Institute for Biochemistry

Prof. Dr. Maren von Köckritz-Blickwede

Prof. Dr. Maren von Köckritz-Blickwede studied biology at the University of Hanover. During this time, she spent one year at the Universidad Nacional de Heredia, Costa Rica, where she performed epidemiological studies about vesicular stomatitis viruses in horses in Costa Rica. In 2001 she completed her Diplom research studies with the title “Isolation and characterization of metabolically competent pulmonary epithelial cells from pig and rat lung tissue for the use in biotransformation and toxicity studies” at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine in Hanover, Germany.

After graduation, she started a Ph.D. research fellowship of the DFG-graduate school "Mucosal Host-Pathogen Interactions" at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre for Animal Science in Neustadt-Mariensee, Germany. The topic of her PhD thesis was: “Antibiotic-dependent modulation of staphylococcal virulence properties”. She received her Dr. rer. nat. title in December 2004 at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany.

After that she spent three years as a PostDoc at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in Braunschweig, Germany, where she studied the role of host genetic and immune factors involved in the susceptibility and resistance against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus infections. During this time she discovered that mast cells have the ability to kill bacterial pathogens by the formation of antimicrobial extracellular traps (Blood, 2008).

Based on this work, she obtained a prestigious grant from the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina to study the role of extracellular traps during bacterial infections, to identify bacterial strategies that avoid entrapment and killing by these structures, and to search for novel pharmacological agents that boost the formation of extracellular traps. She performed these studies from September 2008 until June 2010 in the laboratory of Prof. Victor Nizet, at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California. Her research shed new light on the importance of extracellular traps in host defense and provides new therapeutic opportunities to enhance the local innate immune response against bacterial infections.

Since July 2010 Dr. Maren von Köckritz-Blickwede is leading the research group Infection Biochemistry at the Department of Physiological Chemistry and is continuing her research on the host innate immune defense (with special focus on extracellular traps) as therapeutic target against bacterial infections. In February 2015 she received the position as a full professor for Biochemistry of Infection at the Department of Physiological Chemistry and the Research Center for Emerging Infections (RIZ), TiHo.

Publications

Prominent binding of human and equine fibrinogen to Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is mediated by specific SzM-types and is a distinct phenotype of zoonotic isolates.

Bergmann R, Jentsch MC, Uhlig A, Müller U, van der Linden M, Rasmussen M, Waller A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Baums CG.

Infect Immun. 2019 Oct 21. pii: IAI.00559-19. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00559-19. [Epub ahead of print]

Degraded neutrophil extracellular traps promote the growth of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

de Buhr N, Bonilla MC, Pfeiffer J, Akhdar S, Schwennen C, Kahl BC, Waldmann KH, Valentin-Weigand P, Hennig-Pauka I, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Sep 10;10(9):657. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1895-4.

Constitutive TNF-α signaling in neonates is essential for the development of tissue-resident leukocyte profiles at barrier sites.

Bickes MS, Pirr S, Heinemann AS, Fehlhaber B, Halle S, Völlger L, Willers M, Richter M, Böhne C, Albrecht M, Langer M, Pfeifer S, Jonigk D, Vieten G, Ure B, von Kaisenberg C, Förster R, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Hansen G, Viemann D.

FASEB J. 2019 Oct;33(10):10633-10647. doi: 10.1096/fj.201900796R. Epub 2019 Jun 29.

A sensitive scoring system for the longitudinal clinical evaluation and prediction of lethal disease outcomes in newborn mice.

Fehlhaber B, Heinemann AS, Rübensam K, Willers M, Völlger L, Pfeifer S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Viemann D.

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 11;9(1):5919. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42414-4.

To NET or not to NET:current opinions and state of the science regarding the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Boeltz S, Amini P, Anders HJ, Andrade F, Bilyy R, Chatfield S, Cichon I, Clancy DM, Desai J, Dumych T, Dwivedi N, Gordon RA, Hahn J, Hidalgo A, Hoffmann MH, Kaplan MJ, Knight JS, Kolaczkowska E, Kubes P, Leppkes M, Manfredi AA, Martin SJ, Maueröder C, Maugeri N, Mitroulis I, Munoz LE, Nakazawa D, Neeli I, Nizet V, Pieterse E, Radic MZ, Reinwald C, Ritis K, Rovere-Querini P, Santocki M, Schauer C, Schett G, Shlomchik MJ, Simon HU, Skendros P, Stojkov D, Vandenabeele P, Berghe TV, van der Vlag J, Vitkov L, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Yousefi S, Zarbock A, Herrmann M.

