Institute of Histology and Embryology

106049, 106052, 301107, 301114, 301304

autophagy, cellular electron microscopy, endosomal/lysosomal pathways, membrane trafficking, and organelle ultrastructure

High-resolution microscopy with emphasis on ultrastructural analysis of subcellular architecture in the context of intact tissues and cells from model organisms and patient samples

The Institute of Histology and Embryology at the Medical University of Innsbruck provides lecture series and practical courses in histology and microscopic anatomy to undergraduate students of human medicine and molecular medicine. We also offer special lectures and courses for MD and PhD students on submicroscopic morphology and on advanced cellular electron microscopy. Research of the Cellular Electron Microscopy group is focused on ultrastructural aspects of intracellular membrane trafficking and signalling.

The Cellular Electron Microscopy Group of M. W. Hess is applying cryo-based immuno-electron microscopy and electron tomographic 3D-reconstruction for the ultrastructural analysis of subcellular architecture in the context of intact tissues, cells and cell models from patient samples and model organisms. One major interest is intracellular membrane trafficking and signalling in health and especially orphan diseases. We are undertaking studies in collaboration with the groups of L. A. Huber and I. Vietor: Institute of Cell Biology; D. Teis: Institute of Molecular Biochemistry; T. Müller, A.R. Janecke and G.F. Vogel: Department of Pediatrics I; S. Redl: Institute of Neuroanatomy; and with international partners. We are focusing on the biogenesis and maturation of endocytic compartments, cargo biosynthesis and recycling, as well as on autophagy and related catabolic events. We are investigating the relationships between cargo biosynthesis and trafficking, cytoskeletal architecture and the maintenance of cellular polarity. All these processes are severely disturbed in frequently fatal, congenital gastrointestinal disorders, such as Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID) and related enteropathies that affect infants soon after birth. We are analysing cell models derived from patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by means of advanced electron microscopy to unravel aspects of PD-specific pathological alterations of autophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis.

Finally, we are studying the ultrastructure of basal metazoan model organisms and developing new techniques for preparation and imaging to improve the three-dimensional localization of macromolecules in natively cryo-immobilized cells (Hess et al. 2018, Traffic 19:639: https://doi.org/10.1111/tra.12575).

Klee, Katharina M. C.; Hess, Michael W.; Lohmueller, Michael; Herzog, Sebastian; Pfaller, Kristian; Mueller, Thomas; Vogel, Georg F.; Huber, Lukas A.; Bagnat, Michel: A CRISPR screen in intestinal epithelial cells identifies novel factors for polarity and apical transport.
ELIFE. 2023; 12(S); e80135.
PubMed: 36661306 doi: 10.7554/eLife.80135

Liebscher, Gudrun; Vujic, Nemanja; Schreiber, Renate; Heine, Markus; Krebiehl, Caroline; Duta-Mare, Madalina; Lamberti, Giorgia; de Smet, Cedric H.; Hess, Michael W.; Eichmann, Thomas O.; Hoelzl, Sarah; Scheja, Ludger; Heeren, Joerg; Kratky, Dagmar; Huber, Lukas A.: The lysosomal LAMTOR / Ragulator complex is essential for nutrient homeostasis in brown adipose tissue.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM. 2023; 71(S); 101705.
PubMed: 36907508 doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101705

Garg, Niharika; Stibler, Urska Knez; Eismann, Bjoern; Mercker, Moritz; Bergheim, Bruno Gideon; Linn, Anna; Tuchscherer, Patrizia; Engel, Ulrike; Redl, Stefan; Marciniak-Czochra, Anna; Holstein, Thomas W.; Hess, Michael W.; Oezbek, Suat: Non-muscle myosin II drives critical steps of nematocyst morphogenesis.
ISCIENCE. 2023; 26(3); 106291.
PubMed: 36936784 doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106291

Sevegnani, Martina; Lama, Adriano; Girardi, Francesco; Hess, Michael W., Castelo, Maria Paulina; Pichler, Irene; Biressi, Stefano; Piccoli, Giovanni: Parkin R274W mutation affects muscle and mitochondrial physiology.
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular Basis of Disease. 2024; 1870 (7), 167302
PubMed: 38878834 doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167302

Waich, Stephanie; Kreidl, Karin; Vodopiutz, Julia; Demir, Arzu M.; Pollio, Adam R.; Dostál, Vojtěch; Pfaller, Kristian; Parlato, Marianna; Cerf-Bensussan, Nadine; Adam, Rüdiger; Vogel, Georg F.; Uhlig, Holm H.; Ruemmele, Frank M.; Müller, Thomas; Hess, Michael W.; Janecke, Andreas R.; Huber, Lukas A.; Valovka, Taras: Altered chaperone–nonmuscle myosin II interactions drive pathogenicity of the UNC45A c.710T>C variant in osteo-oto-hepato-enteric syndrome.
JCI insight. 2025; 10 (6):e185508
PubMed: 40125554 doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.185508

Maria Dolores Perez Carrion: Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain;

Giovanni Piccoli: Laboratory of Biology of Synapse, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology – CIBIO, University of Trento, Italy;

Suat Özbek: Centre of Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Germany;

Bert Hobmayer and Bernhard Egger: Department of Zoology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.