(2013)
Malaria parasites co-opt human factor H to prevent complement-mediated lysis in the mosquito midgut.
Cell Host Microbe 13(1),
29-41.

Prof. Dr. Peter F. Zipfel
Infection Biology · Head International Leibniz Research School · Speaker +49 3641 532-1301 peter.zipfel@leibniz-hki.deCurriculum vitae
Main Research Areas
- Immune escape of human pathogenic micro-organisms
- Infection-associated function of the complement system
- Genetic susceptibility for infections
Professional Career
Since 2000 | Professor for infection biology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena (FSU Jena) |
Since 2000 | Head of the department infection biology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute Jena |
1999 | Nontenured professor, University Hamburg |
1993 | Habilitation in immunology and molecular biology, University Hamburg |
1989-2000 | Group head at the Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for tropical medicine Hamburg |
1989 | Visiting associate, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA |
1985-1988 | Postdoc, Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) |
1984 | PhD as Dr. rer. nat., University Bremen |
1980-1985 | Research assistant, University Bremen |
1980 | Diploma in biology, University Bremen |
Awards · Appointments · Scientific Activities
Since 2009 | Member at the editorial board of molecular immunology, frontiers in innate immunity |
2009 | Excellence award from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie |
Since 2008 | Representative of the graduate school International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions (ILRS) |
2008 | EFIS lecture award of the European Federation of Immunological Societies |
Since 2007 | Principal investigator of the excellence graduate school Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) |
2007 | Heinz Spitzbart award of the European Society for Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ESIDOG) |
Since 2006 | Principal investigator of the graduate school International Leibniz Research School for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions (ILRS) |
2007-2011 | President of the European Complement Network |
2005 – 2012 | Board member of the European Complement Network |
2004 | Thuringian research award |
Since 2002 | Deputy Director of the Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute Jena |
Since 2000 | Project leader for infection biology, L2 |
1999-2001 | Member at the editorial board of experimental and clinical immunology, thrombosis and haemostasis, section editor molecular immunology Member of the European Working Party on the Genetics of Complement mediated Kidney Diseases, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie (DGHM), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Immunologie, Gesellschaft für Genetik, Gesellschaft für Nephrologie |
Publications
(2013)
The choline-binding protein PspC of Streptococcus pneumoniae interacts with the C-terminal heparin-binding domain of vitronectin.
J Biol Chem 288(22),
15614-15627.
(2013)
Human complement control and complement evasion by pathogenic microbes - tipping the balance.
Mol Immunol 56(3),
152-160.
(2013)
Defective complement action and control defines disease pathology for retinal and renal disorders and provides a basis for new therapeutic approaches.
Adv Exp Med Biol 735,
173-187.
(2013)
14th European Meeting on Complement in Human Disease, Jena, Germany, August 17-21, 2013.
Mol Immunol 56(3),
151-151.
(2012)
Plasminogen is a complement inhibitor.
J Biol Chem 287(22),
18831-18842.
(2012)
Haemophilus influenzae uses the surface protein E to acquire human plasminogen and to evade innate immunity.
J Immunol 188(1),
379-385.
(2012)
Candida albicans scavenges host zinc via Pra1 during endothelial invasion.
PLOS Pathog 8(6),
e1002777.
(2012)
Factor H autoantibodies and deletion of Complement Factor H-Related protein-1 in rheumatic diseases in comparison to atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Arthritis Res Ther 14(4),
R185.
(2012)
Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a surface-exposed immune evasion protein that binds three members of the factor H family and plasminogen.
J Immunol 189(10),
4939-4950.