Cell Death Differ. 2019 Mar;26(3):395-408. doi: 10.1038/s41418-018-0261-x. Epub 2019 Jan 8. Review.

Mechanism of drug extrusion by brain endothelial cells via lysosomal drug trapping and disposal by neutrophils.

Noack A, Gericke B, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Menze A, Noack S, Gerhauser I, Osten F, Naim HY, Löscher W.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 Sep 25. pii: 201719642. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1719642115. [Epub ahead of print]

Inactivation of multidrug-resistant pathogens and Y. enterocolitica with cold atmospheric pressure plasma on stainless steel surfaces.

Lis KA, Kehrenberg C, Boulaaba A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Binder S, Li Y, Zimmermann JL, Pfeifer Y, Ahlfeld B.

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Aug 31. pii: S0924-8579(18)30249-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.08.023. [Epub ahead of print]

Comparison Between K₃EDTA and Lithium Heparin as Anticoagulant to Isolate Bovine Granulocytes From Blood.

Baien SH, Langer MN, Heppelmann M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, de Buhr N.

Front Immunol. 2018 Jul 11;9:1570. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01570. eCollection 2018.

Extracellular Trap Formation in Response to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in Granulocytes Isolated From Dogs and Common Opossums, Natural Reservoir Hosts.

de Buhr N, Bonilla MC, Jimenez-Soto M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Dolz G.

Front Microbiol. 2018 May 15;9:966. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00966. eCollection 2018.

Differentiation and Functionality of Bone Marrow-Derived Mast Cells Depend on Varying Physiologic Oxygen Conditions.

Möllerherm H, Meier K, Schmies K, Fuhrmann H, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Branitzki-Heinemann K.

Front Immunol. 2017 Nov 30;8:1665. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01665. eCollection 2017.

Interaction of factor VII activating protease (FSAP) with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Grasso S, Neumann A, Lang IM, Etscheid M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Kanse SM.

Thromb Res. 2018 Jan;161:36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2017.11.012. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Testing cathelicidin susceptibility of bacterial mastitis isolates: Technical challenges and data output for clinical isolates.

Langer MN, Blodkamp S, Bayerbach M, Feßler AT, de Buhr N, Gutsmann T, Kreienbrock L, Schwarz S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Vet Microbiol. 2017 Oct;210:107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.08.022. Epub 2017 Sep 8.

Corrigendum: S100-alarmin-induced innate immune programming protects newborn infants from sepsis.

Ulas T, Pirr S, Fehlhaber B, Bickes MS, Loof TG, Vogl T, Mellinger L, Heinemann AS, Burgmann J, Schöning J, Schreek S, Pfeifer S, Reuner F, Völlger L, Stanulla M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Glander S, Barczyk-Kahlert K, von Kaisenberg CS, Friesenhagen J, Fischer-Riepe L, Zenker S, Schultze JL, Roth J, Viemann D.

Nat Immunol. 2017 Sep 19;18(10):1173. doi: 10.1038/ni1017-1173b. No abstract available.

Impact of Virtual Patients as Optional Learning Material in Veterinary Biochemistry Education.

Kleinsorgen C, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Naim HY, Branitzki-Heinemann K, Kankofer M, Mándoki M, Adler M, Tipold A, Ehlers JP.

J Vet Med Educ. 2017 Sep 8:1-11. doi: 10.3138/jvme.1016-155r1. [Epub ahead of print]

In Vitro Testing of Crude Natural Plant Extracts from Costa Rica for Their Ability to Boost Innate Immune Cells against Staphylococcus aureus.

Yaseen R, Branitzki-Heinemann K, Moubasher H, Setzer WN, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Biomedicines. 2017 Jul 5;5(3). pii: E40. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines5030040.

Utilization and acceptance of virtual patients in veterinary basic sciences - the vetVIP-project.

Kleinsorgen C, Kankofer M, Gradzki Z, Mandoki M, Bartha T, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Naim HY, Beyerbach M, Tipold A, Ehlers JP.

GMS J Med Educ. 2017 May 15;34(2):Doc19. doi: 10.3205/zma001096. eCollection 2017.

Hypoxia Modulates the Response of Mast Cells to Staphylococcus aureus Infection.

Möllerherm H, Branitzki-Heinemann K, Brogden G, Elamin AA, Oehlmann W, Fuhrmann H, Singh M, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Front Immunol. 2017 May 11;8:541. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00541. eCollection 2017.

