(2014)
Staphylococcus aureus: the multi headed hydra resists and controls human complement response in multiple ways.
Int J Med Microbiol 304(2),
188-194.

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)
Genetic influences on plasma CFH and CFHR1 concentrations and their role in susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration.
Hum Mol Genet 22(23),
4857-4869.
(2013)
Further structural insights into the binding of complement factor H by complement regulator-acquiring surface protein 1 (CspA) of Borrelia burgdorferi.
Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 69(Pt 6),
629-633.
(2013)
Human factor H-related protein 2 (CFHR2) regulates complement activation.
PLOS One 8(11),
e78617.
(2013)
CspA from Borrelia burgdorferi inhibits the terminal complement pathway.
MBio 4(4),
(2013)
BBA70 of Borrelia burgdorferi is a novel plasminogen-binding protein.
J Biol Chem 288(35),
25229-25243.
(2013)
Combination of factor H mutation and properdin deficiency causes severe C3 glomerulonephritis.
J Am Soc Nephrol 24(1),
53-65.
(2013)
Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 2 is a novel factor H-, factor H-like protein 1-, and plasminogen-binding surface protein of Candida albicans.
J Infect Dis 207(4),
594-603.
(2013)
Complement and innate immune evasion strategies of the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans.
Mol Immunol 56(3),
161-169.
(2013)
Borrelia valaisiana resist complement-mediated killing independently of the recruitment of immune regulators and inactivation of complement components.
PLOS One 8(1),
e53659.