Wilflingseder Laboratory

Zoonotic viruses are among the most tantalizing threats to global health, with their ability to mutate, adapt, and leap between species, sparking the pandemics that define our century. To stay one step ahead, we need vigilant surveillance, innovative research into host-virus dynamics, and proactive measures to prevent the next global outbreak.

Our research dives into the fascinating science of innate immunity—especially the unique defenses at mucosal surfaces that spring into action when viruses strike. We are unraveling how animals can coexist with viruses that are often deadly for humans. These discoveries hold the potential to unlock new therapeutic targets and reveal preventive strategies to keep both animals and people safe from future outbreaks.

One of our core goals is to decode how certain species, like bats, tolerate highly pathogenic viruses, hoping to translate this knowledge into strategies to treat severe infections in humans and reduce spillover risks. By creating and studying organoid lung models from bats, pigs, cattle, and birds, we can observe these species’ intrinsic defense mechanisms, comparing them to our own. Our laboratory is developing and refining these respiratory tissues in organoid form, using both submerged and air-liquid culture methods to mimic physiological conditions.

Where possible, we are also integrating immune cells from the same individual donor to build immune-competent, species-specific barrier models in vitro. Infecting these tissues with influenza or coronaviruses, we are mapping the earliest immune responses at epithelial barriers using cutting-edge tools and technologies. By incorporating microfluidic systems and advanced screening methods, we create standardized models for comparative infectiology studies. With these microfluidic platforms, we will build a barrier/lymph node two-organ model to observe adaptive immune responses in a whole new light.

In parallel, we are pioneering animal-origin immune cell-based drug and vaccine testing strategies, backed by powerful in silico analyses. This dual approach aims to create an efficient drug and vaccine pipeline for veterinary applications, allowing us to streamline testing and significantly reduce the need for animal experimentation.