S100-alarmin-induced innate immune programming protects newborn infants from sepsis.

Nat Immunol. 2017 May 1. doi: 10.1038/ni.3745. [Epub ahead of print]

Methods to Study Lipid Alterations in Neutrophils and the Subsequent Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps.

Brogden G, Neumann A, Husein DM, Reuner F, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Vis Exp. 2017 Mar 29;(121). doi: 10.3791/54667.

Case study on the pathophysiology of Fabry Disease: Abnormalities of cellular membranes can be reversed by substrate reduction in vitro.

Brogden G, Shammas H, Maalouf K, Naim SL, Wetzel G, Amiri M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Das AM, Naim HY.

Biosci Rep. 2017 Mar 28. pii: BSR20160402. doi: 10.1042/BSR20160402. [Epub ahead of print]

Antimicrobial activity of HL-60 cells compared to primary blood-derived neutrophils against Staphylococcus aureus.

Yaseen R, Blodkamp S, Lüthje P, Reuner F, Völlger L, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Negat Results Biomed. 2017 Feb 19;16(1):2. doi: 10.1186/s12952-017-0067-2.

In neonates S100A8/S100A9 alarmins prevent the expansion of a specific inflammatory monocyte population promoting septic shock.

Heinemann AS, Pirr S, Fehlhaber B, Mellinger L, Burgmann J, Busse M, Ginzel M, Friesenhagen J, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Ulas T, von Kaisenberg CS, Roth J, Vogl T, Viemann D.

FASEB J. 2016 Dec 19. pii: fj.201601083R. [Epub ahead of print]

Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps under Low Oxygen Level.

Branitzki-Heinemann K, Möllerherm H, Völlger L, Husein DM, de Buhr N, Blodkamp S, Reuner F, Brogden G, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Front Immunol. 2016 Nov 25;7:518.

Functional variants in the sucrase-isomaltase gene associate with increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome.

Henström M, Diekmann L, Bonfiglio F, Hadizadeh F, Kuech EM, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Thingholm LB, Zheng T, Assadi G, Dierks C, Heine M, Philipp U, Distl O, Money ME, Belheouane M, Heinsen FA, Rafter J, Nardone G, Cuomo R, Usai-Satta P, Galeazzi F, Neri M, Walter S, Simrén M, Karling P, Ohlsson B, Schmidt PT, Lindberg G, Dlugosz A, Agreus L, Andreasson A, Mayer E, Baines JF, Engstrand L, Portincasa P, Bellini M, Stanghellini V, Barbara G, Chang L, Camilleri M, Franke A, Naim HY, D'Amato M.

Gut. 2016 Nov 21. pii: gutjnl-2016-312456. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312456. [Epub ahead of print]

Measuring oxygen levels in Caco-2 cultures.

Zeitouni NE, Fandrey J, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Hypoxia (Auckl). 2015 Oct 9;3:53-66.

Guarea kunthiana Bark Extract Enhances the Antimicrobial Activities of Human and Bovine Neutrophils.

Jerjomiceva N, Seri H, Yaseen R, de Buhr N, Setzer WN, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Nat Prod Commun. 2016 Jun;11(6):767-70.

Antimicrobial Activity of Mast Cells: Role and Relevance of Extracellular DNA Traps.

Möllerherm H, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Branitzki-Heinemann K.

Front Immunol. 2016 Jul 18;7:265. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00265. eCollection 2016. Review.

Neutrophil extracellular trap formation in the Streptococcus suis-infected cerebrospinal fluid compartment.

de Buhr N, Reuner F, Neumann A, Stump-Guthier C, Tenenbaum T, Schroten H, Ishikawa H, Müller K, Beineke A, Hennig-Pauka I, Gutsmann T, Valentin-Weigand P, Baums CG, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Cell Microbiol. 2016 Jul 23. doi: 10.1111/cmi.12649. [Epub ahead of print]

How Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Become Visible.

de Buhr N, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Immunol Res. 2016;2016:4604713. doi: 10.1155/2016/4604713. Epub 2016 May 16. Review.

Iron chelating agent desferrioxamine stimulates formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in human blood-derived neutrophils.

Völlger L, Akong-Moore K, Cox L, Goldmann O, Wang Y, Schäfer ST, Naim HY, Nizet V, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Biosci Rep. 2016 Mar 30. pii: BSR20160031. [Epub ahead of print]

Interaction of Bacterial Exotoxins with Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: Impact for the Infected Host.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Blodkamp S, Nizet V.

