16.01.2026
35th Challenge in Infectious Diseases, 16 - 17 January 2026
Engelberg, Kursaal
Objective
The Challenge in Infectious Diseases Seminars provide an opportunity to get cutting-edge information on both basic and clinical virology, prevention of viral diseases, new antivirals, and bacterial infections. It is our goal to offer a menu covering the most recent scientific advances and also an open atmosphere to discuss topics of interest. The meeting offers the Swiss infectious diseases community a unique opportunity for exchange with experts, for informal discussions and for strengthening the network between established and upcoming members.
35th Challenge 2026
Scientific Committee
Prof Silvio Brugger, Zurich University Hospital (Chair)
Prof Daniel Kaufmann, CHUV Lausanne
Prof Oriol Manuel, CHUV Lausanne
Prof Nicole Ritz, Cantonal Hospital Lucerne
Prof Silke Stertz, Zurich University Hospital
Prof Nina Khanna, Basel University Hospital
Prof Roberto Speck, Zurich University Hospital
PD Dr med Maria Christine Thurnheer, Inselspital Berne
Prof Isabella Eckerle, Geneva University Hospital
Prof Markus Hilty, Berne University
Prof Davide Robbiani, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona
Engelberg, Kursaal
Engelberg, Kursaal
Registration closed
169 participants
Programme, as of January 13, 2025
Jenal U: Pseudomonas aeruginosa breaches respiratory epithelia
Rybniker J: Discovery of highly neutralizing human antibodies targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clardy J: Mining of the human microbiome for antimicrobial peptide discovery
Didierlaurent A: New vaccine technologies for immunocompromised populations
Maertens K: Prevention by vaccination in pregnant women
Moline H: Pediatric RSV Epidemiology and New Prevention Product Use in the U.S.
Arts R. J. W.: Trained immunity and its role in health and disease
Pittet L: Trained immunity in practice: BCG and risk of infectious diseases
Bargetzi A: Bizarre illness: Fever with unfolding hepatitis
Weller D: Traces obscuring the vision
Sia-Herren C: Insidious back pain and scrotal swelling
Brahier Th: Another bizzare case from Lausanne
L'Huilier A: Increasing immunosuppression: will it save or kill my patient?
Kirchhoff F: Virus-guided CRISPR/Cas9 screens identify novel antiviral factors and mechanisms
Paiardini M: Leveraging the SIV Model to Assess Immunotherapy-Based Cure Interventions
Finzi A: Exploiting HIV-1 Env conformation for clinical intervention
Koopmans M: One Health, climate change and emerging viruses
Greub G: Tick-borne infections: recent discoveries and future research opportunities
Harris E: Friend and Foe: Explaining the complex epidemiology and epidemiology of dengue and Zika viruses
Herrera Carrillo E: CRISPR-based HIV cure strategies
Lei Qi St: Precision CRISPR tools for SARS-CoV-2 and broad-spectrum respiratory RNA virus targeting
Eckerle I: Emerging zoonotic viruses - what’s next?
Hilty M: One-health approach to investigate AMR dissemination
Jenal U: Pseudomonas aeruginosa breaches respiratory epithelia
Rybniker J: Discovery of highly neutralizing human antibodies targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Clardy J: Mining of the human microbiome for antimicrobial peptide discovery
Didierlaurent A: New vaccine technologies for immunocompromised populations
Maertens K: Prevention by vaccination in pregnant women
Moline H: Pediatric RSV Epidemiology and New Prevention Product Use in the U.S.
Arts R. J. W.: Trained immunity and its role in health and disease
Pittet L: Trained immunity in practice: BCG and risk of infectious diseases
Bargetzi A: Bizarre illness: Fever with unfolding hepatitis
Weller D: Traces obscuring the vision
Sia-Herren C: Insidious back pain and scrotal swelling
Brahier Th: Another bizzare case from Lausanne
L'Huilier A: Increasing immunosuppression: will it save or kill my patient?
Kirchhoff F: Virus-guided CRISPR/Cas9 screens identify novel antiviral factors and mechanisms
Paiardini M: Leveraging the SIV Model to Assess Immunotherapy-Based Cure Interventions
Finzi A: Exploiting HIV-1 Env conformation for clinical intervention
Koopmans M: One Health, climate change and emerging viruses
Greub G: Tick-borne infections: recent discoveries and future research
opportunities
Harris E.: Friend and Foe: Explaining the complex epidemiology and epidemiology of dengue and Zika viruses
Herrera Carrillo E: CRISPR-based HIV cure strategies
Lei Qi St: Precision CRISPR tools for SARS-CoV-2 and broad-spectrum respiratory RNA virus targeting
Eckerle I: Emerging zoonotic viruses - what’s next?
