born in Flensburg, Germany on 11^th of July 1970

Positions held

Since 2011      Full Professor for Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Department of General Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, and Neonatology, University Childrens Hospital, Duesseldorf, Germany

2007–2011      Postdoctoral fellow and group leader at the Bernhard-Nocht-Instiute for Tropical Medicine, Dept. of Immunology

2002–2007      Postdoctoral fellow and staff scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute of Infection Biology, Dept. of Immunology

Research Interests

• Characterization of Interleukin-7 effects on T-cell immunity in human mycobacterial and autoimmune diseases
• Type 1 Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: Immune genetic and co-infection effects on disease manifestation
• T-cell immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis disease

Projects/Funding (last 5 years)

2018–2021      DFG-Project (JA 1479/9-1), Principal Investigator; Title: Mansonella perstans effects on BCG vaccine-induced protection against childhood tuberculosis (TB) as well as TB disease severity and recovery in Ghana and Cameroon (MaPTB)

2017–2020      Manchot Graduate School, Molecules of Infection (MOI)-3, Principal Investigator; Title: Biomarkers of T-cell immunity against multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains

2013–2017      DFG-Project (JA 1479/5-1), Principal Investigator; Title: The effects of Mansonella perstans infections on concomitant mycobacterial infections and BCG vaccination efficacy in Ghana, Cameroon, and Benin. (MaP2Co)

2013–2016      Manchot Graduate School, Molecules of Infection (MOI)-2, Principal Investigator; Title: Characterization of T-cell interactions with macrophages in an in vitro M. tuberculosis infection model.

2009–2016      German tuberculosis relief association (DAHW), Principal Investigator; miRNAs in latent M. tuberculosis infection

2013                Strategic research fund of the Heinrich-Heine-University, Principal Investigator; Financial support for a 4-Laser multi-color flow cytometer

Education

1998–2002      PhD thesis at the Philipps-University, Marburg

1997–1998      Diploma thesis at the Biomedical Research Center, Borstel

1992–1998      University study of Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel

Awards and honours

Five most relevant publications (past five years):

1. Harling K, Adankwah E, Güler A, Afum-Adjei Awuah A, Adu-Amoah L, Mayatepek E, Owusu-Dabo E, Nausch N, Jacobsen M. Constitutive STAT3 phosphorylation and IL-6/IL-

10 co-expression characterize impaired T-cell functions in tuberculosis patients. CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY. 2019 Mar;16(3):275-287. IF: 19.9

2. Lundtoft C, Afum-Adjei Awuah A, Rimpler J, Harling K, Nausch N, Kohns M, Adankwah E, Lang F, Olbrich L, Mayatepek E, Owusu-Dabo E, Jacobsen M. Aberrant plasma IL-7 and soluble IL-7 receptor levels indicate impaired T-cell response to IL-7 in human PLOS PATHOGENS. 2017 Jun 5;13(6). IF: 6.6
3. Phillips RO, Frimpong M, Sarfo SF, Kretschmer B, Beissner M, Debrah A, Amoako YA, Abass KM, Thompson W, Sarpong Duah M, Abotsi J, Adjei O, Fleischer B, Bretzel G, Wansbrough-Jones M, Jacobsen M, Co-infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans and Mansonella perstans among Buruli ulcer patients in Ghana. EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES JOURNAL, 2014 Jun;20(6):1000-3. IF: 0
4. Kleinsteuber K, Heesch K, Schattling S, Sander-Juelch C, Mock U, Riecken K, Fehse B, Fleischer B, Jacobsen M. SOCS3 promotes interleukin-17 expression of human T cells. 2012 Nov 22;120(22):4374-82. IF: 15
5. Jacobsen, M; Schweer, D; Ziegler, A; Gaber, R; Schock, S; Schwinzer, R; Wonigeit, K; Lindert, RB; Kantarci, O; Schaefer-Klein, J; Schipper, HI; Oertel, WH; Heidenreich, F; Weinshenker, BG; Sommer, N; Hemmer, A point mutation in PTPRC is associated with the development of multiple sclerosis. NATURE GENETICS, 26 (4): 495-499 DEC 2000. IF: 31.6