Identification of immunogenic components of Aspergillus fumigatus for vaccine development
Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important air-borne fungal pathogen. In recent years, it became evident that certain unknown components of A. fumigatus apparently lead to protection against invasive aspergillosis in a mouse infection model. Until now, it remains to be shown whether the protection is due to a B cell response or rather T cell response.
Furthermore, the components of A. fumigatus triggering this response have not been identified.
The proposed project will investigate, which morphotypes (spore, mycelium) promote an immune response and which protein antigens contribute to this host reaction. The immunological properties of selected protein antigens will be further investigated in murine models of Invasive Aspergillosis (8-cells, T-cells). In collaboration with the Charité (Berlin)
the T-cell response against IA of Cystic Fibrosis patients will be characterized.
Publications
(2020) The dynamic surface proteomes of allergenic fungal conidia J Proteome Res 19(5), 2092-2104. Details Open Access
(2020) Flotillin-Dependent Membrane Microdomains Are Required for Functional Phagolysosomes against Fungal Infections. Cell Rep 32(7), 108017. Details PubMed
Supervisor
Co-Supervisors
Peter F. Zipfel Olaf Kniemeyer
Start of PhD
June 1, 2015
Doctoral Disputation
March 3, 2020
