Research
Group leader (SNSF Ambizione 2020)
Neuroimmunology unit, Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zurich
My aim is to contribute to a deeper understanding of immune-mediated CNS disorders and to unravel the impact of CNS/immune cell-crosstalk during disease but, importantly, also under physiological conditions.
To tackle complex neuroimmune interactions, I apply a combinational approach of:
1) multi-modal single cell profiling coupled with computational data analysis for a comprehensive characterisation and
2) systematic conditional gene targeting to identify underlying mechanisms and functions of immune cells
Email - Google Scholar- ORCID - Research Gate - Linkedin - Twitter
Peer reviewed publications
Ingelfinger, F., Kuiper, K. L., Ulutekin, C., Rindlisbacher, L., Mundt, S., Gerdes, L. A., Smolders, J., van Luijn, M. M., & Becher, B. (2024). Twin study dissects CXCR3+ memory B cells as non-heritable feature in multiple sclerosis. Med (New York, N.Y.), 5(4), 368–373.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2024.02.013
Ulutekin, C., Galli, E., Schreiner, B., Khademi, M., Callegari, I., Piehl, F., Sanderson, N., Kirschenbaum, D., Mundt, S., Filippi, M., Furlan, R., Olsson, T., Derfuss, T., Ingelfinger, F., & Becher, B. (2024). B cell depletion attenuates CD27 signaling of T helper cells in multiple sclerosis. Cell reports. Medicine, 5(1), 101351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101351
Andreadou, M.; Ingelfinger, F.; De Feo, D.; Friebel, E.; Tuzlak, S.; Cramer, T. M. L.; Schreiner, B.; Eede, P.; Schneeberger, S.; Geesdorf, M.; Ridder, F.; Welsh, C.; Kirschenbaum, D.; Tyagarajan, S. K.; Greter, M.; Heppner, F. L.; Mundt, S.*; Becher, B.* Neuroprotective Tissue Adaptation Induced by IL-12 Attenuates CNS Inflammation. Nature Neuroscience 2023. doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01435-z *Shared last authorship, I conceptualized the study, supervised the PhD student, wrote the manuscript, and secured funding
Nuñez, N. G., Schmid, J., Power, L., Alberti, C., Krishnarajah, S., Kreutmair, S., Unger, S., Blanco, S., Konigheim, B., Marín, C., Onofrio, L., Kienzler, J. C., Costa-Pereira, S., Ingelfinger, F., InmunoCovidCba, InViV working group, Pasinovich, M. E., Castelli, J. M., Vizzotti, C., Schaefer, M., … Becher, B. (2023). High-dimensional analysis of 16 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine combinations reveals lymphocyte signatures correlating with immunogenicity. Nature immunology, 10.1038/s41590-023-01499-w. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01499-w
Ingelfinger, F., Kramer, M., Lutz, M., Widmer, C. C., Piccoli, L., Kreutmair, S., Wertheimer, T., Woodhall, M., Waters, P., Sallusto, F., Lanzavecchia, A., Mundt, S., Becher, B., & Schreiner, B. (2023). Antibodies Produced by CLL Phenotype B Cells in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis Are Not Directed Against Neuromuscular Endplates. Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 10(2), e200087. https://doi.org/10.1212/NXI.0000000000200087 doi:10.1212/NXI.0000000000200087.
