Kathrin Sutter

Kathrin Sutter is a Privatdozentin (PD Dr.) and independent research group leader at the Institute of Virology, University Hospital Essen, affiliated with the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her work is embedded within the Zentrum für Molekulare Biomedizin (ZMB) under the research program Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Transplantation. She leads a research team investigating type I interferons, particularly IFN-α subtypes, and their immunomodulatory roles in chronic viral infections such as HIV and HBV.

Her research focuses on:

• Interferon-alpha subtypes and their differential biological activities
• Modulation of immune cells (NK cells, T cells, dendritic cells)
• Immunotherapies for persistent viral infections
• IFN-stimulated genes and signaling pathways
• Host-pathogen interactions in HIV and HBV

Dr. Sutter has published extensively in high-impact journals including PNAS, mBio, Hepatology, and Frontiers in Immunology. Her recent work demonstrates a strong trend toward understanding how specific interferon subtypes can be harnessed for targeted immunotherapies, with implications for viral control and reservoir reduction in chronic infections. She frequently collaborates with Prof. Ulf Dittmer and other leading virologists.

Her scientific contributions include:

• Elucidating the distinct immunomodulatory effects of individual IFN-α subtypes
• Identifying IFN-α11 as a potent activator of NK cells and controller of retroviral infection
• Investigating interferon responses in SARS-CoV-2 and HBV
• Exploring metabolic and signaling pathways that influence antiviral immunity

Dr. Sutter advises several students, including PhD candidates Mara Schwerdtfeger and Zehra Karaköse, and a bachelor student, Julia Boesner. Her lab is actively involved in both basic and translational virology research, contributing to the development of novel antiviral strategies. She is a key member of a vibrant research environment at the University Hospital Essen, working within interdisciplinary teams focused on infectious diseases and immune regulation.