World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Walter Doerfler

Walter Doerfler

Award Badge
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Germany
2024

D-Index & Metrics

Microbiology

D-Index
74
Citations
19451
World Ranking
1582
National Ranking
113

Molecular Biology

D-Index
74
Citations
19326
World Ranking
1230
National Ranking
95

Walter Doerfler publication distribution in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Molecular Biology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Walter Doerfler sits on this spectrum.

47–56 publications: 7 scientists 57–66 publications: 17 scientists 67–76 publications: 65 scientists 77–86 publications: 90 scientists 87–96 publications: 125 scientists 97–106 publications: 131 scientists 107–116 publications: 162 scientists 117–126 publications: 177 scientists 127–136 publications: 158 scientists 137–146 publications: 158 scientists 147–156 publications: 146 scientists 157–166 publications: 159 scientists 167–176 publications: 131 scientists 177–186 publications: 110 scientists 187–196 publications: 112 scientists 197–206 publications: 100 scientists 207–216 publications: 89 scientists 217–226 publications: 98 scientists 227–236 publications: 74 scientists 237–246 publications: 72 scientists 247–256 publications: 63 scientists 257–266 publications: 53 scientists 267–276 publications: 54 scientists 277–286 publications: 49 scientists 287–296 publications: 52 scientists 297–306 publications: 43 scientists 307–316 publications: 46 scientists 317–326 publications: 41 scientists 327–336 publications: 42 scientists 337–346 publications: 31 scientists 347–356 publications: 28 scientists 357–366 publications: 29 scientists 367–376 publications: 26 scientists 377–386 publications: 24 scientists 387–396 publications: 24 scientists 397–406 publications: 14 scientists 407–416 publications: 13 scientists 417–426 publications: 20 scientists 427–436 publications: 12 scientists 437–446 publications: 20 scientists 447–456 publications: 11 scientists 457–466 publications: 10 scientists 467–476 publications: 14 scientists 477–486 publications: 14 scientists 487–496 publications: 10 scientists 497–506 publications: 13 scientists 507–516 publications: 13 scientists 517–526 publications: 2 scientists 527–536 publications: 4 scientists 537–546 publications: 6 scientists 547–556 publications: 8 scientists 557–563 publications: 6 scientists 564+ publications: 100 scientists
47 publications 564+

This scientist: 388 publications — 90th percentile

90% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 564 publications or more.

Walter Doerfler D-index placement in Molecular Biology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Molecular Biology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Walter Doerfler sits on this spectrum.

40–41 D-Index: 36 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 101 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 115 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 121 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 118 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 130 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 106 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 116 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 113 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 129 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 120 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 105 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 131 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 95 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 97 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 106 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 83 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 89 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 77 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 70 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 73 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 60 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 48 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 45 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 50 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 31 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 51 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 43 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 38 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 39 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 41 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 29 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 33 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 35 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 20 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 38 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 19 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 28 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 13 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 23 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 16 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 15 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 11 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 21 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 7 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 14 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 9 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 8 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 16 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 7 scientists 144 D-Index: 7 scientists 145+ D-Index: 100 scientists
40 D-Index 145+

This scientist: 74 D-Index — 61st percentile

61% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 145 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2024 - Research.com Genetics and Molecular Biology in Germany Leader Award
  • 2007 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 1997 - German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine
  • 1984 - Robert Koch Prize
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Overview

Walter Doerfler is affiliated with the University of Cologne in Germany. Their research spans multiple fields within biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and medicine, with significant contributions focused on molecular biology and infectious diseases.

The scientist's main research topics include:

  • CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
  • SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
  • Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Virus-based gene therapy research
  • Plant Virus Research Studies
  • Vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches

Regarding publication venues where their work frequently appears, these include:

  • Virus Research
  • EMBO Molecular Medicine
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Viruses
  • Clinical Epigenetics

Walter Doerfler has coauthored with several researchers repeatedly, including:

  • Stefanie Weber
  • Christina M. Ramirez
  • Barbara Weiser
  • Harold Burger

The following are a selection of recent papers authored or coauthored by Walter Doerfler:

  • Adenoviral Vector DNA- and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-Based Covid-19 Vaccines: Possible Integration into the Human Genome - Are Adenoviral Genes Expressed in Vector-based Vaccines?, 2021, Virus Research
  • Essential concepts are missing: Foreign DNA in food invades the organisms' cells and can lead to stochastic epigenetic alterations with a wide range of possible pathogenetic consequences, 2020, Clinical Epigenetics

Additional relevant publications by close collaborators include:

