Surface proteins of Lichtheimia corymbifera as virulence determinants (A06)

• Subject Area: Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210879364

Project A6 investigates the interplay between macrophages and L. corymbifera, and the mechanisms that allow L. corymbifera to survive in macrophages compared with A. fumigatus. The interaction of the surface protein HsbA4 with Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 on macrophages will be further defined. We will compare the intracellular processing and survival of L. corymbifera spores in phagolysosomes with that of conidia of A. fumigatus. As a basis for clinical applications, A6 will evaluate whether induced formation of mature phagolysosomes containing spores can contribute to therapy, and assess the suitability of HsbAs as a diagnostic marker for infection.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 124: Pathogenic Fungi and their Human Host: Networks of Interaction - FungiNet
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Axel Brakhage; Privatdozentin Kerstin Voigt, Ph.D.