection remains largely unexplored. We aim to fill this gap by investigating the role of eukaryotic and bacterial lipases during infection with a particular focus on potential therapeutic targets.
  • Duration: Ongoing
  • Funded by: Med Uni Graz
  • Project partners: Paul Vesely, Otto Loewi Research Center; Barbara Kronsteiner-Dobramysl, University of Oxford

Molecular pathways of pathogen induced pro-inflammatory cell death activation

  • Pro-inflammatory cell death pathways are a double-edged sword in innate immune defence. Beneficial for the human host, they restrict the intracellular niche of pathogens. However, they also massively stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines thereby contributing to harmful inflammation. This project elucidates the role of different cell death pathways during infectious diseases with the main objective to reveal novel therapeutic targets.
  • Duration: Ongoing
  • Funded by: Med Uni Graz
  • Project partners: Andreas Reinisch, Division of Haematology; Dave Boucher, University of York

Deciphering the immune response to bacterial antigens to develop novel serological tests and identify vaccine candidates

  • Melioidosis, caused by B. pseudomallei is a severe infectious disease with high mortality and no approved vaccine. The complexity of this pathogen's virulence mechanisms and the diversity of strains indicate that effective protection will require a multicomponent vaccine approach. Our project aims to identify novel vaccine antigens and improve diagnostics by analysing immune responses to bacterial proteins expressed under infection-like conditions using patient samples and controls from endemic regions.
  • Duration: Ongoing
  • Funded by: Med Uni Graz, VALIDATE Network
  • Project partners: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena, Germany; InfectoGnostics Research Campus, Jena, Germany; Senova Gesellschaft für Biowissenschaft und Technik mbH, Weimar, Germany; Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, Vietnam National University.

In-host evolution of bacterial pathogens

  • This project investigates the in-host evolution of B. pseudomallei following passage through macrophages or the human host by whole genome sequencing based methods. To validate virulence-associated genes, we perform targeted mutagenesis and test mutant strains in established in vitro and in vivo infection models. Identifying genetic elements linked to pathogenicity could reveal new targets for vaccines or therapies.
  • Duration: Ongoing
  • Funded by: Med Uni Graz
  • Project partners: Thanh Trung Trinh, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Christian Kohler, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald

Phages and their role in bacterial ecology and virulence

  • By integrating genomic and functional approaches, we aim to elucidate the roles of phages in modulating host-pathogen interactions, shaping bacterial evolution, and potentially contributing to immune evasion or antimicrobial resistance. This will not only enable comparative analyses between environmental and respiratory pathogens but also open new avenues for phage-informed strategies in diagnostics, prevention, and therapeutic intervention.
  • Duration: through 2026
  • Funded by: ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases)
  • Project partners: Thanh Trung Trinh, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine

Ivo Steinmetz  
T: +43 316 385 73700
E: ivo.steinmetz(at)medunigraz.at
Ivo Steinmetz
Research profile

Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine

Gabriel Wagner-Lichtenegger 
T: +43 316 385 73711
E: gabriel.wagner-lichtenegger(at)medunigraz.at
Research profile

Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine

Sabine Wagner-Lichtenegger  
T: +43 316 385 73603
E: sabine.lichtenegger(at)medunigraz.at
Research profile

Team

Members