![Scientist looking with a magnifying glass into a T-cells and its mitochondria](/%5E%5Ecdi={43513A8D-0012-473A-A5A1-570018B04076}%5Ehash=/-/media/project/qiagen/qiagen-home/stories/the-future-of-immunology-starts-with-t-cell-mitochondria/cillu_0026_mdx_ir_tcell_16x9.jpg)
A strong T-cell response is essential to a wide variety of immune functions, including defense against viral infections, vaccine effectiveness, autoimmune disease and healthy aging. Vaccines trigger antibodies but what about the T cell? Especially when we now know that an individual with weak T cells is less likely to survive illness. Professor Brigitte König, Ph.D. is on a quest to better understand the use of T-cell therapy and mitochondrial medicine as the future of immunology.
Our immune response is always a mediation between two factors: the immune system and virulence of the microorganism.
Brigitte König, Ph.D. Professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig
T cells are the most important part in viral infection defense. Also in autoimmunity and in anti-aging.
Brigitte König, Ph.D. Professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig
T cells only function correctly if their mitochondrial DNA is healthy.
Brigitte König, Ph.D. Professor at the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig
October 2022