World class research in virology

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Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann (right), head of the Infection Biology Unit at the German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, and infection biologist Dr. Markus Hoffmann. | Quelle: Photo: Karin Tilch | Copyright: German Primate Center | Download

"Markus Hoffmann and Stefan Pöhlmann have made outstanding contributions to research on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), so we are very pleased about the international recognition of their research," says Stefan Treue, director of the German Primate Center. The two virologists were able to build on their many years of experience with coronaviruses and elucidated how the virus enters cells and how this process can be stopped. Further, their results showed that the viral spike protein contains a cleavage site not found in closely related coronaviruses that is essential for infection of lung cells. In addition, Hoffmann and Pöhlmann discovered that SARS-CoV-2 variants, in particular the Omicron variant, evade neutralization by antibodies and thereby threaten the success of vaccines. Finally, their studies showed that the currently emerging Omicron subvariant BQ.1.1 is resistant against all therapeutic antibodies.

The results of the Göttingen researchers were published in leading international journals and were referenced by many other studies. More than 10.000 studies cited their paper on how the virus enters cells and how this process can be stopped.

Each year, the company Clarivate identifies the most frequently cited and thus most influential scientists worldwide (https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/). The analysis included publications that were published between 2011 and 2021 and were among the one percent of the most frequently cited scientific articles in the year of publication. The more frequently an author is cited, the higher his significance for the scientific community and the quality of his research results.

Contact and notes for editors

Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann
Phone: +49 (0) 551 3851 150
Email: spoehlmann@dpz.eu

Dr. Markus Hoffmann
Phone: +49 (0) 551 3851 338
Email: mhoffmann@dpz.eu

Dr. Susanne Diederich (Communication)
Phone: +49 (0) 551 3851 359
Email: sdiederich@dpz.eu

Printable images are available here: http://medien.dpz.eu/pinaccess/showpin.do?pinCode=QGKmEBXdaQwn

You will also find the press release on our website (https://www.dpz.eu/en/news/press-releases.html). Please send us a reference copy or link in case of publication.

The German Primate Center GmbH (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research conducts biological and biomedical research on and with primates in the fields of infection research, neuroscience and primate biology. The DPZ also maintains four field stations in the tropics and is a reference and service center for all aspects of primate research. The DPZ is one of the 97 research and infrastructure facilities of the Leibniz Association.

Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann
Phone: +49 (0) 551 3851 150
Email: spoehlmann@dpz.eu

Dr. Markus Hoffmann
Phone: +49 (0) 551 3851 338
Email: mhoffmann@dpz.eu

Weitere Informationen:
http://medien.dpz.eu/pinaccess/showpin.do?pinCode=QGKmEBXdaQwn Printable images
https://www.dpz.eu/en/home/single-view/news/weltklasse-forschung-im-fach-virologie.html DPZ Website