Hilty M: One-health approach to investigate AMR dissemination
Engelberg, Kursaal
Registration closed, fully booked
179 participants
Programme, updated January 17, 2024
Sereti I., Immune activation in people with HIV
Perreau M., The role of lymph node dendritic cells in HIV persistence
Brander Ch., Therapeutic HIV vaccination
Lecuit M., How Listeria outsmarts the host
Hardt W. D., Pathophysiology of Salmonella infections - Food, inflammasomes, persistence, resistance
Dawson L., Novel targets for development of therapeutics to combat
Kanekiyo M., Structural Vaccinology for Influenza
Webby R. J., Recent spread and evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses
Urwyler P., Difficult to swallow - easy to digest?
Weller D., Riddles in Rigidity - Neurological deterioration after HSCT
Schöbi N., Big holes in a tiny baby
Vingerhoets S., Confused by confusion
Gagneux St, Epidemiology, Ecology and Evolution of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis
Van Crevel R., Host-pathogen interaction and immunotherapy in mycobacterial infections
Diacon A., Novel drugs for MDR TB treatment
Consiglio C. Deciphering sex differences in human immunity using systems immunology
Ingersoll M., Investigating mucosal immunity in the bladder
Terrier O., Respiratory co-infections: when the whole is greater than the sum
Soldati-Favre D., Parasite manipulation of predator fear
Bogdan Ch., Immunopathogenesis and novel treatment approaches
Chappuis F., Visceral leishmaniasis: epidemiological and clinical aspects
Sereti I., Immune activation in people with HIV
Perreau M., The role of lymph node dendritic cells in HIV persistence
Brander Ch., Therapeutic HIV vaccination
Lecuit M., How Listeria outsmarts the host - slides not available
Hardt W. D., Pathophysiology of Salmonella infections - Food, inflammasomes, persistence, resistance
Dawson L., Novel targets for development of therapeutics to combat
Kanekiyo M., Structural Vaccinology for Influenza
Webby R. J., Recent spread and evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses
Urwyler P., Difficult to swallow - easy to digest?
Weller D., Riddles in Rigidity - Neurological deterioration after HSCT
Schöbi N., Big holes in a tiny baby
Vingerhoets S., Confused by confusion
Gagneux St,, Epidemiology, Ecology and Evolution of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis
Gagneux St., webcast replies to audience questions
Van Crevel R., Host-pathogen interaction and immunotherapy in mycobacterial infections
Diacon A., Novel drugs for MDR TB treatment
Consiglio C. Deciphering sex differences in human immunity using systems immunology - slides not available
Ingersoll M., Investigating mucosal immunity in the bladder
Terrier O., Respiratory co-infections: when the whole is greater than the sum - slides not available
Soldati-Favre D., Parasite manipulation of predator fear
Bogdan Ch., Immunopathogenesis and novel treatment approaches
of cutaneous leishmaniasis - slides not available
Chappuis F., Visceral leishmaniasis: epidemiological and clinical aspects
Engelberg, Kursaal
Registration closed
158 participants
Programme as of May 31, 2023
Hensley S. E., Multivalent mRNA-based influenza vaccines
Miller M. S., Respiratory mucosal delivery of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines
Karron R. A., Progress in RSV vaccines
Kline K., Colonization, biofilm formation and virulence in Enterococcus faecalis
Henriques Normark B., Host-pathogen interaction in Streptococcus pneumoniae infections
Miro J. M., Novel therapies of endocarditis
Burgener A.-V., Septic shock with severe thrombocytopenia in a pregnant woman
Ihle V., A case of disseminated nocardiosis after checkpoint inhibition
Colin-Benoit E., Febrile diarrhea
Desgranges F., A train can hide another - Season 2
Chedid M., A typical sinus fungal infection in non immunocompromised
Brakhage A., Fungal immune evasion and host-pathogen interactions - new concepts for therapy
Wheeler R., Candida-innate immune interactions
Verweij P., Drug resistance and tolerance in fungi
Khanna N., New antifungal therapies on the horizon
Maini M. K., New insights into immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B
Urban S., Hepatitis D virus in 2023: virology, pathogenesis and new treatment approaches
Sáez-Cirión A., Reprogramming dysfunctional CD8+ T-cells in HIV infection
Schmeltz Søgaard O., The role of bNAbs in HIV curative strategies
Debyser Z., Towards a Functional Cure of HIV-1: Insight Into the Chromatin Landscape of the Provirus
Berger Ch., Zinkernagel A., Invasive Group A Streptococcal infections, what's going on?
