Interaction of Aspergillus fumigatus with human natural killer cells (A02)

• Subject Area: Hematology, Oncology ; Biophysics ; Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210879364

Project A2 analyzes the interaction of human natural killer (NK) cells with A. fumigatus with a focus on the function of the surface receptor CD56, its activation, modulation and re-organization on the NK-cell surface. A2 will investigate the mechanisms how receptors of NK-cells contribute to fungal control, their contribution to NK-cell activation and cytotoxicity. The role of new fungal ligands like galactosaminogalactan and OpsB, will be addressed. A2 will also study EVs of NK-cells of healthy controls and patients after alloSCT, triggered by A. fumigatus, and candidate miRNAs potentially connected to IA will be investigated by genetic risk profiling of 72 alloSCT patients with and without IA.

• 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. Hermann Einsele; Professor Dr. Jürgen Löffler; Dr. Ulrich Terpitz