Mundt, S., Greter, M., & Becher, B. (2022). The CNS mononuclear phagocyte system in health and disease. Neuron, 110(21), 3497–3512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.10.005. First authorship; I conceptualized and wrote the manuscript
Ingelfinger, F., Sparano, C., Bamert, D., Reyes-Leiva, D., Sethi, A., Rindlisbacher, L., Zwicky, P., Kreutmair, S., Widmer, C. C., Mundt, S., Cortés-Vicente, E., Tugues, S., Becher, B., & Schreiner, B. (2022). Azathioprine therapy induces selective NK cell Depletion and IFN-γ Deficiency predisposing to herpes virus reactivation. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, S0091-6749(22)01187-3. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2022.09.010. Co-authorship; Mentorship of the PhD student, providing intellectual input for the experimental approach and data analysis, critical review of the manuscript
Ingelfinger, F., Gerdes, L. A., Kavaka, V., Krishnarajah, S., Friebel, E., Galli, E., Zwicky, P., Furrer, R., Peukert, C., Dutertre, C. A., Eglseer, K. M., Ginhoux, F., Flierl-Hecht, A., Kümpfel, T., De Feo, D., Schreiner, B., Mundt, S., Kerschensteiner, M., Hohlfeld, R., Beltrán, E., … Becher, B. (2022). Twin study reveals non-heritable immune perturbations in multiple sclerosis. Nature, 603(7899), 152–158. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04419-4 Co-authorship; Mentorship of the PhD student, providing intellectual input for the experimental approach and revised the manuscript
Krishnarajah, S., Ingelfinger, F., Friebel, E. et al. Single-cell profiling of immune system alterations in lymphoid, barrier and solid tissues in aged mice. Nat Aging 2, 74–89 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00148-x
Zwicky, P., Ingelfinger, F., Silva de Melo, B. M., Ruchti, F., Schärli, S., Puertas, N., Lutz, M., Phan, T. S., Kündig, T. M., Levesque, M. P., Maul, J. T., Schlapbach, C., LeibundGut-Landmann, S., Mundt, S. *, & Becher, B. * (2021). IL-12 regulates type 3 immunity through interfollicular keratinocytes in psoriasiform inflammation. Science immunology, 6(64), eabg9012. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abg9012 *Shared last authorship; I conceptualized the study, supervised the PhD student, revised the manuscript and secured funding
Ingelfinger, F., Krishnarajah, S., Kramer, M., Utz, S. G., Galli, E., Lutz, M., Zwicky, P., Akarca, A. U., Jurado, N. P., Ulutekin, C., Bamert, D., Widmer, C. C., Piccoli, L., Sallusto, F., Núñez, N. G., Marafioti, T., Schneiter, D., Opitz, I., Lanzavecchia, A., Jung, H. H., … Becher, B. (2021). Single-cell profiling of myasthenia gravis identifies a pathogenic T cell signature. Acta neuropathologica, 141(6), 901–915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-021-02299-y. Co-authorship; Mentorship of the PhD student, providing intellectual input for the experimental approach and data analysis and revised the manuscript
Mundt, S., Keller, A., & Greter, M. (2021). The dural sinus hub: more than just a brain drain. Cell, 184(4), 858–860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.01.040
Keller, C. W., Kotur, M. B., Mundt, S., Dokalis, N., Ligeon, L. A., Shah, A. M., Prinz, M., Becher, B., Münz, C., & Lünemann, J. D. (2021). CYBB/NOX2 in conventional DCs controls T cell encephalitogenicity during neuroinflammation. Autophagy, 17(5), 1244–1258. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2020.1756678 Co-authorship; Performed high-dimensional flow cytometry and data analysis of the steady state brain cDC compartment
Phan, T. S., Schink, L., Mann, J., Merk, V. M., Zwicky, P., Mundt, S., Simon, D., Kulms, D., Abraham, S., Legler, D. F., Noti, M., & Brunner, T. (2021). Keratinocytes control skin immune homeostasis through de novo-synthesized glucocorticoids. Science advances, 7(5), eabe0337. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe0337. Co-authorship; Providing intellectual input for the experimental approach and data analysis and revised the manuscript
Mundt, S., Greter, M., Flügel, A., & Becher, B. (2019). The CNS Immune Landscape from the Viewpoint of a T Cell. Trends in neurosciences, 42(10), 667–679. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2019.07.008. First authorship; I conceptualized and wrote the manuscript
Mundt, S., Mrdjen, D., Utz, S. G., Greter, M., Schreiner, B., & Becher, B. (2019). Conventional DCs sample and present myelin antigens in the healthy CNS and allow parenchymal T cell entry to initiate neuroinflammation. Science immunology, 4(31), eaau8380. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.aau8380. First authorship; I planned and performed all experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Keller, C. W., Sina, C., Kotur, M. B., Ramelli, G., Mundt, S., Quast, I., Ligeon, L. A., Weber, P., Becher, B., Münz, C., & Lünemann, J. D. (2017). ATG-dependent phagocytosis in dendritic cells drives myelin-specific CD4+ T cell pathogenicity during CNS inflammation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(52), E11228–E11237. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1713664114. Co-authorship; Performed high-dimensional flow cytometry and data analysis of the steady state brain cDC compartment
