Christina Malainou, MD, PhD, was honored with the DZL Publication Award at the DZL Annual Meeting 2026 for her publication “TNF superfamily member 14 drives post-influenza depletion of alveolar macrophages, enabling secondary pneumococcal pneumonia,” published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The study investigates why influenza A virus infection can increase the risk of severe secondary bacterial pneumonia, often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Using in vivo infection models, single-cell transcriptomics, and cell-specific profiling, the researchers identified the TNFSF14 ligand/receptor axis as a key driver of alveolar macrophage depletion after influenza infection. The findings suggest that targeting this pathway may help improve host defense and reduce the risk of subsequent bacterial pneumonia.
The DZL Publication Award was initiated by the DZL Academy a few years ago to recognize outstanding scientific publications within the DZL network. This year, 16 publications were submitted for consideration. The evaluation was coordinated by BREATH and carried out by a committee with representatives from across the DZL.
Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!
Photos: Lars Möller, DZL
