The Research of Frau apl.Prof.Dr. Bergmann is focussed on the characterisation of interactions between Pneumococci with different components of the human extracellular matrix and of the vascular endothelium. Signaling pathways, morphological changes on host cells and the function of the involved bacterial binding factors are analysed and elucidated to detail. The scientific focus coves following project objectives:
The host receptors and induced signals which are involved in the interaction with Pneumococci will be characterized to detail using a broad spectrum of methods representing cell biology, molecular biology und biochemistry. The group of Prof. Dr. Simone Bergmann is integrated in the department of Prof. Dr. Steinert and cooperates closely with different departments of the Helmholtz-Center for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, such as the Central Facility of Microskopie.
In addition to her enormous dedication in university teaching (i.e. Master Course IB29-Medical Microbiology) and organisation of scientific teaching, Prof. Dr. Bergmann also participates to events initiated by the HZI Graduate School in Braunschweig and received project funding from the Graduate School. Prof. Dr. Bergmann was embedded in an EU-funded cooperation network (Carepneumo, FP7 Health) is and supports an intensive scientific exchange with national and international research groups. She received project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and works together with many research groups which are for example associated with the DFG-funded research network SHENC (SHear flow regulation of HEmostasis). This network assembles research groups located at the UKE in Hamburg such as the group of Prof. Dr. Schneppenheim, Dr. Brehm, and the group of Prof. Dr. Schneider. Further very fruitful longterm cooperations are kept with the group of Prof. Dr. Hammerschmidt (Universität Greifswald), with Prof. Dr. Fulde (Freie Universität Berlin), with Prof. Dr. Preissner (Universität Giessen), several groups of the University Hospital and Mainz, and the group of Prof. Dr. Hermoso in Madrid, Prof. Dr. Mitchell in Birmingham just to name a view. Based on the project cooperations Prof. Dr. Bergmann gathered the cooperation partner on a interdisciplinary workshop entitled "Function of Von Willebrand Factor on Pathogenesis" at the BRICS in april 2018.
The elucidation of the shear stress-regulated interaction of Pneumococci with the coagulation glycoprotein Von Willebrand-Faktor resulted in the awarding with the "Günther Landbeck-Award of the Hämophilie-Gesellschaft" (25000 Euro) for excellent experimental research in November 2017.