Basler, M., Mundt, S., & Groettrup, M. (2018). The immunoproteasome subunit LMP7 is required in the murine thymus for filling up a hole in the T cell repertoire. European journal of immunology, 48(3), 419–429. https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.201747282
Mundt, S., Basler, M., Sawitzki, B., & Groettrup, M. (2017). No prolongation of skin allograft survival by immunoproteasome inhibition in mice. Molecular immunology, 88, 32–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2017.05.022. First authorship; I planned and performed all experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Mundt, S., Basler, M., Buerger, S., Engler, H., & Groettrup, M. (2016). Inhibiting the immunoproteasome exacerbates the pathogenesis of systemic Candida albicans infection in mice. Scientific reports, 6, 19434. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19434. First authorship; I planned and performed all experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Buerger, S., Herrmann, V. L., Mundt, S., Trautwein, N., Groettrup, M., & Basler, M. (2015). The Ubiquitin-like Modifier FAT10 Is Selectively Expressed in Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells and Modifies T Cell Selection. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950), 195(9), 4106–4116. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.1500592
Mundt, S., Groettrup, M., & Basler, M. (2015). Analgesia in mice with experimental meningitis reduces pain without altering immune parameters. ALTEX, 32(3), 183–189. https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.1502021. First authorship; I planned and performed all experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Mundt, S., Engelhardt, B., Kirk, C. J., Groettrup, M., & Basler, M. (2016). Inhibition and deficiency of the immunoproteasome subunit LMP7 attenuates LCMV-induced meningitis. European journal of immunology, 46(1), 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1002/eji.201545578. First authorship; I planned and performed all experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Basler, M., Mundt, S., Bitzer, A., Schmidt, C., & Groettrup, M. (2015). The immunoproteasome: a novel drug target for autoimmune diseases. Clinical and experimental rheumatology, 33(4 Suppl 92), S74–S79. Co-authorship; I conceptualized and wrote a part of the manuscript
Basler, M.*, Mundt, S.*, Muchamuel, T.*, Moll, C., Jiang, J., Groettrup, M., & Kirk, C. J. (2014). Inhibition of the immunoproteasome ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. EMBO molecular medicine, 6(2), 226–238. https://doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201303543. *Shared first authorship; I planned and performed experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript
Preprints & in revision
Costa-Pereira, S., Lanzinger, M., Andreadou, M., Nunez, N., Villar-Vesga, J., Prisco, F., Hane, P., Roussel, E., Krishnarajah, S., Lindemann, R. C., Westermann, F., Oberbichler, L., Sethi, A., Fonseca, A., Pinzger, M., Tugues, S., Mundt, S., Kipar, A., Greter, M., … Becher, B. (2024). Regulatory T cells control type 1-driven immunopathology restraining GM-CSF-producing helper T cells. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.24.577048
“Multimodal transcriptomics reveal neurogenic aging trajectories and the emergence of regional inflammation in the aging mouse dentate gyrus.”, in revision in Nature Neuroscience
“IL-34-dependent perivascular macrophages support the integrity of the blood-brain barrier”, in revision in Immunity
Contribution to international conferences and workshops
P: poster T: talk
P: poster T: talk
Hertie MS Symposium / Schloss & Gut Liebenberg (Germany), 2023 (Invited speaker: T)
Agean 10th International Conference on Autoimmunity: Mechanisms and Novel Treatments, Chania, Crete (Greece), 2022 (P)
World Immune regulation meeting (WIRM), Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), Davos (Switzerland), 2022 (T)
International Congress of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) – virtual 2021
MS State of the Art Symposium, Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society - virtual 2020 (Invited: T)
Cell Symposia: The Neuro-Immune Axis – Long Beach (USA), 2019 (T)
Joint Meeting of the German Society for Immunology (DGfl) and the Italian Society of Immunology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology (SIICA) – Munich (Germany), 2019 (T)
International Congress of Neuroimmunology (ISNI) – Brisbane (Australia), 2018 (T)
International Symposium on Dendritic Cells - Aachen (Germany), 2018 (P)
Salvisberg Symposium on Advances in Neuropathology (SSAN) – Bludenz (Austria), 2017 (Invited: T)
CRPP Symposium "Heterogeneity of autoimmune diseases" - Zurich (Switzerland), 2017 (P)
SFB 969-Symposium "Two Days of Proteostasis in Konstanz" - Konstanz (Germany), 2014 (P)
Annual Meeting of the German Society for Immunology – Bonn (Germany), 2014 (T)
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting – Lindau/ Mainau (Germany), 2014 (P)
International Workshop on “Antigen Processing & Presentation“- Philadelphia (USA), 2014 (P)
Annual Meeting of the German Society for Immunology - Mainz (Germany), 2013 (P)
Swiss MS Researcher Meeting - University of Bern (Switzerland), 2013 (P)