Maike Hofmann

Prof. Dr.
Principal Investigator

Center for Medicine
Department of Medicine II
Medical Center – University of Freiburg

Hugstetterstr. 55
79106 Freiburg i. Brsg.

Current position

Heisenberg Professor/Group Leader, Liver Immunology Lab, Department of Medicine II,
Center for Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg

Academic training

2002 – 2007 Study of Molecular Medicine in Freiburg, Germany

Scientific qualifications

2007 – 2012 PhD in Molecular Medicine/Immunology, University of Freiburg

Postgraduate Positions

since 2024 Heisenberg Professor for Translational Cellular Immunology, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg
since 07/2016 Group Leader, Department of Medicine II,
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
08/2014 - 06/2016 Senior Scientist, Department of Medicine II,
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
03/2014 – 07/2014 Postdoctorate, University spin-off cytena / Department for Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg
04/2012 – 02/2014 Postdoctorate, Institute for Immunology,
Medical Center - University of Freiburg

Miscellaneous (Honors, Awards)

2024 Heisenberg Professorship (German Research Foundation)
2022 Heinz Maier-Leibnitz-Prize from the German Research Foundation (DFG)
2021 Adolf Kussmaul Prize from the Southwest German Society for Gastroenterology
since 2019 Margarete von Wrangell Habilitation Fellowship (Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg)
2017 DZIF Maternity Leave Stipend

link to all publications from M. Hofmann: Pubmed

Publications based on CRC1160 funding

Csernalabics B, Marinescu MS, Maurer L, Kelsch L, Werner J, Baumann K, Zoldan K, Panning M, Reuken P, Bruns T, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Dao Thi VL, Boettler T. 2024. Efficient formation and maintenance of humoral and CD4 T-cell immunity targeting the viral capsid in acute-resolving hepatitis E infection. J Hepatol. 80(4):564-575. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.12.016.

du Halgouet A, Bruder K, Peltokangas N, Darbois A, Obwegs D, Salou M, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Lantz O, Sagar. 2024. Multimodal profiling reveals site-specific adaptation and tissue residency hallmarks of γδ T cells across organs in mice. Nat Immunol. 2024. 343-356. doi: 10.1038/s41590-023-01710-y.

du Halgouet A, Bruder K, Peltokangas N, Darbois A, Obwegs D, Salou M, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Lantz O, Sagar. 2024. Multimodal profiling reveals site-specific adaptation and tissue residency hallmarks of γδ T cells across organs in mice. Nat Immunol. 2024 Jan 4. doi: 10.1038/s41590-023-01710-y.

Csernalabics B, Marinescu MS, Maurer L, Kelsch L, Werner J, Baumann K, Zoldan K, Panning M, Reuken P, Bruns T, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Dao Thi VL, Boettler T. 2023. Efficient formation and maintenance of humoral and CD4 T cell immunity targeting the viral capsid in acute-resolving hepatitis E infection. J Hepatol. Dec 26:S0168-8278(23)05370-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.12.016.

Winkler F, Hipp AV, Ramirez C, Martin B, Villa M, Neuwirt E, Gorka O, Aerssens J, Johansson SE, Rana N, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Panning M, Groß O, Pearce EL, Hermann CM, Schumann K, Hannibal L, Neumann-Haefelin C, Boettler T, Knolle P, Hofmann M, Wohlleber D, Thimme R, Bengsch B. 2023. Enolase represents a metabolic checkpoint controlling the differential exhaustion programmes of hepatitis virus-specific CD8+ T cells. Gut. 72(10):1971-1984. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328734.

Raute K, Strietz J, Parigiani MA, Andrieux G, Thomas OS, Kistner KM, Zintchenko M, Aichele P, Hofmann M, Zhou H, Weber W, Boerries M, Swamy M, Maurer J, Minguet S. 2023. Breast Cancer Stem Cell-Derived Tumors Escape from γδ T-cell Immunosurveillance In Vivo by Modulating γδ T-cell Ligands. Cancer Immunol Res. 2023 May 4:OF1-OF20. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-22-0296.

Luxenburger H, Reeg DB, Lang-Meli J, Reinscheid M, Eisner M, Bettinger D, Oberhardt V, Salimi Alizei E, Wild K, Graeser A, Karl V, Sagar, Emmerich F, Klein F, Panning M, Huzly D, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Elling R, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Neumann-Haefelin C. 2023. Boosting compromised SARS-CoV-2-specific immunity with mRNA vaccination in liver transplant recipients. J Hepatol. Feb 18:S0168-8278(23)00095-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2023.02.007.

