Pioneering work with nanobodies
Immunological research at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) is experiencing a significant boost thanks to a recent funding commitment. Prof. Florian I. Schmidt from the Institute of Innate Immunity has received a prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council, worth two million euros. This funding is a testament to the high level of immunological research in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The core of the study, which will begin in 2024, is the investigation of how specific cellular signaling pathways control inflammatory responses in the body. Nanobodies—small, innovative proteins derived from alpaca antibodies—play a central role in this research. These nanobodies could significantly contribute to more effective treatment of autoinflammatory diseases.
Inflammation is a fundamental reaction of the immune system to pathogens or damage to the body. It mobilizes the body's own defense system, leading to a specific immune response. Proper regulation of these reactions is crucial to prevent overreactions of the immune system and resulting diseases such as ulcerative colitis or even cancer.
Professor Schmidt, a member of the ImmunoSensation2 Cluster of Excellence and the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn, focuses on the negative regulation of the immune system. He suspects that certain proteins could act as central regulators to weaken or suppress the immune response. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, cDNA screening, and their own specially developed nanobodies, his team will investigate the function of these proteins and potentially discover new therapeutic approaches.
Source: Medizin.NRW