Front Microbiol. 2016 Mar 30;7:402. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00402. eCollection 2016. Review.

Effects of SecDF on the antimicrobial functions of cathelicidins against Staphylococcus aureus.

Blodkamp S, Kadlec K, Gutsmann T, Quiblier C, Naim HY, Schwarz S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Vet Microbiol. 2016 Mar 31. pii: S0378-1135(16)30074-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.03.021. [Epub ahead of print]

The impact of hypoxia on intestinal epithelial cell functions: consequences for invasion by bacterial pathogens.

Zeitouni NE, Chotikatum S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Naim HY.

Mol Cell Pediatr. 2016 Dec;3(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s40348-016-0041-y. Epub 2016 Mar 22. Review.

Hypoxia Decreases Invasin-Mediated Yersinia enterocolitica Internalization into Caco-2 Cells.

Zeitouni NE, Dersch P, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 5;11(1):e0146103. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146103. eCollection 2016.

Type I IFNs induce anti-tumor polarization of tumor associated neutrophils in mice and human.

Andzinski L, Kasnitz N, Stahnke S, Wu CF, Gereke M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Schilling B, Brandau S, Weiss S, Jablonska J.

Int J Cancer. 2015 Nov 30. doi: 10.1002/ijc.29945. [Epub ahead of print]

Yersinia enterocolitica-mediated degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Möllerherm H, Neumann A, Schilcher K, Blodkamp S, Zeitouni NE, Dersch P, Lüthje P, Naim HY, Zinkernagel AS, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2015 Dec;362(23). pii: fnv192. doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnv192. Epub 2015 Oct 12.

In vitro activity of human and animal cathelicidins against livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Blodkamp S, Kadlec K, Gutsmann T, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Schwarz S.

Vet Microbiol. 2015 Sep 28. pii: S0378-1135(15)30036-5. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.09.018. [Epub ahead of print]

Staphylococcus aureus protects its immune-evasion proteins against degradation by neutrophil serine proteases.

Stapels DA, Kuipers A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Ruyken M, Tromp A, Horsburgh MJ, de Haas CJ, van Strijp JA, van Kessel KP, Rooijakkers SH.

Cell Microbiol. 2015 Sep 29. doi: 10.1111/cmi.12528. [Epub ahead of print]

The Diverse Forms of Lactose Intolerance and the Putative Linkage to Several Cancers.

Amiri M, Diekmann L, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Naim HY.

Nutrients. 2015 Aug 28;7(9):7209-30. doi: 10.3390/nu7095332. Review.

Novel role of DNA in neutrophil extracellular traps.

Baums CG, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Trends Microbiol. 2015 Jun;23(6):330-1. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Automatic determination of NET (neutrophil extracellular traps) coverage in fluorescent microscopy images.

Coelho LP, Pato C, Friães A, Neumann A, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Ramirez M, Carriço JA.

Bioinformatics. 2015 Jul 15;31(14):2364-70. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btv156. Epub 2015 Mar 19.

Identification of a novel DNase of Streptococcus suis (EndAsuis) important for neutrophil extracellular trap degradation during exponential growth.

de Buhr N, Stehr M, Neumann A, Naim HY, Valentin-Weigand P, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Baums CG.

Microbiology. 2015 Apr;161(Pt 4):838-50. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000040. Epub 2015 Feb 9.

Alarmins MRP8 and MRP14 induce stress tolerance in phagocytes under sterile inflammatory conditions.

Austermann J, Friesenhagen J, Fassl SK, Ortkras T, Burgmann J, Barczyk-Kahlert K, Faist E, Zedler S, Pirr S, Rohde C, Müller-Tidow C, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, von Kaisenberg CS, Flohé SB, Ulas T, Schultze JL, Roth J, Vogl T, Viemann D.

Cell Rep. 2014 Dec 24;9(6):2112-23. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.11.020. Epub 2014 Dec 11.

Influencing factors and applicability of the viability EMA-qPCR for a detection and quantification of Campylobacter cells from water samples.

Seinige D, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Krischek C, Klein G, Kehrenberg C.

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 20;9(11):e113812. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113812. eCollection 2014.

The antimicrobial peptide LL-37 facilitates the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Neumann A, Berends ET, Nerlich A, Molhoek EM, Gallo RL, Meerloo T, Nizet V, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Biochem J. 2014 Nov 15;464(1):3-11. doi: 10.1042/BJ20140778.

