Secreted fungal proteins in immune evasion and pathogenicity (C06)

• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 210879364

C. albicans controls the immune response by secreting immune evasion proteins that contribute to fungal pathogenicity like Pra1. During the first funding period we identified novel mechanisms and/ or mediators of fungal immune escape resulting from inhibiting both innate and adaptive immunity. Further, we have generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against these immune evasion proteins. In the next funding period, we will continue the in vitro studies and extend the analyses to fungal immune escape in mice. Moreover, we will evaluate our anti-fungal mAbs in mouse models of C. albicans infections.

• 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: Privatdozent Dr. Niklas Beyersdorf; Professor Dr. Thomas Hünig, until 6/2017; Professor Dr. Peter F. Zipfel