Pathobiology of Aspergillus fumigatus and novel strategies for the therapy of infections: Immune evasion and host-pathogen interaction as well as extracellular vesicles

Within the last decades, a rapid increase in systemic fungal infections has been observed, especially due to the increase in the number of immunosuppressed patients. More than 90 % of invasive mycoses caused by Aspergilli can be traced back to an infection with Aspergillus fumigatus. The MAM department focuses on two aspects: (1) the identification of virulence determinants of the fungus and (2) the elucidation of the interaction between A. fumigatus and the immune system, in particular neutrophil granulocytes, macrophages, epithelial and T cells. Of particular importance are immune evasion mechanisms, such as the ability of the fungus to protect itself from recognition by immune cells with the help of its surface proteins or to influence the intracellular processing of spores (conidia) with the help of its surface DHN melanin layer. This is done, for example, by inhibiting the acidification of phagolysosomes through inhibition of the formation of lipid raft microdomains in the phagolysosomal membrane or by inhibiting apoptosis. A new aspect is the discovery of extracellular vesicles formed by neutrophil granulocytes that kill the fungus.