Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hube
Fungal invasion of host cells (Candida)

Abstract:
Human pathogenic fungi frequently cause infections of skin and mucosae, however they are also capable of causing life threatening systemic mycoses. The yeast Candida albicans is regarded as the most important of the medically relevant fungi. In contrast to other pathogenic fungi of humans, C. albicans belongs to the normal microflora of the intestinal tract and usually only causes infections when natural barriers are breached or the immune system is compromised. Under these circumstances the fungus expresses certain factors which enable the organism to rapidly colonise mucosal surfaces and to penetrate into deeper tissues and organs. Among these factors are molecules which enable the fungus to either penetrate directly into epithelial cells or to induce host endocytosis. The aim of this study is to identify and to characterise these factors by using molecular, cellular, microbial and biochemical methods.

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