Research interest

Emerging and re-emerging viral infections remain a major global health threat. Broad antiviral strategies that not only suppress infection but also limit the inflammatory responses and tissue damage that drive disease offer an important opportunity to reduce the burden of current and future viral epidemics.

We investigate virus–host interactions to uncover cell-type- and tissue-specific determinants of viral replication, immune evasion, and immunopathology. A central focus of our work is the cellular membrane system as a critical interface between virus and host. We study how viruses engage cell-surface receptors, exploit membrane trafficking pathways, establish replication compartments, and reprogram innate immune signalling. These early membrane-proximal events can strongly influence whether infection is contained or progresses toward viral dissemination, inflammation, and tissue damage.

Ultimately, our goal is to translate these mechanisms into host-directed intervention strategies that are less vulnerable to viral escape and potentially effective across diverse viral infections. In parallel, we aim to build a mechanistic framework linking host susceptibility, tissue context, and early infection events to downstream disease trajectories, providing a foundation for antiviral therapy and disease-risk prediction.

We combine quantitative virology in physiologically relevant human cell and tissue models with mechanistic molecular and cell biology to define critical host control points of infection. A particular focus is on airway and skin models, which allow us to investigate viral infection in the tissue environments that shape viral entry, replication, innate immune responses and tissue damage. We use models of increasing physiological complexity, ranging from primary cells and differentiated 2D/3D cultures to ex vivo tissue.

We complement these models with a viral toolbox of clinical isolates and viral life-cycle-specific assays, currently covering 26 viral species from 11 families, together with proteomics, drug screening, reporter assays, and CRISPR-based validation. This integrated approach enables us to link infection phenotypes to host pathways and identify actionable antiviral intervention points.

1. Torbica E, Denkewitz M, Quick T, Zöller N, Steinhorst K, Kippenberger S, Rothweiler F, Cinatl J Jr, Veratti P, Full F, Schagdarsurengin U, Ciesek S, Münch J, Müller JA, Bojkova D. Seminal fluid enhances monkeypox virus infection via amyloidogenic fibrils. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2026 Dec;15(1):2703396. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2026.2703396.

2. Bojkova D*, Steinhorst K*, Bechtel M*, Zoeller N, Doll M, Ott M, Rothweiler F, Rothenburger T, Riecken K, Fehse B, Kandler JD, Olmer R, Alcober-Boquet L, Michaelis M, Cinatl J, Kippenberger S. Discovery of synthetic G-quadruplex DNA as SARS-CoV-2 helicase inhibitor with antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Cell Death Discov. 2026 Mar 18;12(1):159. doi: 10.1038/s41420-026-03006-0.

3. Reus P, Torbica E, Rothenburger T, Bechtel M, Kandler J, Ciesek S, Gribbon P, Kannt A, Cinatl J, Bojkova D. Papaverine Targets STAT Signaling: A Dual-Action Therapy Option Against SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol. 2025 Apr;97(4):e70319. doi: 10.1002/jmv.70319.

4. Bojkova D, Bechtel M, Rothenburger T, Kandler JD, Hayes L, Olmer R, Martin U, Jonigk D, Ciesek S, Wass MN, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. Omicron-induced interferon signalling prevents influenza A H1N1 and H5N1 virus infection. J Med Virol. 2023 Mar;95(3):e28686. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28686. 

5. Bojkova D, Zöller N, Tietgen M, Steinhorst K, Bechtel M, Rothenburger T, Kandler JD, Schneider J, Corman VM, Ciesek S, Rabenau HF, Wass MN, Kippenberger S, Göttig S, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. Repurposing of the antibiotic nitroxoline for the treatment of mpox. J Med Virol. 2023 Mar;95(3):e28652. doi: 10.1002/jmv.28652.

6. Bojkova D, Reus P, Panosch L, Bechtel M, Rothenburger T, Kandler JD, Pfeiffer A, Wagner JUG, Shumliakivska M, Dimmeler S, Olmer R, Martin U, Vondran FWR, Toptan T, Rothweiler F, Zehner R, Rabenau HF, Osman KL, Pullan ST, Carroll MW, Stack R, Ciesek S, Wass MN, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. Identification of novel antiviral drug candidates using an optimized SARS-CoV-2 phenotypic screening platform. iScience. 2023 Feb 17;26(2):105944. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105944. 

7. Bojkova D, Bechtel M, Rothenburger T, Steinhorst K, Zöller N, Kippenberger S, Schneider J, Corman MV, Uri H, Wass MN, Knecht G, Khaykin P, Wolf T, Ciesek S, Rabenau H, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. Drug sensitivity of currently circulating monkeypox viruses. N Engl J Med. 2023 2023 Jan 19;388(3):279-281. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2212136. 

8. Bojkova D, Rothenburger T, Ciesek S, Wass MN, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant virus isolates are highly sensitive to interferon treatment. Cell Discov. 2022 May 10;8(1):42. doi: 10.1038/s41421-022-00408-z.  

9. Bojkova D, Widera M, Ciesek S, Wass MN, Michaelis M, Cinatl J Jr. Reduced interferon antagonism but similar drug sensitivity in Omicron variant compared to Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Cell Res. 2022 Mar;32(3):319-321. doi: 10.1038/s41422-022-00619-9. 

10. Bojkova D*, Wagner JUG*, Shumliakivska M*, Aslan GS*, Saleem U, Hansen A, Luxán G, Günther S, Pham MD, Krishnan J, Harter PN, Ermel UH, Frangakis AS, Milting H, Zeiher AM, Klingel K, Cinatl J, Dendorfer A, Eschenhagen T, Tschöpe C, Ciesek S, Dimmeler S. SARS-CoV-2 infects and induces cytotoxic effects in human cardiomyocytes. Cardiovasc Res. 2020, 116(14):2207-2215. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa267

11. Bojkova D*, Klann K*, Koch B*, Widera M, Krause D, Ciesek S, Cinatl J, Münch C. Proteomics of SARS-CoV-2-infected host cells reveals therapy targets. Nature. 2020, 83(7816):469-472.doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2332-7

*contributed equally

Interested in exploring virus–host interactions with us? We welcome motivated Bachelor’s and Master’s students to join our research group for their thesis projects. Please get in touch to learn more about current opportunities (Denisa Bojkova, bojkova@em.uni-frankfurt.de).

We welcome inquiries from doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Germany and abroad who are planning to apply for their own external funding and are interested in joining our group to develop ambitious projects in virus–host biology.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Denisa Bojkova (bojkova@em.uni-frankfurt.de) with your CV, a short statement outlining your research interests and motivation, and information on the funding scheme you plan to pursue or have already secured.