HoT-Aim - High end optical technologies for the analysis of intracellular, membrane-influencing infection processes
Human pathogenic fungi play an important role as pathogens, especially for immunocompromised patients. Currently, the diagnosis of life-threatening, invasive fungal infections and their therapy are difficult and unsatisfactory. Depending on the patient population and the fungal pathogen, the lethality rate can reach up to 80%. Recent evidence suggests that the manipulation of membranes by pathogens constitutes a common pathogenicity and immune evasion mechanism. Until now, however, there is no high resolution method available that would allow to measure the structural integrity and composition of membranes before and after infection in real-time. The project HoT-Aim will characterize the dynamic membrane alterations in host cells mediated by pathogens. In addition, fundamental processes will be studied in accessible fungal model systems. The results will be transferred to human host cells and pathogenic fungi in order to elucidate the role of these processes for the pathogen.
Participating Scientists
Prof. Dr. Axel A. Brakhage
Principal Investigator
HKI • Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie
Prof. Dr. Rainer Heintzmann
Principal Investigator
IPHT • Mikroskopie
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hube
Principal Investigator
HKI • Mikrobielle Pathogenitätsmechanismen
Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
Principal Investigator
FSU • Mikrobielle Kommunikation
Thorsten Heinekamp
Postdoc
HKI • Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie
Annika König
Promovierende (in Elternzeit ab März 2018)
HKI • Mikrobielle Pathogenitätsmechanismen
Franziska Schmidt
Promovierende
HKI • Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie
