Andrea studied Molecular Medicine at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and did her PhD with Prof. Ralph Grassmann and Prof. Bernhard Fleckenstein at the Institute of Virology. She has always been fascinated by viruses and cancer; therefore, she decided to study Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a highly oncogenic human tumor virus.

Andrea's research interests are transmission of HTLV-1, especially from mother-to-child via breastfeeding, cell-cell communication, and oncogenic signaling.  Her major aims are to discover molecular details of virus transmission, to improve prevention strategies, and to combat virus transmission. In collaboration with other groups, she is also interested in antiviral properties of breast milk towards both milk-borne and non- milk-borne viruses.

After my PhD, I switched institute leading to the Harald zur Hausen Institute for Virology. Here, my focus is the transmission of HTLV-1 and STLV-1 in the intestinal tissue, representing a possible entry site for the retroviruses. Beside HTLV-1, I investigate another persistent virus, Herpes simplex virus type 1, and its effect on dendritic cells and modulation of their function.

HTLV-1 can be transmitted from mother to child during breastfeeding and such an early infection drastically increases the risk of developing an HTLV-associated, fatal disease. I am interested in unraveling the impact of human milk on mother-to-child transmission, identifying compounds that potentially inhibit the infection of the newborn.

After several decades of latency, HTLV-1 reactivation is associated with Adult T-cell Leukemia/ Lymphoma (ATLL) and inflammatory diseases in infected patients. The accessory protein p8 is a cleavage product of its precursor protein p12 and has been shown to be essential for viral persistence and infectivity. To date, the host factors facilitating p12 to p8 processing remain unknown. Therefore, I aim to identify the cryptic host factors processing p12 to interfere with persistence of HTLV-1. Additionally, I am exploring the functions of p8.

I investigate host–virus interactions in HTLV-1 infection, focusing on how cellular factors regulate viral protein function. Specifically, I study how the host factor ELL2 stabilizes the HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein and thereby supports viral activity.

During the oral route of HTLV-1 transmission, the intestine with its gut associated lymphoid tissue is a possible side for viral entry. By modelling the intestinal barrier, I want to study viral transmission and the immune cells involved.

I am a PhD candidate in the Milk-TV project, where I am developing preventive strategies that interfere with viral transmission. My work primarily focuses on the HTLV-1 envelope protein as a potential therapeutic target. In a second project, I investigate the viral protein p12/p8 and aim to identify host cell interaction partners in order to elucidate whether these interactions contribute to the viral life cycle or pathogenicity.

PhD candidate 

In the course of my medical doctorate, I am systematically comparing different compounds and their impact on HTLV-1 transcription. The overarching goal of manipulating HTLV-1 gene expression is to enhance the immunogenicity of HTLV-1 and thereby expose the latent reservoir of infected cells to the host’s immune response. 

I am the medical-technical laboratory assistant in the working group and responsible for keeping the laboratory and additional equipment running. Additionally, I supervise students in various internships and am involved in numerous projects, including the MILK-TV project, which is funded by the BMFTR.

I am a biological-technical laboratory assistant in the working group and work in several projects, including the Milk-TV project. Additionally, I take care of the crucial lab organization.