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Articles by Donata Hoffmann
Addendum: Transmission of MPXV from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys
Addendum to: Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-10086-y Published online 11 February 2026 In our Nature paper we identified transmission of MPXV from a fire-footed rope squirrel (F. pyrropus) to sooty mangabeys. A recent study suggested the elevation of West African populations of fire-footed rope squirrel to a separate species under the name F. leucostigma (ref. 1).
SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein-specific monoclonal antibodies as tools for studying its antigenic structure and interaction with host cells - Scientific Reports
Abstract Diagnostics and prevention of COVID-19 are essential for controlling the spread of the virus and reducing mortality rates. As SARS-CoV-2 surface proteins are susceptible to mutations, the nucleocapsid protein (NP) with its highly conserved gene sequence is an attractive target for studying virus-host interactions. NP plays a key role in the coronavirus life cycle, modulating viral RNA packaging, transcription, and assembly.
Transmission of MPXV from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys - Nature Original
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Abstract Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV; Orthopoxvirus monkeypox), is on the rise in West and Central Africa1,2,3. African rodents, especially squirrels, are suspected to be involved in MPXV emergence, but no evidence of a direct transmission to humans or non-human primates has been established4,5,6,7,8,9. Here we describe an outbreak of MPXV in a group of wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park (Côte d’Ivoire).
By Jasmin Schlotterbeck, Donata Hoffmann, Sten Calvelage, Hjalmar S. Kühl, Alexander Mielke, Catherine Crockford, Liran Samuni, Roman M. Wittig, Martin Beer, Jan F Gogarten, Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, Ariane Düx, Livia V Patrono, Fabian H. Leendertz, Carme Riutord-Fe, Lorenzo Lagostina, Leonce Kouadio, Harriet R. Herridge, Ane López-Morales, Sery Gonedelé-Bi
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Nature
Verified
Pre-existing neutralizing antibodies against cattle-transmitted influenza A virus H5N1 are detectable in unexposed individuals
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Keywords influenza virus H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b A/Texas/37/2024 humoral immunity pre-existing antibodies cross-neutralizing antibodies Introduction Sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (HPAIV) H5N1 were first documented by spillover from birds to humans in 1997, followed by repeated outbreaks among birds with a total of 954 human cases leading to 464 deaths (48.6% case-fatality rate) between 2003 and 2024.1 In March 2024, the...
By Katharina Daniel, Leon Ullrich, Denis Ruchnewitz, Matthijs Meijers, Nico Halwe, Ursula Wild, Jan Eberhardt, Jacob Schön, Marie Wunsch, Maryna Kuryshko, Christopher R. Dietrich, Christian Kukat, Lutz Gieselmann, Henning Gruell, Donata Hoffmann, Martin Beer, Thomas C. Erren, Michael Lässig, Christoph Kreer, Florian Klein, Ricarda Stumpf, Maike Schlotz, Luana Girao Lessa, Elsayed Mohammed Abdelwhab, Andreas Pinger, Anna-Lena Schumacher, Maximilian Germer, Malena Rohde
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Cell Press
Verified
High protection and transmission-blocking immunity elicited by single-cycle SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in hamsters - npj Vaccines
Abstract Vaccines have played a central role in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, but newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants are increasingly evading first-generation vaccine protection. To address this challenge, we designed “single-cycle infection SARS-CoV-2 viruses” (SCVs) that lack essential viral genes, possess distinctive immune-modulatory features, and exhibit an excellent safety profile in the Syrian hamster model.
H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b dynamics in experimentally infected calves and cows - Nature
Abstract In March 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 infections in dairy cows were first reported from Texas, USA1. Rapid dissemination to more than 190 farms in 13 states followed2.
MPXV Infects Human PBMCs in a Type I Interferon-Sensitive Manner
Abstract MPOX virus (MPXV), formerly known as monkeypox virus, led to a rapidly evolving pandemic starting May 2022, with over 90,000 cases reported beyond the African continent.
