Doctoral prize for DZL junior scientist

DZL researcher Dr Theresa Walsemann received the Bad Segeberg district's doctoral prize for her outstanding work on house dust mite allergens.

The pharmacist, who completed her doctorate in Prof. Uta Jappe's Clinical and Molecular Allergology research group, was initially able to produce nine allergens of the European house dust mite and five allergens of the American house dust mite as part of her work and examine them both with sera from house dust mite-allergic patients and in cell culture.

Two house dust mite proteins were identified as particularly common allergens in patients with asthma and neurodermatitis. Furthermore, an exceptionally efficient, novel IgE antibody screening test was developed to examine children's sera, which confirmed the clinical significance of the two allergens not only in adult asthmatics but also as triggers of allergic asthma in children.

Research in this area is of central importance, as house dust mites are one of the most important allergen sources worldwide concerning the development and progression of allergic rhinitis, asthma and neurodermatitis. Although more than 30 proteins have been described as allergens in the European house dust mite, there is a lack of information on their pathomechanistic properties and clinical significance.

Thanks to Theresa Walsemann's work, critical new insights have been gained here. The doctoral prize, endowed with 2,500 euros, was awarded by the district president Jörg Buthmann, who emphasised the great importance of the research center for the district of Bad Segeberg in his speech.

Further information:

Press release Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center