The immune system of vertebrates is an open system that can respond flexibly to the strong evolutionary pressure excerted by the emergence of new pathogens and dangers lurking within the organism. One characteristic feature is an immense repertoire of molecules that enable communication with cells inside and outside the immune system. These include cytokines and chemokines, but also adhesion molecules and molecules of the adaptive immune response such as MHC proteins or antibodies, as well as B and T cell receptors. The diverse communication between immune cells and their environment is based on these molecules and is crucial for sustained protection against pathogens, while their dysregulation at the molecular and cellular level can lead to immune deficiency, autoimmune diseases, and leukemia. A better understanding of the molecular properties of immunologically relevant molecules should not only lead to a better understanding of the signaling pathways they control, but is also essential for the targeted manipulation of immune reactivity.

The study group Molecular Immunology, which will be established in 2026, consists of scientists who have set themselves the goal of better linking an understanding of molecular and cellular processes with the complex organismic and medical issues in this rapidly developing field of science. The topics are diverse and include, for example, the co-evolution of viruses with the immune system, the determination of T-cell antigens using modern mass spectrometry methods, and the investigation and manipulation of signaling pathways originating from membrane-bound receptors of the immune system. These topics overlap with other study groups within and outside the GBM, particularly in the methodological area, and we look forward to scientific exchange and the organization of possible joint symposia.