Prof. Dr. Peter Zipfel
Complement and Immune- Evasion of Pathogenic Funghi

Abstract:
The innate immune system of the host are central for attack and elimination of human pathogens. Every microbe is in direct contact with the host or body fluids and is attacked by the complement system. Pathogens have developed sophisticated means and mechanisms to inactivate and directly downregulate this type of immune response. This project will identify the immune and complement escape mechanisms of the human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Following identification and cloning of the relevant fungal proteins the molecular characterization of the interaction with host immune regulators and the functional characterizations will be pursued.

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