Frank Follmann

Research

My research is centered around the interaction between the immune system and the pathogen, with a focus to developing vaccines and diagnostics. This includes:

• Immunological studies of naturally acquired immunity
• Identification of B and T cell antigens
• Vaccine design using gene technology to assemble components from bacteria or viruses
• Research into new vaccine adjuvants (adjuvants) and alternative forms of vaccination

Specifically, the main goal of my research is to develop a Chlamydia vaccine. SSI has been working on a vaccine for 15 years and has recently conducted a clinical phase I trial with promising results.

Responsibilities

• Director of the Department of Infectious Disease Immunology
• Scientific project leader of H2020 project TracVac (https://www.trachoma-vaccine.org/)

Publications

• Abraham S, Juel HB, Bang P, Cheeseman HM, Dohn RB, Cole T, Kristiansen MP, Korsholm KS, Lewis D, Olsen AW, McFarlane LR, Day S, Knudsen S, Moen K, Ruhwald M, Kromann I, Andersen P, Shattock RJ, Follmann F. 2019. Safety and immunogenicity of the chlamydia vaccine candidate CTH522 adjuvanted with CAF01 liposomes or aluminium hydroxide: a first-in-human, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 trial. Lancet InfectDis.
• Erneholm K, Lorenzen E, Boje S, Olsen AW, Jungersen G, Jensen HE, Cassidy JP, Andersen P, Agerholm JS, Follmann F. 2019. Genital Infiltrations of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T Lymphocytes, IgA(+) and IgG(+) Plasma Cells and Intra-Mucosal Lymphoid Follicles Associate With Protection Against Genital Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Minipigs Intramuscularly Immunized With UV-Inactivated Bacteria Adjuvanted With CAF01. Front Microbiol 10:197
• Blakney AK, McKay PF, Christensen D, Yus BI, Aldon Y, Follmann F, Shattock RJ. 2019. Effects of cationic adjuvant formulation particle type, fluidity and immunomodulators on delivery and immunogenicity of saRNA. J Control Release 304:65-74
• Rose F, Karlsen K, Jensen PR, Jakobsen RU, Wood GK, Rand KD, Godiksen H, Andersen P, Follmann F, Foged C. 2018. Unusual Self-Assembly of the Recombinant Chlamydia trachomatis Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP)-based Fusion Antigen CTH522 into Protein Nanoparticles. J Pharm Sci doi:10.1016/j.xphs.2018.02.005
• Olsen AW, Lorenzen EK, Rosenkrands I, Follmann F, Andersen P. 2017. Protective Effect of Vaccine Promoted Neutralizing Antibodies against the Intracellular Pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Front Immunol 8:1652
• Wern JE, Sorensen MR, Olsen AW, Andersen P, Follmann F. 2017. Simultaneous Subcutaneous and Intranasal Administration of a CAF01-Adjuvanted Chlamydia Vaccine Elicits Elevated IgA and Protective Th1/Th17 Responses in the Genital Tract. Front Immunol 8:569