Hensley S. E., Multivalent mRNA-based influenza vaccines
Miller M. S., Respiratory mucosal delivery of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines
Karron R. A., Progress in RSV vaccines
Stocker R., Combining single-cell imaging and artificial intelligence for Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing in 90 minutes - slides not available
Kline K., Colonization, biofilm formation and virulence in Enterococcus faecalis
Henriques Normark B., Host-pathogen interaction in Streptococcus pneumoniae infections - slides not available
Miro J. M., Novel therapies of endocarditis
Burgener A.-V., Septic shock with severe thrombocytopenia in a pregnant woman
Ihle V., A case of disseminated nocardiosis after checkpoint inhibition
Colin-Benoit E., Febrile diarrhea
Desgranges F., A train can hide another - Season 2
Chedid M., A typical sinus fungal infection in non immunocompromised diabetic patient
Brakhage A., Fungal immune evasion and host-pathogen interactions - new concepts for therapy
Wheeler R., Candida-innate immune interactions
Verweij P., Drug resistance and tolerance in fungi
Khanna N., New antifungal therapies on the horizon
Maini M. K., New insights into immunopathogenesis of hepatitis B
Urban S., Hepatitis D virus in 2023: virology, pathogenesis and new treatment approaches
Sáez-Cirión A., Reprogramming dysfunctional CD8+ T-cells in HIV infection
Schmeltz Søgaard O., The role of bNAbs in HIV curative strategies
Debyser Z., Towards a Functional Cure of HIV-1: Insight Into the Chromatin Landscape of the Provirus
Berger Ch., Zinkernagel A., Invasive Group A Streptococcal infections, what's going on?
Grindelwald, Sunstar Hotel
Cancelled due to COVID-19
Grindelwald, Sunstar Hotel
192 participants, incl 22 faculty
Programme as of January 23, 2020
By invitation only
Andrew Chan; Neuroinflammation
Martin Beer; Fatal encephalitic borna disease virus 1 in solid-organ transplant recipients
Cédric Hirzel; Primer
Adolfo Garcia-Sastre; Universal influenza virus vaccines
Louis J. Bont; RSV immunization
Leonardo Visser; Yellow fever; vaccination; immunosuppressed patient
Genovefa Papanicolaou; How to treat CMV - New antiviral against CMV
Klara Posfay Barbe; Measles, varicella: vaccine benefit risk in immunocompromised patients
Clinical virology case presentations: Matthias von Rotz; Vanja Piezzi; Gaud Catho; Antonios Kritikos; Sara Burkhard; Pauline Vetter
Isabella Eckerle; The novel 2019 Coronavirus
Michael Huber; Primer
Ronald G. Collman; Metagenomic discovery of novel human viruses: The lung virome
Manuel Battegay, Jasmina Bogojeska; Primer
Alexandrea Calmy; ART: new challenges
Francis Barin; Role of neutralizing antibodies in mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1
Angela Ciuffi; HIV – single cell genomics
Christoph Fux; Primer
Beat Müllhaupt; Viral hepatitis B in the immunocompromised patient
Antonella Folgori; HCV vaccine developments: achievements and challenges
Silke Stertz; MHC class II proteins mediate cross-species entry of bat influenza viruses
Matthieu Perreau; Lymph node migratory dendritic cells modulate HIV-1 transcription through
PD-1 engagement
Caroline Tapparel; Modified Cyclodextrins as Broad-spectrum Antivirals
Santiago Gonzalez; Protection against influenza infection requires early recognition by
inflammatory dendritic cells
Ronald Dijkman; Characterization of emerging zoonotic viruses
Andrew Chan; Neuroinflammation
Martin Beer; Fatal encephalitic borna disease virus 1 in solid-organ transplant recipients
Adolfo Garcia-Sastre; Universal influenza virus vaccines
Louis J. Bont; RSV immunization
Leonardo Visser; Yellow fever; vaccination; immunosuppressed patient
Genovefa Papanicolaou; How to treat CMV - New antiviral against CMV
Klara Posfay Barbe; Measles, varicella: vaccine benefit risk in immunocompromised patients
Clinical virology case presentations: Matthias von Rotz; Vanja Piezzi; Gaud Catho; Antonios Kritikos; Sara Burkhard; Pauline Vetter - not available
Isabella Eckerle; The novel 2019 Coronavirus