Lipid alterations in human blood-derived neutrophils lead to formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Neumann A, Brogden G, Jerjomiceva N, Brodesser S, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Eur J Cell Biol. 2014 Aug-Sep; 93(8-9):347-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2014.07.005. Epub 2014 Aug 2.

Staphylococcus aureus secretes a unique class of neutrophil serine protease inhibitors.

Stapels DA, Ramyar KX, Bischoff M, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Milder FJ, Ruyken M, Eisenbeis J, McWhorter WJ, Herrmann M, van Kessel KP, Geisbrecht BV, Rooijakkers SH.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Sep 9;111(36):13187-92. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1407616111. Epub 2014 Aug 26.

Novel role of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 in the protection of neutrophil extracellular traps against degradation by bacterial nucleases.

Neumann A, Völlger L, Berends ET, Molhoek EM, Stapels DA, Midon M, Friães A, Pingoud A, Rooijakkers SH, Gallo RL, Mörgelin M, Nizet V, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Innate Immun. 2014;6(6):860-8. doi: 10.1159/000363699. Epub 2014 Jul 8.

Enrofloxacin enhances the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in bovine granulocytes.

Jerjomiceva N, Seri H, Völlger L, Wang Y, Zeitouni N, Naim HY, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Innate Immun. 2014;6(5):706-12. doi: 10.1159/000358881. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

The effect of β-glucan on formation and functionality of neutrophil extracellular traps in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

Brogden G, Krimmling T, Adamek M, Naim HY, Steinhagen D, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Dev Comp Immunol. 2014 Jun;44(2):280-5. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.01.003. Epub 2014 Jan 14.

Streptococcus suis DNase SsnA contributes to degradation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and evasion of NET-mediated antimicrobial activity.

de Buhr N, Neumann A, Jerjomiceva N, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Baums CG.

Microbiology. 2014 Feb;160(Pt 2):385-95. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.072199-0. Epub 2013 Nov 12.

Antibodies mediate formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in the middle ear and facilitate secondary pneumococcal otitis media.

Short KR, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Langereis JD, Chew KY, Job ER, Armitage CW, Hatcher B, Fujihashi K, Reading PC, Hermans PW, Wijburg OL, Diavatopoulos DA.

Infect Immun. 2014 Jan;82(1):364-70. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01104-13. Epub 2013 Nov 4.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacterial nitric-oxide synthase affects antibiotic sensitivity and skin abscess development.

van Sorge NM, Beasley FC, Gusarov I, Gonzalez DJ, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Anik S, Borkowski AW, Dorrestein PC, Nudler E, Nizet V.

J Biol Chem. 2013 Mar 1;288(9):6417-26. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.448738. Epub 2013 Jan 15.

β-Glucan protects neutrophil extracellular traps against degradation by Aeromonas hydrophila in carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Brogden G, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Adamek M, Reuner F, Jung-Schroers V, Naim HY, Steinhagen D.

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2012 Oct;33(4):1060-4. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2012.08.009. Epub 2012 Aug 21.

Influences of chloride and hypochlorite on neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

Akong-Moore K, Chow OA, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Nizet V.

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042984. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

A novel role for the transcription factor HIF-1α in the formation of mast cell extracellular traps.

Branitzki-Heinemann K, Okumura CY, Völlger L, Kawakami Y, Kawakami T, Naim HY, Nizet V, Von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

Biochem J. 2012 Aug 15;446(1):159-63. doi: 10.1042/BJ20120658.

A new pharmacological agent (AKB-4924) stabilizes hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and increases skin innate defenses against bacterial infection.

Okumura CY, Hollands A, Tran DN, Olson J, Dahesh S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Thienphrapa W, Corle C, Jeung SN, Kotsakis A, Shalwitz RA, Johnson RS, Nizet V.

J Mol Med (Berl). 2012 Sep;90(9):1079-89. doi: 10.1007/s00109-012-0882-3. Epub 2012 Feb 28.

Staphylococcus aureus virulence is enhanced by secreted factors that block innate immune defenses.

Jongerius I, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Horsburgh MJ, Ruyken M, Nizet V, Rooijakkers SH.

J Innate Immun. 2012;4(3):301-11. doi: 10.1159/000334604. Epub 2012 Feb 7.

Importance of Toll-like receptor 9 in host defense against M1T1 group A Streptococcus infections.

Zinkernagel AS, Hruz P, Uchiyama S, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Schuepbach RA, Hayashi T, Carson DA, Nizet V.

J Innate Immun. 2012;4(2):213-8. doi: 10.1159/000329550. Epub 2011 Aug 19.

