TRR179

Chronic infections cause long-term changes in key immune cells. T-helper cells suppress their immune function to ensure their survival.


T-helper cells, scientifically known as CD4⁺ T cells, control key processes in our immune system. They detect signs of pathogens and relay signals to other immune cells. In this way, they help B cells produce antibodies and support T killer cells in fighting infected cells. Researchers at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg have now investigated how these immune cells change under prolonged stress during chronic infections. Using chronic hepatitis C infection as an example, the team demonstrated that T helper cells shift their focus: they regulate the immune response less vigorously in order to ensure their own survival. This helps to better understand the course of chronic infections and opens up avenues for new therapies. The findings were published on April 1, 2026, in the journal Immunity.


Original title of the publication: Acute and chronic infections drive distinct trajectories in human memory CD4+ T cell formation DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2026.03.008 Link to the study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2026.03.008

Am 28. Juli 2025 richtete der TRR179 anlässlich des Welt-Hepatitis-Tages an allen drei Standorten Informationsstände zum Thema Hepatitis in den Kliniken ein, um Besucher über Risiken, Symptome, Schutzmaßnahmen und Behandlungsmöglichkeiten von Hepatitis aufzuklären. Experten beantworteten Fragen und stellten Informationen zur Verfügung.


Wir haben Besucher interviewt und hier einen kleinen Ausschnitt der Umfragen an den Standorten zusammengestellt.

After about 5 years of Hepcludex it´s time to give a follow up on the experiences with the drug. In this episode we talk to the inventor of bulvertide, S. Urban (project leader in our TRR179) and a clinician expert (P. Lampertico from Milan).


We will refer to the following questions:


Which patients benefit from bulevirtide? What about HCC and decomp. cirrhosis?


Do we need interferon for best efficacy? Are the supply chains of interferon a problem?


What do we do with treatment failures? When is someone a treatment failure?


What else is there beyond bulevirtide?


What are the prospects for bulevirtide/entry inhibition in HBV monoinfection?

The authors are refering about the latest paper "Heim, K., Sagar, Sogukpinar, Ö. Sian Llewellyn-Lacey, David A. Price, Florian Emmerich, Anke R. M. Kraft, Markus Cornberg, Sophie Kielbassa, Percy Knolle, Dirk Wohlleber, Bertram Bengsch, Tobias Boettler, Christoph Neumann-Haefelin, Robert Thimme, Maike Hofmann. Attenuated effector T cells are linked to control of chronic HBV infection. Nat Immunol 25, 1650–1662 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01928-4"