A safe, effective and adaptable live-attenuated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to reduce disease and transmission using one-to-stop genome modifications - Nature Microbiology
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Abstract Approved vaccines are effective against severe COVID-19, but broader immunity is needed against new variants and transmission. Therefore, we developed genome-modified live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) by recoding the SARS-CoV-2 genome, including ‘one-to-stop’ (OTS) codons, disabling Nsp1 translational repression and removing ORF6, 7ab and 8 to boost host immune responses, as well as the spike polybasic cleavage site to optimize the safety profile.
By Jacob Schön, G. Tuba Barut, Nico Halwe, Lorenz Ulrich, Jenna Kelly, Melanie Brugger, Claudia Wylezich, Adriano Taddeo, Etori Aguiar Moreira, Llorenç Grau-Roma, Ann Kathrin Ahrens, Kore Schlottau, Angele Breithaupt, Lea Almeida, Lisa Thomann, Hanspeter Stalder, Silvio Steiner, Marco P. Alves, Charaf Benarafa, Donata Hoffmann, Martin Beer, Bettina Salome Trüeb, Tobias Britzke, Jana Kochmann, Sarah Ochsenbein, Kimberly Schmied, Jörg Jores
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Nature
Verified
Bat-borne H9N2 influenza virus evades MxA restriction and exhibits efficient replication and transmission in ferrets - Nature Communications
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Abstract Influenza A viruses (IAVs) of subtype H9N2 have reached an endemic stage in poultry farms in the Middle East and Asia. As a result, human infections with avian H9N2 viruses have been increasingly reported. In 2017, an H9N2 virus was isolated for the first time from Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that bat H9N2 is descended from a common ancestor dating back centuries ago.
By Nico Halwe, Jacob Schön, Lorenz Ulrich, Jonas Fuchs, Pooja Bandawane, Madhumathi Loganathan, Viviana Simon, Ahmed Kandeil, Rabeh El-Shesheny, Mohamed Ali, Ghazi Kayali, Matthias Budt, Stefan Hippenstiel, Andreas C. Hocke, Florian Krammer, Thorsten Wolff, Martin Schwemmle, Kevin Ciminski, Donata Hoffmann
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Nature
Verified
Omicron subvariant BA.5 efficiently infects lung cells - Nature Communications
Cell culture 293T (human, female, kidney; ACC-635, DSMZ; RRID: CVCL_0063), A549 cells (human, lung; CRM-CCL-185, ATCC, RRID:CVCL_0023; kindly provided by Georg Herrler), Vero (African green monkey kidney, female, kidney; CRL-1586, ATCC; RRID: CVCL_0574, kindly provided by Andrea Maisner), Vero-hACE2-TMPRSS2 (African green monkey kidney, female, kidney; BEI resources, NR-54970) and Huh-7 (human, male, liver; JCRB Cat# JCRB0403; RRID: CVCL 0336, kindly provided by Thomas Pietschmann) cells were...
Efficacy of an unmodified bivalent mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants in female small animal models - Nature Communications
Ethics The animal experiments were evaluated and approved by the ethics committee of the State Office of Agriculture, Food safety, and Fishery in Mecklenburg—Western Pomerania (LALLF M-V: LVL MV/TSD/7221.3-1-055/20) and the State Office for Occupational Safety, Consumer Protection and Health in Brandenburg (LAVG: 2347-5-2021). All procedures using SARS-CoV-2 were carried out in approved biosafety level 3 (BSL3) facilities.
Monkeypox genomic surveillance will challenge lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2
Florian Pfaff, Donata Hoffmann, and Martin Beer Additional article information Supplementary Materials GUID: BDBD6237-EACB-4305-ADE9-FEF14E85BABD The emergence of a series of epidemiologically connected monkeypox virus infections around the world, with ongoing human-to-human transmission (as of June 15, 2022, 2103 confirmed cases, one probable case, and one death have been reported to WHO from 42 countries), raises concerns of a long-apprehended comeback of a human-adapted orthopoxvirus...