Fibrocyte-like cells recruited to the spleen support innate and adaptive immune responses to acute injury or infection.

Kisseleva T, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Reichart D, McGillvray SM, Wingender G, Kronenberg M, Glass CK, Nizet V, Brenner DA.

J Mol Med (Berl). 2011 Oct;89(10):997-1013. doi: 10.1007/s00109-011-0756-0. Epub 2011 Apr 16.

Statins enhance formation of phagocyte extracellular traps.

Chow OA, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Bright AT, Hensler ME, Zinkernagel AS, Cogen AL, Gallo RL, Monestier M, Wang Y, Glass CK, Nizet V.

Cell Host Microbe. 2010 Nov 18;8(5):445-54. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2010.10.005.

Nuclease expression by Staphylococcus aureus facilitates escape from neutrophil extracellular traps.

Berends ET, Horswill AR, Haste NM, Monestier M, Nizet V, von Köckritz-Blickwede M.

J Innate Immun. 2010;2(6):576-86. doi: 10.1159/000319909. Epub 2010 Sep 10.

M protein and hyaluronic acid capsule are essential for in vivo selection of covRS mutations characteristic of invasive serotype M1T1 group A Streptococcus.

Cole JN, Pence MA, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Hollands A, Gallo RL, Walker MJ, Nizet V.

MBio. 2010 Aug 31;1(4). pii: e00191-10. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00191-10.

Protective role of complement C5a in an experimental model of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Konrad S, Foster S, Gessner JE, Medina E.

J Innate Immun. 2010;2(1):87-92. doi: 10.1159/000247157. Epub 2009 Oct 10.

Fetal calf serum contains heat-stable nucleases that degrade neutrophil extracellular traps.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Chow OA, Nizet V.

Blood. 2009 Dec 10;114(25):5245-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-08-240713. No abstract available.

M1T1 group A streptococcal pili promote epithelial colonization but diminish systemic virulence through neutrophil extracellular entrapment.

Crotty Alexander LE, Maisey HC, Timmer AM, Rooijakkers SH, Gallo RL, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Nizet V.

J Mol Med (Berl). 2010 Apr;88(4):371-81. doi: 10.1007/s00109-009-0566-9. Epub 2009 Dec 4.

Innate immunity turned inside-out: antimicrobial defense by phagocyte extracellular traps.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Nizet V.

J Mol Med (Berl). 2009 Aug;87(8):775-83. doi: 10.1007/s00109-009-0481-0. Epub 2009 May 16. Review.

Treatment of invasive streptococcal infection with a peptide derived from human high-molecular weight kininogen.

Oehmcke S, Shannon O, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Mörgelin M, Linder A, Olin AI, Björck L, Herwald H.

Blood. 2009 Jul 9;114(2):444-51. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-10-182527. Epub 2009 May 11.

M1 protein allows Group A streptococcal survival in phagocyte extracellular traps through cathelicidin inhibition.

Lauth X, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, McNamara CW, Myskowski S, Zinkernagel AS, Beall B, Ghosh P, Gallo RL, Nizet V.

J Innate Immun. 2009;1(3):202-14. doi: 10.1159/000203645. Epub 2009 Feb 20.

Immunological mechanisms underlying the genetic predisposition to severe Staphylococcus aureus infection in the mouse model.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Rohde M, Oehmcke S, Miller LS, Cheung AL, Herwald H, Foster S, Medina E.

Am J Pathol. 2008 Dec;173(6):1657-68. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.080337. Epub 2008 Oct 30.

Phagocytosis-independent antimicrobial activity of mast cells by means of extracellular trap formation.

von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Goldmann O, Thulin P, Heinemann K, Norrby-Teglund A, Rohde M, Medina E.

Blood. 2008 Mar 15;111(6):3070-80. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-07-104018. Epub 2008 Jan 8.

Transcriptome analysis of murine macrophages in response to infection with Streptococcus pyogenes reveals an unusual activation program.

Goldmann O, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Höltje C, Chhatwal GS, Geffers R, Medina E.

Infect Immun. 2007 Aug;75(8):4148-57. Epub 2007 May 25.

Identification and characterization of nine novel types of small staphylococcal plasmids carrying the lincosamide nucleotidyltransferase gene lnu(A).

Lüthje P, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Schwarz S.

J Antimicrob Chemother. 2007 Apr;59(4):600-6. Epub 2007 Feb 28.

Hansen T, Blickwede M, Borlak J. Primary rat alveolar epithelial cells for use in biotransformation and toxicity studies. Toxicol In Vitro. 20:757-766 (2006). Impact factor: 3.207.

