Institute of Molecular Medicine
Group Dr. Elmar Endl

1. Research overview
2. Research topics
3. Group members
4. Grant support
5. Principal investigator
6. Publications

Research overview

The work of the gruop focuses on two particular fields: Flow Cytometry and Nanobiotechnology.

Research topics

Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry is a technology capable of rapidly measuring multiparameter characteristics of individual particles, mostly cells, suspended in fluid during analysis. From the onset, flow cytometry and fluorescent probes had obvious applications in cellular immunology and researchers focused on the detecting and defining of lineage, subset, activation, and functional capabilities of cells. With the simultaneous application of multiple monoclonal antibody probes, the complexity and diversity of the immune network began to emerge. So much information can be provided that analysis and interpretation of the computer generated clusters is still challenging and sometimes ambiguous for the untrained operator. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorters were designed to physically isolate defined cell populations, which may then be studied by other techniques to assess functional capability and status of cells alive. With the advent of fluorescent proteins as markers in genetically engineered cells and organisms, FACS became a innovative tool in various fields of cell biology. Today you will find researchers coming from Immunology, Oncology, Chemistry, Physics and Clinics jointly standing in front of a flow cytometer, deepened into scientific discussions.  Our group is in charge of organizing the flow cytometry core facility located at the IMMEI. This includes the education and training of users as well as the participation as a competent partner in several joined research projects, with the SFB 704 being the most prominent one. More than 50 registered users appreciate the lively and stimulating atmosphere in the core facility and if you want to become one of them you are invited to visit the home pages of the flow cytometry core facility for more detailed information.
 

Nanobiotechnology

Nanobiotechnology is thought to be one of the key technologies at the beginning of the 21st century.  Interdisciplinary research in nanotechnology to understand the underlying phenomena and the resulting development of novel types of research as well as therapeutic and diagnostic tools is said to have a longstanding effect on applications in both health and basic science. Our group takes part in this emerging field as partner in the BMBF joined Project 13N8461 „photonic techniques for cellular nanosurgery“.

We currently focus on new methods for the selective killing of cells using pulsed laser light interaction with absorbing gold nanoparticles conjugated with specific antibodies. Within this system the induced overheating effects accompanied by bubble formation around the gold nanoparticles are thought to be the main cause of of cellular damage. Gold nanoparticles therefore represent an optically active absorber that might potentially serve as a novel moleculary targeted compound to precisely eliminate cells both suitable for research and therapeutic applications. The final goal will be be the in vivo manipulation of tissue structures and functions on a single cell level and proof of principle experiments are currently on the way.

Nanobiotechnology is both inspiring and challenging, because it requires the interaction of scientist coming from traditionally separated fields of research. Among these scientists there is a common consent that science is initially driven by ideas, but that paradigm shift in biology is often based on technological advances.

Nanobiotechnology is thought to be one of these technologies.

 

Group Members

(Dec. 2007) Therese Inhester, Florian Levold, Ina Hahn, Peter Wurst, Elmar Endl, Franziska Winter, Andreas Dolf and Banu Meiners (missing)















 

Grant support

Grant support information will be provided soon.
 

 

Principal Investigator

Education

Faculty of Natural Sciences II, Physics, University of Regensburg
Diploma Thesis: "Flow cytometric analysis of shock wave induced cell damage"

Ph. D. at the Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg
Dissertation: "Cell cycle kinetics of human bladder carcinoma cells, characterised by BrdU-Hoechst33258 flow cytometry" 1994-1997

Work

Post Doc position at the Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Group of Tumour Biology, Research Center Borstel 1998-2003

Since January 2003 Research Group Leader at the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology
 

Publications

Klotz L, Diehl L, Dani I, Neumann H, von Oppen N, Dolf A, Endl E, Klockgether T, Engelhardt B, Knolle P. Brain endothelial PPARgamma controls inflammation-induced CD4(+) T cell adhesion and transmigration in vitro. J Neuroimmunol. 2007 Oct;190(1-2):34-43.

