Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene

Forschung

Bartonella (Kempf)

Our latest research results can be found here: PUBMED

If you are interested in bacteria, mutants, cells, antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, protocols, or related materials, please submit a formal request via email. We welcome collaboration opportunities.

1. Pathogenicity of Bartonella henselae : Bacterial adhesion and angiogenic reprogramming

Our research focuses on the interaction between Bartonella henselae and endothelial cells, as well as components of the extracellular matrix, with particular emphasis on the bacterium’s ability to trigger angiogenic processes. A key part of our work is the structural and functional characterization of Bartonella adhesin A (BadA), which serves as the prototype for a relatively new class of bacterial adhesins known as “trimeric autotransporter adhesins” (TAAs). These adhesins act as major virulence factors in many Gram-negative bacteria. Current studies aim to analyze the relationship between specific domains of BadA and their functions in mediating adhesion to matrix proteins and host cells, as well as in inducing angiogenic gene expression programs, including HIF-1 and VEGF.

Selected publications:

  1. Thibau, A., Vaca, D. J., Bagowski, M., Hipp, K., Bender, D., Ballhorn, W., Linke, D., Kempf, V.A.J. Adhesion of Bartonella henselae to fibronectin is mediated via repetitive motifs present in the stalk of Bartonella adhesin A. Microbiol Spectr. 2022:e0211722. DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02117-22.
  2. Vaca, D.J., Thibau, A., Leisegang, M., Malmström, J., Linke, D., Eble, J.A., Ballhorn, W., Schaller, M., Happonen, L., Kempf, V.A.J. Interaction with fibronectin represents the molecular basis for Bartonella henselae host cell adhesion. Microbiology Spectrum Journal, 2022: 0(5):e0211722. DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02117-22.
  3. Linke, D., Riess, T., Autenrieth, I.B., Lupas, A., Kempf, V.A.J.; Trimeric autotransporter adhesins: Variable structure, common function. Trends in Microbiology 2006, 14(6):264-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2006.04.005.
  4. Riess, T., Andersson, S.G.E., Lupas, A., Schaller, M., Schäfer, A., Kyme, P., Martin, J., Wälzlein, J.-H., Ehehalt, U., Lindroos, H., Schirle, M., Nordheim, A, Autenrieth, I. B., Kempf, V.A.J.; Bartonella adhesin A mediates a proangiogenic host cell response. The Journal of Experimental Medicine 2004, 200(10): 1267-1278. DOI: 10.1084/jem.20040500.
     
Bartonella henselae expressing the long Bartonella adhesin (BadA).
Endothelial cells (red) infected with B. henselae (blue).

2. Pathogenicity of Bartonella bacilliformis

Since 2018, we have been investigating the pathogenicity of Bartonella bacilliformis, the causative agent of hemolytic Oroya fever—a neglected tropical disease with a lethality rate of up to 90% if left untreated. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with our Peruvian partners at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, both based in Lima. The projects aim to elucidate the mechanisms of hemolysis and to characterize adhesin-mediated erythrocyte binding. To this end, we have developed markerless gene deletion techniques, cloning strategies, and several infection models including erythrocytes, endothelial cells, and Galleria mellonella.

Selected publications:

  1. Dichter, A.A., Winklmeier, F., Munteh, D., Ballhorn, W., Becker, S.A., Averhoff, B., Bonig, H., Goldman, A., García-Quintanilla, M., Solis, L., Tsukayama, P., Kempf, V.A.J. Porin A and α/β-hydrolase are necessary and sufficient for hemolysis induced by Bartonella bacilliformis. Nature Communications 2025 (in press).
  2. Dichter, A., Schultze, T.G., Becker, S.A., Tsukayama, P., Kempf, V.A.J. Complete genome sequence of Bartonella bacilliformis strain KC584 (ATCC® 35686™). Microbiology Resource Announcements, 2019, 2;9(1). pii: e01377-19. DOI: 10.1128/MRA.01377-19.
  3. Garcia-Quintanilla, M., Dichter, A., Guerra H., Kempf, V.A.J.Carrion´s disease: more than a neglected disease. Parasites & Vectors, 2019, 26;12(1):141. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3390-2.
     
Bartonella bacilliformis expressing long flagella.
Human erythrocyte infected with B. bacilliformis.

3. Epidemiology of Bartonella spp.

The epidemiology of Bartonella spp. infections is studied through environmental investigations using advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based DNA detection and microbiome analysis. In addition, seroepidemiological studies are performed, with a special focus on Bartonella schoenbuchensis, the causative agent of deer ked dermatitis.

Selected publications:

  1. Buntrock, K.N., Ballhorn, W., Podlich, H., Malmström, H., Happonen, L., Chowdhury, S., Hipp, K., Schaller, M., Jurke, A., Kempf, V.A.J. Immunofluorescence analysis reveals no increased seroprevalence of anti-Bartonella schoenbuchensis-IgG antibodies in German forest workers. Parasites & Vectors, 2025 18(1):332. DOI: 10.1186/s13071-025-06856-2.
  2. Regier, Y., Komma, K., Weigel, M., Pulliainen A.T., Göttig, S., Hain, T., Kempf, V.A.J. Microbiome analysis reveals the presence of Bartonella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. in deer keds (Lipoptena cervi). Frontiers in Microbiology. 2018, 20;9:3100. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03100
     
Vero cells infected with Bartonella schoenbuchensis.
Microbiome analysis of deer keds detecting B. schoenbuchensis.

4. Development of laboratory diagnostic tools 

We are committed to translating our findings from basic research into applied science through collaborations with industrial partners. Several serological assays have been developed to date, and molecular diagnostic tools are continuously being refined.

Selected publications:

  1. Dichter, A.A., Schultze, T.G., Wenigmann, A., Ballhorn, W., Latz, A., Ventosilla Lopez, P., Guerra Allison, H., Ugarte, C.A., Tsukayama, P., Kempf, V.A.J. Identification of immunodominant Bartonella bacilliformis proteins: a combined in silico and serology approach. Lancet Microbe 2021 Dec;2(12):e685-e694. DOI: 10.1016/S2666-5247(21)00184-1.
  2. Jost, M., Latz, A., Ballhorn, W., Kempf, V.A.J. Development of a specific and sensitive ELISA as an in-vitro diagnostic tool for the detection of Bartonella henselae antibodies in human serum. J Clin Microbiol 2018 27;56(12). DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01329-18.
     
Example of an ELISA-based diagnostic tool for the detection of anti-B. bacilliformis-antibodies.

 

  Members of the group (2026):

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Volkhard KempfVolkhard.Kempf@unimedizin-ffm.de
Dr. Susanne GottfriedSusanne.Gottfried@unimedizin-ffm.de
Wibke Ballhornballhorn@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Dr. Diana Vacavacallerena@med.uni-frankfurt.de
Camilla CadoliCamilla.Cadoli@unimedizin-ffm.de

  Medical doctoral students (2026):

cand. med. Maximilian Schultheis    schultheis.maximilian@t-online.de
cand. med. Felix Burckhardtfelixmichael.burckhardt@gmail.com
cand. med. Akin Cebiakin.cebi@stud.uni-frankfurt.de
cand. med. Aristotelis Routsiaristotelis.routsi@stud.uni-frankfurt.de