Monkeypox genomic surveillance will challenge lessons learned from SARS-CoV-2
The emergence of a series of epidemiologically connected monkeypox virus infections around the world, with ongoing human-to-human transmission (as of June 15, 2022, 2103 confirmed cases, one probable case, and one death have been reported to WHO from 42 countries), raises concerns of a long-apprehended comeback of a human-adapted orthopoxvirus related to variola virus, the aetiological agent of smallpox.
CVnCoV and CV2CoV protect human ACE2 transgenic mice from ancestral B BavPat1 and emerging B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2
Abstract The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic necessitates the fast development of vaccines. Recently, viral mutants termed variants of concern (VOC) which may escape host immunity have emerged. The efficacy of spike encoding mRNA vaccines (CVnCoV and CV2CoV) against the ancestral strain and the VOC B.1.351 was tested in a K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. Naive mice and mice immunized with a formalin-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 preparation were used as controls.
CV2CoV, an enhanced mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, supports higher protein expression and improved immunogenicity in rats
New Results Nicole Roth, Jacob Schön, Donata Hoffmann, Moritz Thran, Andreas Thess, Stefan O. Mueller, Benjamin Petsch, Susanne Rauch doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.13.443734 Abstract More than a year after emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, multiple first-generation vaccines are approved and available for vaccination. Still, many challenges remain. The ongoing vaccination programs across the globe suffer from insufficient vaccine supply.
SARS-CoV-2 spike D614G change enhances replication and transmission
Abstract During the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in humans a D614G substitution in the spike (S) protein emerged and became the predominant circulating variant (S-614G) of the COVID-19 pandemic1. However, whether the increasing prevalence of the S-614G variant represents a fitness advantage that improves replication and/or transmission in humans or is merely due to founder effects remains elusive.
Assessing the occurrence of the novel zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 in captive squirrels in Germany -A prevalence study
Abstract The newly described zoonotic variegated squirrel bornavirus 1 (VSBV‐1) in German squirrel holdings has been associated with the death of three private owners and one zoo animal caretaker (confirmed cases). Epidemiological investigations were severely impeded by the general lack of data on holdings of the putative reservoir hosts, the family Sciuridae.
SARS-CoV-2 spike D614G variant confers enhanced replication and transmissibility
New Results Bin Zhou, Tran Thi Nhu Thao, Donata Hoffmann, Adriano Taddeo, Nadine Ebert, Fabien Labroussaa, Anne Pohlmann, Jacqueline King, Jasmine Portmann, Nico Joel Halwe, Lorenz Ulrich, Bettina Salome Trüeb, Jenna N. Kelly, Xiaoyu Fan, Bernd Hoffmann, Silvio Steiner, Li Wang, Lisa Thomann, Xudong Lin, Hanspeter Stalder, Berta Pozzi, Simone de Brot, Nannan Jiang, Dan Cui, Jaber Hossain, Malania Wilson, Matthew Keller, Thomas J. Stark, John R.
Experimental infection of cattle with SARS-CoV-2
Experimental infection of cattle with SARS-CoV-2 Lorenz Ulrich, Kerstin Wernike, Donata Hoffmann, Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Martin Beer bioRxiv 2020.08.25.254474; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.25.254474
A modified live bat influenza A virus-based vaccine prototype provides full protection against HPAIV H5N1
Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) of subtype H5 are a major threat for poultry holdings worldwide, here especially the zoonotic Asian H5N1 viruses. These HPAIVs have caused more than 500 fatal spillover infections from poultry to humans, with a looming danger of a new pandemic by establishing human-to-human transmissions. Besides culling measures in infected farms in endemic areas, vaccination is the major tool against HPAIV.
Efficacy Assessment of Nucleic Acid Decontamination Reagents Used in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories
The occurrence of nucleic acid cross contamination in the laboratory resulting in false positive results of diagnostic samples is seriously problematic. Despite precautions to minimize or even avoid nucleic acid cross contaminations, it may appear anyway. Until now, no standardized strategy is available to evaluate the efficacy of commercially offered decontamination reagents.
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