Kraemer, A. N., A. L. Schafer, D. T. L. Sprenger, B. Sehnert, J. P. Williams, A. Luo, L. Riechert, Q. Al-Kayyal, H. Dumortier, J. D. Fauny, Z. Winter, K. Heim, M. Hofmann, M. Herrmann, G. Heine, R. E. Voll, and N. Chevalier. 2022. Impact of dietary vitamin D on immunoregulation and disease pathology in lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice. Front Immunol 13: 933191. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.933191.

Globig AM, Mayer LS, Heeg M, Andrieux G, Ku M, Otto-Mora P, Hipp A, Zoldan K, Pattekar A, Rana N, Schell C, Boerries M, Hofmann M, Neumann-Haefelin C, Kuellmer A, Schmidt A, Boettler T, Tomov V, Thimme R, Hasselblatt P, Bengsch B. Gastroenterology. 2022. Exhaustion of CD39-expressing CD8+ T cells in Crohn’s disease is linked to clinical outcome. First published: 2022 Jun 20:S0016-5085(22)00663-1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.06.045. Online ahead of print.

Kemming, J., S. Gundlach, M. Panning, D. Huzly, J. Huang, M. Lutgehetmann, S. Pischke, J. Schulze Zur Wiesch, F. Emmerich, S. Llewellyn-Lacey, D. A. Price, Y. Tanriver, K. Warnatz, T. Boettler, R. Thimme, M. Hofmann, N. Fischer, and C. Neumann-Haefelin. 2022. Mechanisms of CD8+ T-cell failure in chronic hepatitis E virus infection. J Hepatol 77: 978-990. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.05.019.

Lang-Meli, J., H. Luxenburger, K. Wild, V. Karl, V. Oberhardt, E. Salimi Alizei, A. Graeser, M. Reinscheid, N. Roehlen, D. B. Reeg, S. Giese, K. Ciminski, V. Gotz, D. August, S. Rieg, C. F. Waller, T. Wengenmayer, D. Staudacher, D. Huzly, B. Bengsch, G. Kochs, M. Schwemmle, F. Emmerich, T. Boettler, R. Thimme, M. Hofmann, and C. Neumann-Haefelin. 2022. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell epitope repertoire in convalescent and mRNA-vaccinated individuals. Nat Microbiol 7: 675-679. doi: 10.1038/s41564-022-01106-y.

Boettler, T., B. Csernalabics, H. Salie, H. Luxenburger, L. Wischer, E. Salimi Alizei, K. Zoldan, L. Krimmel, P. Bronsert, M. Schwabenland, M. Prinz, C. Mogler, C. Neumann-Haefelin, R. Thimme, M. Hofmann, and B. Bengsch. 2022. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can elicit a CD8 T-cell dominant hepatitis. J Hepatol 77: 653-659. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.03.040.

Aichele P, Neumann-Haefelin C, Ehl S, Thimme R, Cathomen T, Boerries M, Hofmann M. 2022. Immunopathology caused by impaired CD8+ T-cell responses. Eur J Immunol. Jan 31. doi: 10.1002/eji.202149528. Online ahead of print.

Wild, K., M. Smits, S. Killmer, S. Strohmeier, C. Neumann-Haefelin, B. Bengsch, F. Krammer, M. Schwemmle, M. Hofmann, R. Thimme, K. Zoldan, and T. Boettler. 2021. Pre-existing immunity and vaccine history determine hemagglutinin-specific CD4 T cell and IgG response following seasonal influenza vaccination. Nat Commun 12: 6720.

Salimi Alizei E, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Neumann-Haefelin C. 2021. Mutational escape from cellular immunity in viral hepatitis: variations on a theme. Curr Opin Virol. 50:110-118. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2021.08.002.

Oberhardt V, Luxenburger H, Kemming J, Schulien I, Ciminski K, Giese S, Csernalabics B, Lang-Meli J, Janowska I, Staniek J, Wild K, Basho K, Marinescu MS, Fuchs J, Topfstedt F, Janda A, Sogukpinar O, Hilger H, Stete K, Emmerich F, Bengsch B, Waller CF, Rieg S, Sagar, Boettler T, Zoldan K, Kochs G, Schwemmle M, Rizzi M, Thimme R, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M. 2021. Rapid and stable mobilization of CD8+ T cells by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Nature.  28. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03841-4.