Blickwede M, Borlak J. Isolation and characterization of metabolically competent pulmonary epithelial cells from pig lung tissue. Xenobiotica. 35:927-941 (2005). Impact factor: 2.101.

Borlak J, Blickwede M, Hansen T, Koch W, Walles M, Levsen K. Metabolism of verapamil in cultures of rat alveolar epithelial cells and pharmacokinetics after administration by intravenous and inhalation routes. Drug Metab Dispos. 33:1108-1114 (2005). Impact factor: 3.334.

Blickwede M, Wolz, C, Valentin-Weigand P, Schwarz S. Influence of clindamycin on mRNA stability of coa and fnbB transcripts and adherence properties of Staphylococcus aureus Newman. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 252:73-78 (2005). Impact factor: 2.723.

Blickwede M, Goethe R, Wolz C, Valentin-Weigand P, Schwarz S. Molecular basis of florfenicol-induced increase in adherence of Staphylococcus aureus strain Newman. J Antimicrob Chemother. 56:315-323 (2005). Impact factor: 5.439.

Blickwede M, Valentin-Weigand P, Rohde M, Schwarz S. Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of florfenicol on morphology, growth, and viability of Staphyloccus aureus. J Vet Med. B 51:293-296 (2004). Impact factor: -.

Blickwede M, Valentin-Weigand P, Schwarz S. Subinhibitory concentrations of florfenicol enhance the adherence of florfenicol-susceptible and florfenicol-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Antimicrob Chemother. 54:286-288 (2004). Impact factor: 5.439.

Blickwede M, Schwarz S. Molecular analysis of florfenicol-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from pigs. J Antimicrob Chemother. 53:58-64 (2004). Impact factor: 5.439.

Schwarz S, Blickwede M, Kehrenberg C, Brenner Michael G. Phänotypische und genotypische Verfahren zur Typisierung veterinärmedizinisch relevanter bakterieller Erreger im Rahmen infektionsepidemiologischer Fragestellungen, dargestellt am Beispiel von Bakterien der Genera Staphylococcus, Salmonella und Pasteurella. Berl Münch Tierärztl Wschr. 116:401-416 (2003). Impact factor: 0.931.

Blickwede M, Dolz H, Herrero MV, Tomlinson SM, Salman M. Neutralizing antibodies against vesicular stomatitis viruses (serotypes New Jersey and Indiana) in horses in Costa Rica. J Vet Diagn Invest. 14:438-441 (2002). Impact factor: 1.232.

Book chapters:

Von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Chow O, Ghochani M, Nizet V. Visualization and functional evaluation of phagocyte extracellular traps. In: Methods in Microbiology (Volume 37) Immunology of Infection Immunology, 3^rd edition (Kaufmann SH and Kabelitz D, eds). Academic Press, London, p. 139-160 (2010).

CV

Research positions

Since 07/2010: Group leader (Akademische Rätin), Research Group Infection Biochemistry, Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Topic: Probing the host-pathogen interface for novel therapeutic targets against bacterial infections.
09/2008 – 06/2010: Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Pharmacology & Drug Discovery, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, supported by Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina. Topic: The role of mast cell and neutrophil antimicrobial extracellular traps against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes infections.
05/2005 – 08/2008: PostDoc, Department of Microbial Pathogenicity, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany. Topic: The role of host genetic and immune factors in the susceptibility and resistance against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus infections.
02/2005 – 04/2005: Research assistant, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Topic: Isolation and characterization of metabolically competent hepatocytes from human and pig liver tissue.
01/2002 – 01/2005: PhD research fellow, Federal Agricultural Research Center for Animal Science, Neustadt-Mariensee, Germany. Topic: Antibiotic-dependent modulation of staphylococcal virulence properties.
10/2000 – 12/2001: Undergraduate research assistant, Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany. Topic: Isolation and characterization of metabolically competent pulmonary epithelial cells from pig and rat lung tissue for the use in biotransformation and toxicity studies.
07/1998 – 08/1999: Undergraduate research assistant, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Heredia, Costa Rica. Topic: Epidemiological studies about vesicular stomatitis viruses in horses in Costa Rica.