Ronald G. Collman; Metagenomic discovery of novel human viruses: The lung virome
Manuel Battegay, Jasmina Bogojeska; Primer - not available
Alexandrea Calmy; ART: new challenges
Francis Barin; Role of neutralizing antibodies in mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1
Angela Ciuffi; HIV – single cell genomics
Beat Müllhaupt; Viral hepatitis B in the immunocompromised patient
Antonella Folgori; HCV vaccine developments: achievements and challenges
Silke Stertz; MHC class II proteins mediate cross-species entry of bat influenza viruses
Caroline Tapparel; Modified Cyclodextrins as Broad-spectrum Antivirals
Ronald Dijkman; Characterization of emerging zoonotic viruses
Grindelwald, Sunstar Hotel
198 participants, incl 33 faculty
Programme as of January 10, 2019
Oriol Manuel; Primer - EBV case….What to do?
Joshua Hill; The burden of DNA viruses in immunocompromised hosts
Feisal Khan; Epstein Barr Virus and PTLD after allogeneic HCT
Renata Stripecke; Validation of engineered immune cells against herpes viruses in humanized mice
Henning Olbrich; Validation of engineered immune cells against herpes viruses in humanized mice
Danielle Zerr; What is the clinical significance of HHV6 in the transplant setting
Marie Céline Zanella; Obese patient and flu
Stacey Schultz-Cherry; Severe Secondary Bacterial Infection in Influenza Virus-Infected Obese Mice
John V. Williams; Translational research on hMPV
Meno De Jong; Severe influenza
Pauline Vetter; Case presenter
Fabian Tschumi; Case presenter
Fabien Zoulim; Aiming for cure in hepatitis B
Emily Blumberg; Use of HCV / HIV positive donors in organ transplantation
Jack T. Stapleton; Pegiviruses in humans
Benjamin Hampel; PrEP
Nichole Klatt; The role of the microbiome in drug metabolism and HIV infection
Alexandra Trkola; Imprinting broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1
Annelies Wilder-Smith; Dengue and Zika vaccine development
Jan Felix Drexler; Changing landscape of emerging arboviruses
Primer - EBV case….What to do? - Oriol Manuel
The burden of DNA viruses in immunocompromised hosts - Joshua Hill
Epstein Barr Virus and PTLD after allogeneic HCT - Feisal Khan
What is the clinical significance of HHV6 in the transplant setting - Danielle Zerr
Obese patient and flu - Marie Céline Zanella
Severe Secondary Bacterial Infection in Influenza Virus-Infected Obese Mice - Stacey Schultz-Cherry
Translational research on hMPV - John V. Williams
Severe influenza - Meno De Jong
Case - Kuster Sabine
Case - Hachfeld Anna
Case - Vetter Pauline
Case - Lebowitz Dan
Case - Tschumi Fabian
Aiming for cure in hepatitis B - Fabien Zoulim
Use of HCV / HIV positive donors in organ transplantation - Emily Blumberg
Pegiviruses in humans - Jack T. Stapleton
Primer - PrEP - Benjamin Hampel
The role of the microbiome in drug metabolism and HIV infection - Nichole Klatt
Imprinting broadly neutralizing antibody responses to HIV-1 - Alexandra Trkola
Changing landscape of emerging arboviruses - Jan Felix Drexler
Dengue and Zika vaccine development - Annelies Wilder-Smith
Interactive session - Christoph Berger
Grindelwald
Sunstar Hotel
206 participants, incl 22 faculty
Programme as of January 17, 2018
Lukas Jeker: Genome engineering for Immunologic Reprogramming
Nina Khanna:Swiss T-cell Therapy Network
Oliver T. Keppler: Molecular insights into co-infection enhancement in sexual HIV transmission
Ken H. Caldwell: Viruses and the enteric kingdoms
Julie Déchanet-Merville: Gamma-delta cells and CMV immunity after transplant
Oriol Manuel: Global CMV guidelines in transplantation
Abhijit P. Limaye: CMV in ICU patients
Philipp Jent: Clinical virology: case presentation
Fabian Franzeck: Clinical virology: case presentation
Marie-C. Zanella Terrier: Clinical virology: case presentation
Matteo Mombelli: Clinical virology: case presentation
Evelyne Ajdler-Schäffler: Clinical virology: case presentation
Jintanat Ananworanich: HIV cure in infants and adults
Andrew Kambugu: HIV: what happens in Africa?