Schwabenland M, Salié H, Tanevski J, Killmer S, Lago MS, Schlaak AE, Mayer L, Matschke J, Püschel K, Fitzek A, Ondruschka B, Mei HE, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hofmann M, Breithaupt A, Genc N, Stadelmann C, Saez-Rodriguez J, Bronsert P, Knobeloch KP, Blank T, Thimme R, Glatzel M, Prinz M, Bengsch B. 2021. Deep spatial profiling of human COVID-19 brains reveals neuroinflammation with distinct microanatomical microglia-T-cell interactions. Immunity. 54(7):1594-1610.e11.

Schulien I, Kemming J, Oberhardt V, Wild K, Seidel LM, Killmer S, Sagar, Daul F, Salvat Lago M, Decker A, Luxenburger H, Binder B, Bettinger D, Sogukpinar O, Rieg S, Panning M, Huzly D, Schwemmle M, Kochs G, Waller CF, Nieters A, Duerschmied D, Emmerich F, Mei HE, Schulz AR, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Boettler T, Bengsch B, Thimme R, Hofmann M, Neumann-Haefelin C. 2020. Characterization of pre-existing and induced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 + T cells. Nat Med. 12. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-01143-2.

Hensel N, Gu Z, Sagar, Wieland D, Jechow K, Kemming J, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Gostick E, Sogukpinar O, Emmerich F, Price DA, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Eils R, Conrad C, Bartenschlager R, Grün D, Ishaque N, Thimme R, Hofmann M. 2021. Memory-like HCV-specific CD8+ T cells retain a molecular scar after cure of chronic HCV infection. Nat Immunol. 22(2):229-239. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-00817-w.

Heim, K., B. Binder, Sagar, D. Wieland, N. Hensel, S. Llewellyn-Lacey, E. Gostick, D. A. Price, F. Emmerich, H. Vingerhoet, A. R. M. Kraft, M. Cornberg, T. Boettler, C. Neumann-Haefelin, D. Zehn, B. Bengsch, M. Hofmann, and R. Thimme. 2020. TOX defines the degree of CD8+ T cell dysfunction in distinct phases of chronic HBV infection. Gut. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-322404. Online ahead of print.

Basho K, Zoldan K, Schultheiss M, Bettinger D, Globig AM, Bengsch B, Neumann-Haefelin C, Klocperk A, Warnatz K, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Boettler T. 2020. IL-2 contributes to cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction by impairing follicular T helper cells in advanced cirrhosis. J Hepatol. S0168-8278(20)33692-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2020.10.012.

Hofmann M, Thimme R. 2020. Hepatitis B vaccine and NK cells: a new player in memory. Gut. 15:gutjnl-2020-321151. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-321151. Online ahead of print.

Heim, K., Neumann-Haefelin, R. Thimme, and M. Hofmann. 2019. Heterogeneity of HBV-Specific CD8(+) T-Cell Failure: Implications for Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 10: 2240.

Schuch A, Zecher BF, Müller PA, Correia MP, Daul F, Rennert C, Tauber C, Schlitt K, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Hengel H, Pircher H, Cerwenka A, Thimme R, Hofmann M. 2019. NK-cell responses are biased towards CD16-mediated effector functions in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 70(3):351-360.

Adam, L., K. Zoldan, M. Hofmann, M. Schultheiss, D. Bettinger, Neumann-Haefelin, R. Thimme, and T. Boettler. 2018. Follicular T Helper Cell Signatures in Primary Biliary Cholangitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Hepatol Commun 2: 1051-1063.

Hofmann, M., D. Wieland, Pircher, and R. Thimme. 2018. Memory vs memory-like: The different facets of CD8(+) T-cell memory in HCV infection. Immunol Rev 283: 232-237.

Wieland, D., J. Kemming, A. Schuch, F. Emmerich, P. Knolle, Neumann-Haefelin, W. Held, D. Zehn, M. Hofmann, and R. Thimme. 2017. TCF1(+) hepatitis C virus-specific CD8(+) T cells are maintained after cessation of chronic antigen stimulation. Nat Commun 8: 15050.