Nowack MK, Shirzadi R, Dissmeyer N, Dolf A, Endl E, Grini PE, Schnittger A. Bypassing genomic imprinting allows seed development. Nature. 2007 May 17;447(7142):312-5.

Terstegge S, Laufenberg I, Pochert J, Schenk S, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Endl E, Brustle O. Automated maintenance of embryonic stem cell cultures. Biotechnol Bioeng. 2007 Jan 1;96(1)

Weisheit G, Gliem M, Endl E, Pfeffer PL, Busslinger M, Schilling K. Postnatal development of the murine cerebellar cortex: formation and early dispersal of basket, stellate and Golgi neurons. Eur J Neurosci. 2006 Jul;24(2)

Specht S, Saeftel M, Arndt M, Endl E, Dubben B, Lee NA, Lee JJ, Hoerauf A. Lack of eosinophil peroxidase or major basic protein impairs defense against murine filarial infection. Infect Immun. 2006 Sep;74(9):5236-43.

Gliem M, Weisheit G, Mertz KD, Endl E, Oberdick J, Schilling K. Expression of classical cadherins in the cerebellar anlage: quantitative and functional aspects. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2006 Dec;33(4)

Bakheit MA, Endl E, Ahmed JS, Seitzer U. Purification of macroschizonts of a Sudanese isolate of Theileria lestoquardi (T. lestoquardi [Atbara]). Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Oct;1081:453-62. PMID

Wehner F, Bondarava M, ter Veld F, Endl E, Nurnberger HR, Li T. Hypertonicity-induced cation channels. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2006 May-Jun;187(1-2):21-5.

Hartmann W, Digon-Sontgerath B, Koch A, Waha A, Endl E, Dani I, Denkhaus D, Goodyer CG, Sorensen N, Wiestler OD, Pietsch T. Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/AKT signaling is activated in medulloblastoma cell proliferation and is associated with reduced expression of PTEN. Clin Cancer Res. 2006 May 15;12(10):3019-27.

Wingender G, Schumak B, Schurich A, Gessner JE, Endl E, Limmer A, Knolle PA. Rapid and preferential distribution of blood-borne alphaCD3epsilonAb to the liver is followed by local stimulation of T cells and natural killer T cells. Immunology. 2006 Jan;117(1):117-26.

Beyer M, Kochanek M, Giese T, Endl E, Weihrauch MR, Knolle PA, Classen S, Schultze JL. In vivo peripheral expansion of naive CD4+CD25high FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in patients with multiple myeloma. Blood. 2006 May 15;107(10):3940-9. Epub 2006 Jan 12.

Yao C, Rahmanzadeh R, Endl E, Zhang Z, Gerdes J, Huttmann G. Elevation of plasma membrane permeability by laser irradiation of selectively bound nanoparticles. J Biomed Opt. 2005 Nov-Dec;10(6):064012.

Wingender G, Garbi N, Schumak B, Jungerkes F, Endl E, von Bubnoff D, Steitz J, Striegler J, Moldenhauer G, Tuting T, Heit A, Huster KM, Takikawa O, Akira S, Busch DH, Wagner H, Hammerling GJ, Knolle PA, Limmer A. Systemic application of CpG-rich DNA suppresses adaptive T cell immunity via induction of IDO. Eur J Immunol. 2006 Jan;36(1):12-20.

Siemen H, Nix M, Endl E, Koch P, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Brustle O. Nucleofection of human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells Dev. 2005 Aug;14(4):378-83.

Beyer M, Kochanek M, Darabi K, Popov A, Jensen M, Endl E, Knolle PA, Thomas RK, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Debey S, Hallek M, Schultze JL. Reduced frequencies and suppressive function of CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia after therapy with fludarabine. Blood. 2005 Sep 15;106(6):2018-25. Epub 2005 May 24.