MOI

MOI V News

Best Doctoral Thesis of the Manchot Graduate School MOI IV

As part of the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Dr. Fabienne Kocher was awarded for her work “Molecular Characterization of Chlamydia–Host Interactions During the Early Stages of Infection.” In her dissertation, Kocher investigated the early stages of infection by the human pathogenic bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae at the molecular level. She demonstrated how these pathogens, which can replicate only within host cells, use specific surface proteins as well as effector proteins introduced into the host cell at an early stage. In this way, they selectively bind to human epithelial cells and manipulate their cellular structures to facilitate entry into the cell. The results of this research provide new mechanistic insights into key processes of bacterial infection and early host–pathogen interactions.

Who we are

The Manchot Graduate School “Molecules of Infection” (MOI) maps complex host-pathogen interactions and explores new strategies for the elimination of pathogens in infectious diseases. Research projects focus on functionally characterizing molecules that play crucial roles in the infection process in carefully chosen model systems, e.g. HIV.

In April 2024 MOI V started and continues the successful research projects of the former MOI I - MOI IV funding rounds, which are funded since the beginning by the Jürgen Manchot Stiftung and supported by the "Strategischem Forschungsfonds" of Heinrich Heine University itselfs.

The 18 PhD projects of the Graduate School focus on important infectious molecules, that will be studied and characterised in specific model organisms. The gained scientific outcome of MOI V will make contribution to the current concepts of research in the field of infection. The scientific program of the 18 funded projects is separated in four deeply connected and in terms of content coordinated research areas.

Research Area 1

Mechanisms of viral infection

Research Area 2

Bacterial proteins in infection and infection control

Research Area 3

Molecular regulatory mechanisms in fungi

Research Area 4

Control of immune responses to infection

What is special about MOI Graduate School?

Our mission: to provide excellent scientific education in combination with personal development of young scientist at best since 2009! These are the central parts of our Graduate programme:

MOI V Curriculum

Here is the content of our MOI V Curriculum.

MOI V Events

Like to learn more about the MOI V events? Open the link.

Scientific Advisory Board

Four excellent scientists go with the Graduate School, - not only on the scientific level.

The core of the Graduate School:

Our young researchers

Besides the scholarship holders the Manchot Graduate School supports up to five talented PhD students from various projects of closely related topics to the MOI research areas. These so called "Colleagues" benefit from attending the whole MOI Curriculum as well as the organised events.

Current MOI V Fellows

Who are the current scholarship holders, who the colleagues? On the next webpage you'll find an overview and a brief introduction of our PhD students.