Zehner Lab
Laboratory of Infection
and Immune Biology
INFECTION AND IMMUNE BIOLOGY
How does immunity learn to stop a virus?
Based at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, the Zehner Lab investigates how B cells and antibodies respond to viral infection.
We focus on human cytomegalovirus and other herpesviruses; from viral entry and immune evasion to protective immunity and therapeutic antibodies.
Collaborative projects extend these questions to emerging viruses, including filoviruses.
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What we study
BASIC DISCOVERY. REAL IMPACT.
B-cell & antibody responses
How B cells are activated, diversify their antibodies, and form long-lived immunity.
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Viral entry & immune evasion
How herpesviruses enter cells and avoid recognition by the immune system.
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Therapeutic antibodies
Discovery and characterization of broadly neutralizing and therapeutic antibodies.
Latest from the Lab
Recent publications
New insights into HCMV
immune evasion.
Lab update
Our team, conferences
and lab news
Curious minds behind the bench.
We are a highly motivated, diverse team of researchers, students and staff united by a shared curiosity about viral infections and immune protection.
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RECENT TEAM NEWS
DZIF/PEG Joint Meeting 2026
On February 23-24, we participated in the DZIF/PEG Joint Meeting in Bonn and heard some fascinating and inspiring presentations from the field of infectious disease research. Linda and Matthias both presented a poster.
Recently published work
2026
Nature Medicine
Post-exposure prophylaxis following Bundibugyo ebolavirus exposure
The monoclonal antibody cocktail MBP134 was administered to adults and children following exposure to Bundibugyo ebolavirus, supporting its further evaluation as post-exposure prophylaxis.
Gaebler C*, Le HN*, Martin L*, Tarnow P*, et al.
*Equal contribution
Read the paper →
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04664-4
2026
bioRxiv
Structural characterization of antibodies for synergistic HCMV neutralization
High-resolution structural analysis reveals vulnerable HCMV epitopes and identifies synergistic antibody combinations that achieve enhanced viral neutralization.
Ashurov A, Goldsmith JA, Ashurov A, et al.
View the preprint →
https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.08.22.746424
Support & Collaboration
Funding
We are grateful for their trust and continued support.
COLLABORATION PARTNERS
Great science is a collective effort. We sincerely thank all our collaborators for sharing their expertise, ideas and resources.
Stronger together - Scientific progress thrives on shared ideas, complementary expertise and mutual support. Our research is made possible by the people and organizations who believe in our work.
How to find us
Robert-Koch Str. 21 (TRIO), Building 66
50931 Köln
Tel. +49 221 478-15124
Email matthias.zehner@uk-koeln.de