On February 23 and 24, 2026, the joint annual conference of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the Paul Ehrlich Society for Infection Therapy (PEG) took place at the Maritim Hotel Bonn. In addition to numerous presentations on infectious diseases, new vaccination and treatment strategies, advances and problems in drug development and clinical trials, and emerging resistance to existing antibiotics, participants were also able to learn about new product developments and innovations from various companies at the industry exhibition held concurrently. There were also two poster sessions during the conference with more than 200 posters on display, covering all topics from bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections and current antibiotic development to immunology and basic research. Here, participants were able to obtain information on a wide variety of issues directly from the researchers, ask questions, and exchange ideas about new developments and concepts. The five best posters were selected by a vote of all conference participants. Among the winners was Hannah R. Wegner, a doctoral student at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology (IMMIP) in Professor Marc Hübner's research group. Her poster, entitled “Vaccine adjuvants can improve oxfendazole efficacy in the Litomosoides sigmodontis filarial rodent model,” was awarded one of the DZIF/PEG poster prizes for her scientific achievement. In her doctoral thesis, she is investigating new treatment strategies for filariasis, an infection caused by threadworms that is classified as a neglected tropical disease, affecting millions of people and still lacking effective treatment options. Among others, she is investigating the combination of the new macrofilaricide (directly targeting adult worms) oxfendazole, which is currently being tested in phase II human trials as part of an EU-funded study (eWHORM – enabling the WHO Road Map, https://ewhorm.org/), and various adjuvants, immunostimulants that are used in vaccines to improve vaccine efficacy. Since the effect of oxfendazole, requires the immune system, targeted stimulation of the immune system could lead to improved treatment success. Precisely such a booster effect with various vaccine adjuvants was able to improve the effect of oxfendazole in the Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model for filarial infections and allowed shorter treatment regimens. In the further course of the work, she will investigate the mechanism of action in more detail in order to further increase this effect.

02.04.2026

Poster award for Hannah Wegner at the annual DZIF and PEG Meeting

On February 23 and 24, 2026, the joint annual conference of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the Paul Ehrlich Society for Infection Therapy (PEG) took place at the Maritim Hotel Bonn.

In addition to numerous presentations on infectious diseases, new vaccination and treatment strategies, advances and problems in drug development and clinical trials, and emerging resistance to existing antibiotics, participants were also able to learn about new product developments and innovations from various companies at the industry exhibition held concurrently. There were also two poster sessions during the conference with more than 200 posters on display, covering all topics from bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections and current antibiotic development to immunology and basic research. Here, participants were able to obtain information on a wide variety of issues directly from the researchers, ask questions, and exchange ideas about new developments and concepts.

The five best posters were selected by a vote of all conference participants. Among the winners was Hannah R. Wegner, a doctoral student at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology (IMMIP) in Professor Marc Hübner's research group. Her poster, entitled “Vaccine adjuvants can improve oxfendazole efficacy in the Litomosoides sigmodontis

filarial rodent model,” was awarded one of the DZIF/PEG poster prizes for her scientific achievement. In her doctoral thesis, she is investigating new treatment strategies for filariasis, an infection caused by threadworms that is classified as a neglected tropical disease, affecting millions of people and still lacking effective treatment options. Among others, she is investigating the combination of the new macrofilaricide (directly targeting adult worms) oxfendazole, which is currently being tested in phase II human trials as part of an EU-funded study (eWHORM – enabling the WHO Road Map, ewhorm.org/), and various adjuvants, immunostimulants that are used in vaccines to improve vaccine efficacy. Since the effect of oxfendazole, requires the immune system, targeted stimulation of the immune system could lead to improved treatment success. Precisely such a booster effect with various vaccine adjuvants was able to improve the effect of oxfendazole in the

Litomosoides sigmodontis rodent model for filarial infections and allowed shorter treatment regimens. In the further course of the work, she will investigate the mechanism of action in more detail in order to further increase this effect.