AG Infection Immunology in Immunodeficiency
The research group "Infection Immunology in Immunodeficiency" combines clinical cohort studies with fundamental immunological research.
The aim is to comprehensively characterize both humoral and cellular immune responses to infections and vaccinations in order to improve long-term protection against severe infections in at-risk populations – such as through a better understanding of vaccine efficacy and duration of immune protection. We focus on immune phenotyping and the development of optimized vaccination strategies for immunosuppressed patients. A particular emphasis is placed on the detailed analysis of immune profiles under various immunosuppressive therapies and treatment regimens. We investigate how different therapeutic approaches - such as CD20 antibodies, CAR T cells, or combination therapies – affect humoral and cellular immune responses.
Our translational research is driven by the clinical care of immunosuppressed patients in haematology and oncology. Here, we identify practical and clinically relevant challenges, which we systematically and scientifically address through interdisciplinary projects.
By systematically characterizing these immune responses in defined subgroups, we gain valuable insights for developing individualized prevention strategies – such as vaccination and booster protocols – that are tailored to the specific needs of immunocompromised patients.
A current research focus is the analysis of T cell-mediated immunity following vaccination against respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or RSV – pathogens that pose a particularly high risk to our patient population.
Funding:
Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF), Else Kröner Fresenius Stiftung (EKFS), Universität zu Köln
Publications
Richardson T, Schütte D, Kobbe G, Baermann BN, Holderried TAW, Schmitz F, Crysand M, Hallek M, Scheid C, Holtick U, Cornely OA, Stemler J, Mellinghoff SC. Characteristics of Infections after BCMA-directed CAR-T cells therapy for Multiple Myeloma - a real-world analysis. Blood Advances. 2024. Accepted for publication
Herrmann, S., Graefe, S., Christopeit, M, Sonnemann P, Hattenhauer T, Mispelbaum R, Monin M, Orth HM, Flasshove C, Gruell H, Klein F, Klein U, Lehmann C, Naendrup JH, Stemler J, Salmanton-Garcia J, Markus T, Cornely OA, Mellinghoff SC. Respiratory syncytial virus infection in patients with haematological diseases: a retrospective multicentre study. Infection (2024). doi.org/10.17/s15010-024-02449-w.
Mellinghoff SC, Robrecht S, Sprute R, Mayer L, Weskamm LM, Dahlke C, Gruell H, Teipel F, Schlößer HA, Siepmann K, Thelen M, Fink AM, Fischer K, Klein F, Addo MM, Kolovou A, Cornely OA, Eichhorst B, Hallek M, Langerbeins P. Hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Eur J Haematol. 2024 May;112(5):788-793. doi: 10.1111/ejh.14170.
Mellinghoff SC, Mayer L, Robrecht S, Weskamm LM, Dahlke C, Gruell H, Schlotz M, Vanshylla K, Schloser HA, Thelen M, Fink AM, Fischer K, Klein F, Addo MM, Eichhorst B, Hallek M, Langerbeins P. SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular response following third COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Haematologica. 2022 Jun 23. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.280982.
Piechotta V*, Mellinghoff SC*, Hirsch C, Brinkmann A, Iannizzi C, Kreuzberger N, Adams A, Monsef I, Stemler J, Cornely OA, Bröckelmann PJ, Skoetz N. Effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals with hematological malignancies: a systematic review. Blood Cancer J. 2022 May 31;12(5):86. doi: 10.1038/s41408-022-00684-8. *Contributed equally
Mellinghoff SC, Robrecht S, Mayer L, Weskamm LM, Dahlke C, Gruell H, Vanshylla K, Schlösser HA, Thelen M, Fink AM, Fischer K, Klein F, Addo MM, Eichhorst B, Hallek M and Langerbeins P. SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular response following COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia. 2021 Dec. 36, 562–565 (2022). doi.org/10.1038/s41375-021-01500-1.
Mellinghoff SC*, Thelen M,* Bruns C, Garcia-Marquez M, Hartmann P, Lammertz T, Lehmann J, Nowag A, Stemler J, Wennhold K, Cornely OA, von Bergwelt-Baildon MS, Schlößer HA. T-cells of invasive candidiasis patients show patterns of T-cell-exhaustion suggesting checkpoint blockade as treatment option. J Infect. 2021 Dec 15: S0163-4453(21)00606-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.12.009. *Contributed equally
Giesen N, Busch E, Schalk E, Beutel G, Rüthrich MM, Hentrich M, Hertenstein B, Hirsch HH, Karthaus M, Khodamoradi Y, Koehler P, Krüger W, Koldehoff M, Krause R, Mellinghoff SC, Penack O, Sandherr M, Seggewiss-Bernhardt R, Spiekermann K, Sprute R, Stemler J, Weissinger F, Wörmann B, Wolf HH, Cornely OA, Rieger CT, von Lilienfeld-Toal M. AGIHO guideline on evidence-based management of COVID-19 in cancer patients: 2022 update on vaccination, pharmacological prophylaxis and therapy in light of the omicron variants. Eur J Cancer. 2023 Mar;181:102-118.
Schönlein M, Wrage V, Ghandili S, Mellinghoff SC, Brehm TT, Leypoldt LB, Utz N, Schrader RM, Alsdorf W, Börschel N, Bußmann L, Schönrock M, Perlick D, Schön G, Verpoort K, Lütgehetmann M, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Weisel KC, Bokemeyer C, Schafhausen P, Sinn M. Risk factors for poor humoral response to primary and booster SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in hematologic and oncological outpatients-COVIDOUT study. Cancer Cell. 2022;40:581-583. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.04.016.
Rieger CT*, Liss B*, Mellinghoff SC*, Buchheidt D, Cornely OA, Egerer G, Heinz WJ, Hentrich M, Maschmeyer G, Mayer K, Sandherr M, Silling G, Ullmann A, Vehreschild MJGT, von Lilienfeld-Toal M, Wolf HH, Lehners N; German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology Infectious Diseases Working Group (AGIHO). Anti-infective vaccination strategies in patients with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors-Guideline of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO). Ann Oncol. 2018 Jun 1;29(6):1354-1365. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdy117. *Contributed equally