Center for Medicine
Department of Medicine II
Medical Center – University of Freiburg
Hugstetterstr. 55
79106 Freiburg i. Brsg.
- +49 (0)761 / 270 – 35091
- maike.hofmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
- Homepage
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
Röttele F, Zollner A, Mogler C, Yuksel M, Arikan C, Karl V, Aberle JH, Aberle SW, Kogler H, Vécsei A, Vodopiutz J, Salié H, Gräser A, Krimmel L, Martin P, Lurz E, Maier FI, Woelfle L, Nobre S, Goncalves I, Kern L, Schwemmle M, Boettler T, Hofmann M, Hasselblatt P, Thimme R, Tilg H, Müller T, Vogel GF, Bengsch B. 2025. Characteristic immune cell interactions in livers of children with acute hepatitis revealed by spatial single-cell analysis identify a possible postacute sequel of COVID-19. Gut. Apr 5:gutjnl-2024-333880. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-333880.
Karl V, Hofmann M, Thimme R. 2025. Role of antiviral CD8+ T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. J Virol. Mar 3:e0135024. doi: 10.1128/jvi.01350-24.
Hofmann M, Thimme R, Schamel WW. 2024. PD-1 and LAG-3: synergistic fostering of T cell exhaustion. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2024 Oct 18;9(1):291. doi: 10.1038/s41392-024-02000-1.
Salié H, Wischer L, D’Alessio A, Godbole I, Suo Y, Otto-Mora P, Beck J, Neumann O, Stenzinger A, Schirmacher P, Fulgenzi CAM, Blaumeiser A, Boerries M, Roehlen N, Schultheiß M, Hofmann M, Thimme R, Pinato DJ, Longerich T, Bengsch B. 2024. Spatial single-cell profiling and neighbourhood analysis reveal the determinants of immune architecture connected to checkpoint inhibitor therapy outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut. Oct 14:gutjnl-2024-332837. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-332837.
Heim K, Sagar, Sogukpinar Ö, Llewellyn-Lacey S, Price DA, Emmerich F, Kraft ARM, Cornberg M, Kielbassa S, Knolle P, Wohlleber D, Bengsch B, Boettler T, Neumann-Haefelin C, Thimme R, Hofmann M. 2024. Attenuated effector T cells are linked to control of chronic HBV infection. Nat Immunol. 25(9):1650-1662. doi: 10.1038/s41590-024-01928-4.
Bosch M, Kallin N, Donakonda S, Zhang JD, Wintersteller H, Hegenbarth S, Heim K, Ramirez C, Fürst A, Lattouf EI, Feuerherd M, Chattopadhyay S, Kumpesa N, Griesser V, Hoflack JC, Siebourg-Polster J, Mogler C, Swadling L, Pallett LJ, Meiser P, Manske K, de Almeida GP, Kosinska AD, Sandu I, Schneider A, Steinbacher V, Teng Y, Schnabel J, Theis F, Gehring AJ, Boonstra A, Janssen HLA, Vandenbosch M, Cuypers E, Öllinger R, Engleitner T, Rad R, Steiger K, Oxenius A, Lo WL, Klepsch V, Baier G, Holzmann B, Maini MK, Heeren R, Murray PJ, Thimme R, Herrmann C, Protzer U, Böttcher JP, Zehn D, Wohlleber D, Lauer GM, Hofmann M, Luangsay S, Knolle PA.2024. A liver immune rheostat regulates CD8 T cell immunity in chronic HBV infection. Nature. 631(8022):867-875. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07630-7.
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.
