Présentation
Axel Brakhage – Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI) Jena Germany)
Aspergillus fumigatus represents the most important air-borne fungal pathogen. Life-threatening invasive aspergillosis affects about 200.000 patients every year. Upon inhalation of spores, innate immunity plays a major role for defense, in particular neutrophilic granulocytes and alveolar macrophages.
In my laboratory we are interested in fungal virulence determinants including secondary metabolites and immune evasion mechanisms. We use proteome, transcriptome and metabolome analyses to describe the host pathogen interaction. In my talk, I will focus on recent findings concerning the interaction of surface molecules with immune cells and in particular the meaning of lipid raft microdomains for immunity against A. fumigatus. In addition, I will discuss the formation of antifungal extracellular vesicles produced by neutrophils for defense against A. fumigatus.
Contact : Vishu Kumar Aimanianda Bopaiah (kumar-vishu.aimanianda-bopaiah@pasteur.fr)