Giuseppe Pantaleo: HIV cure: what are the next steps
Charles M. Rice: New insights into cell type-specific intrinsic antiviral immunity
Heiner Wedemeyer: The challenge of hepatitis D in 2018
Peter Palese: Universal influenza vaccine
Ilijas Jelcic: T cells, antibodies and JC polyomavirus VP1 Vaccine
Jason S. McLellan: RSV interventions: what is in the pipeline?
Genome engineering for Immunologic Reprogramming; Jeker Lukas
Swiss T-cell Therapy Network; Nina Khanna
Molecular insights into co-infection enhancement in sexual HIV transmission; Oliver T. Keppler - cannot be shared
Viruses and the enteric kingdoms; Ken H. Caldwell
Gamma-delta cells and CMV immunity after transplant; Julie Déchanet-Merville
Global CMV guidelines in transplantation; Oriol Manuel
CMV in ICU patients; Abhijit P. Limaye
Clinical virology: case presentation; Philipp Jent
Clinical virology: case presentation; Fabian Franzeck
Clinical virology: case presentation; Marie-C. Zanella Terrier - cannot be shared
Clinical virology: case presentation; Matteo Mombelli
Clinical virology: case presentation; Evelyne Ajdler-Schäffler
HIV cure in infants and adults; Jintanat Ananworanich
HIV: what happens in Africa?; Andrew Kambugu
HIV cure: what are the next steps; Giuseppe Pantaleo - cannot be shared
New insights into cell type-specific intrinsic antiviral immunity; Charles M. Rice
The challenge of hepatitis D in 2018; Heiner Wedemeyer
Universal influenza vaccine; Peter Palese
T cells, antibodies and JC polyomavirus VP1 Vaccine; Ilijas Jelcic - cannot be shared
RSV interventions: what is in the pipeline?; Jason S. McLellan
Grindelwald
195 participants, incl 21 speakers
The global dynamics of influenza viruses, Colin A. Russell
The Challenge of Hepatitis B in Asia, Henry L. Y. Chan
From Ebola vaccine candidates to immunization strategies, Claire-A. Siegrist
Zika: evolution of a public health emergency, Annelies Wilder-Smith
Virology of Zika and progress in vaccine development, Thomas P. Monath
Lassa: the forgotten hemorrhagic fever, Daniel G. Bausch
Rapid response to viral outbreaks of concerns, Gary Kobinger
Four Decades of HIV-AIDS, Bernard Hirschel
Neuro-HIV: Key is treating the virus, Cavassini
Neuro-HIV: Key is understanding the brain, Du Pasquier
Neuro-HIV: Key is looking thoroughly at the brain, Granziera
Human genetics of infections, Bochud
Human genomics of infections, Fellay
Hepatitis E: the raw facts, Darius Moradpour
Management of Hepatitis C in 2017, Jean-Michel Pawlotsky (slide 23 updated)
Grindelwald
170 participants, incl 28 faculty
For invited participants
New viruses for cancer therapy: the measles paradigm, Roberto Cattaneo
Cell therapy for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, Patrizia Comoli
Influenza virus biology, Silke Stertz
Treatment of serious influenza disease: myth or reality?, Michael G. Ison
Tick born encephalitis: an update, Franz X. Heinz
Infectious diseases in South America, Eduardo Gotuzzo
Malaria Research in Africa, Ogobara Doumbo
Ebola: the aftermath and the future, Ian Crozier
Hepatitis B cure, Fabien Zoulim
Hepatocellular carcinoma, Markus Heim (cannot be shared)
Management of hepatitis C in special patient populations, Beat Müllhaupt
Virus discovery; dream or reality? - Marc Eloit (cannot be shared)