  • Signal hotspot mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genomes evolve as the virus spreads and actively replicates in different parts of the world, 2020, Virus Research
  • SARS-CoV-2 worldwide replication drives rapid rise and selection of mutations across the viral genome: a time-course study - potential challenge for vaccines and therapies, 2021, EMBO Molecular Medicine
  • SARS-CoV-2 Worldwide Replication Drives Rapid Rise and Selection of Mutations across the Viral Genome: A Time-Course Study Potential Challenge for Vaccines and Therapies, 2021, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Walter Doerfler's work has been recognized through various awards and memberships, including:

  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2007
  • Election to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - specializing in Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, 1997
  • Recipient of the Robert Koch Prize, 1984
  • Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Best Publications

  • DNA methylation and gene activity

    Walter Doerfler

  • Why is CpG suppressed in the genomes of virtually all small eukaryotic viruses but not in those of large eukaryotic viruses

    S Karlin;W Doerfler;L R Cardon

  • Foreign (M13) DNA ingested by mice reaches peripheral leukocytes, spleen, and liver via the intestinal wall mucosa and can be covalently linked to mouse DNA

    Rainer Schubbert;Doris Renz;Birgit Schmitz;Walter Doerfler

  • Methylation of integrated adenovirus type 12 DNA sequences in transformed cells is inversely correlated with viral gene expression.

    Diane Sutter;Walter Doerfler

  • Ingested foreign (phage M13) DNA survives transiently in the gastrointestinal tract and enters the bloodstream of mice.

    Rainer Schubbert;Clarissa Lettmann;Walter Doerfler

  • On the fate of orally ingested foreign DNA in mice: chromosomal association and placental transmission to the fetus.

    R. Schubbert;U. Hohlweg;D. Renz;W. Doerfler

  • The oligosaccharides of influenza virus hemagglutinin expressed in insect cells by a baculovirus vector

    Kazumichi Kuroda;Hildegard Geyer;Rudolf Geyer;Walter Doerfler

  • Nonproductive infection of baby hamster kidney cells (BHK21) with adenovirus type 12.

    Walter Doerfler

  • DNA methylation--a regulatory signal in eukaryotic gene expression

    Walter Doerfler

  • Expression of the influenza virus haemagglutinin in insect cells by a baculovirus vector.

    K. Kuroda;C. Hauser;R. Rott;H.D. Klenk

  • Expression of a cloned adenovirus gene is inhibited by in vitro methylation.

    L Vardimon;A Kressmann;H Cedar;M Maechler

  • Neurological phenotype in Waardenburg syndrome type 4 correlates with novel SOX10 truncating mutations and expression in developing brain.

    Renaud L. Touraine;Tania Attié-Bitach;Eric Manceau;Eckhard Korsch

  • Imprinted Segments in the Human Genome: Different Dna Methylation Patterns in the Prader-Willi/Angelman Syndrome Region As Determined by the Genomic Sequencing Method

    Michael Zeschnigk;Birgit Schmitz;Bärbel Dittrich;Karin Buiting

  • DNA methylation in the Alu sequences of diploid and haploid primary human cells

    S Kochanek;D Renz;W Doerfler

  • A single-tube PCR test for the diagnosis of Angelman and Prader-Willi syndrome based on allelic methylation differences at the SNRPN locus.

    Michael Zeschnigk;Christina Lich;Karin Buiting;Walter Doerfler

  • Structure and composition of the adenovirus type 2 core.

    D T Brown;M Westphal;B T Burlingham;U Winterhoff

  • Patterns of integration of viral dna sequences in the genomes of adenovirus type 12-transformed hamster cells

    Diane Sutter;Monika Westphal;Walter Doerfler

  • Infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus I. Synthesis of intracellular proteins after virus infection.

    Eric B. Carstens;Sian T. Tjia;Walter Doerfler

  • Expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in mammalian cells under the control of adenovirus type 12 promoters: effect of promoter methylation on gene expression

    Inge Kruczek;Walter Doerfler

  • A rapid optimized protocol for downward alkaline Southern blotting of DNA.

    P A Koetsier;J Schorr;W Doerfler

Frequent Co-Authors

Stefan Kochanek
Stefan Kochanek University of Ulm
Bernd Weisshaar
Bernd Weisshaar Bielefeld University
Miklós Tóth
Miklós Tóth Cornell University
Ulrich Müller
Ulrich Müller Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hermann Lübbert
Hermann Lübbert Biofrontera (Germany)
Thomas Klimkait
Thomas Klimkait University of Basel
Karin Buiting
Karin Buiting University of Duisburg-Essen
Per Hoffmann
Per Hoffmann University of Bonn
Bernhard Horsthemke
Bernhard Horsthemke University of Duisburg-Essen
Jörg Tatzelt
Jörg Tatzelt Ruhr University Bochum

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