International experience

09/2008 – 06/2010: Post-doctoral research fellow, Department for Pharmacology & Drug Discovery, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California; supported by a grant of the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, Halle, Germany.
02/2007: Research sojourn, Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Clinical and Experimental Infection Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
07/1998 – 08/1999: Studies of Tropical Biology, Universidad Nacional de Heredia, Costa Rica; supported by a grant of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Education

03/2014: Submitted: Postdoctoral lecture qualification (Habilitation) in Biochemistry of Infection, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany.
01/2002 – 11/2004: PhD-studies of Veterinary Research and Life Science, Graduate School "Mucosal Host-Pathogen Interactions" (GK745), University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. December 2004: Dissertation (Dr. rer. nat.), University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany.
10/1995 – 11/2001: Diplom in Biology, University of Hannover, Germany. Subjects: Zoology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Virology, Pharmacology/Toxicology.
05/1995: Abitur, Humboldt-Gymnasium Gifhorn, Germany

Research grants

03/2013 – 12/2014: KELDAT-Ausbildungsförderung für die Tiermedizin F12-TiHo-Koeckritz „Vergleich der Auswirkung von mündlichen Prüfungen versus elektronischen multiple-choice Prüfungen auf das Lernverhalten und die Erfolgsquote von Studierenden der Tiermedizin im Fach Biochemie“ (20,000 Euro).
12/2012 – 11/2015: Einzelförderung KO 3552/4-1 „Role of the transcription factor HIF-1α in the formation of phagocyte extracellular traps“ supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany (164,872 Euro).
10/2012 – 09/2014: EU Lifelong Learning Programme “Use of virtual cases in veterinary basic sciences” (together with Prof. Dr. Hassan Y. Naim and Dr. Jan Ehlers, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany: 162,864 Euro).
10/2012 – 09/2015: Lichtenbergstipendium Graduate School “EWI-Zoonosen”, project 8 „Impact of antimicrobial peptides for the host defense against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus“ supported by MWK Niedersachsen (together with Prof. Dr. Stefan Schwarz, Friedrich-Löffler-Institute for Farm Animal Genetics, Neustadt, Germany: 54,000 Euro).
09/2008 – 06/2010: Post-doctoral research grant from the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, Halle, Germany (69,600 Euro).

Awards

12/2012: Gustav Rosenberger-Gedächtnispreis zur Förderung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany.
02/2012: Poster prize 2012, 20. Tagung der Fachgruppe Physiologie und Biochemie der Deutschen Veterinärmedizinischen Gesellschaft (DVG). Poster title: Novel role of cathelicidins in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).
09/2009: Poster prize 2009, 61. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie. Poster title: The role of transcriptional regulator HIF-1α in the antimicrobial activity of mast cells.
05/2007 – 04/2008: Awardee of the Helmholtz-Network-Mentoring Program (Personal Mentor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek, President of the Helmholtz Association, Germany).

Advanced vocational training

12/2011 – 06/2013: Course Professionelle Lehre, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany.
01/2009 – 04/2009: Course Mouse Histology, University of California, San Diego, California.
01/2009: Lab Management Course, University of California, San Diego, California.
09/2008: Course Phenotyping Mouse Models of Human Lung Diseases, Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
08/2007 – 07/2008: Management-Curriculum, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany.
10/2007: Course Complex trait analysis, Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
10/2005 – 09/2006: E-mentoring, Emento, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany.
02/2005: GLP-Schulung für Prüfleiter, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
01/2004 – 05/2004: Course Erfolg in Forschung und Lehre, Federal Agricultural Research Center for Animal Science, Neustadt-Mariensee, Germany.
09/2002: Course „Gentechnische Sicherheit” (§ 15 Abs. 2 Satz 1 Nr. 3 GenTSV), Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
03/2001: Certificate of competence for the management of experiments using laboratory animals (FELASA C), University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
11/2000: Grundschulung Gute Laborpraxis (GLP), Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany

Academic activities

Ad hoc-referee for international peer-reviewed journals: Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, FEMS Microbiology Letters, Plos One, Marine Drugs, Microbiology, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Journal of Innate Immunity.

Ad hoc-referee for the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Professional memberships: American Society for Microbiology (ASM), Verein für Allgemeine und Angewandte Mikrobiologie (VAAM), Gesellschaft für Versuchstierkunde (GV-SOLAS), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie (DGHM), American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM).

Member of commissions:

Advisory member of the commission for the Master of Science Program „Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences“, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Member of the commission for the PhD-Program „Animal and Zoonotic Infection”, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Member of the commission for Animal Welfare, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Member of the commission for Studies in Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.

Contact

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Maren von Köckritz-Blickwede

Tel.:	+49 511 953-8787
Fax.:	+49 511 953-8585

E-Mail schreiben

This page...

Print this page

Save as PDF

Contact to editor