(2018)
Phagocytes as central players in the defence against invasive fungal infection.
Semin Cell Dev Biol 89,
3-15.
(Review)

Oliver Kurzai
National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections · Head Fungal Septomics · Head +49 3641 532-1347 oliver.kurzai@leibniz-hki.deCurriculum vitae
Main Research Areas
- Infection biology of human pathogenic fungi (especially Candida albicans)
- Infection biology of Neisseria meningitidis
Professional Career
Since 2017 | Chair of Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, Julius Maximilians University Würzburg and head of the research group Fungal Septomics at Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute Jena |
2009-2016 | Professor (W2) for Fungal Septomics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena |
2008 | Habilitation in medical microbiology, University Würzburg |
2006 | Medical specialist in microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology (Bayerische Landesärztekammer) |
2003 | Head of a working group, Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, University Würzburg |
2001-2002 | Doctor in practical training (AiP), Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, University Würzburg |
2002 | Dr. med., “summa cum laude” University Würzburg |
2001 | Staatsexamen (state examination) in human medicine, University Würzburg |
Awards · Appointments · Scientific Activities
Since 2014 | Head of the Nationales Referenzzentrums für invasive Pilzinfektionen (NRZMyk) |
Since 2013 | Board member of the Integriertes Forschungs- und Behandlungszentrum “Center for Sepsis Control and Care” (CSCC) at the University Hospital Jena |
Since 2012 | Scientific Manager of the consortium “InfectControl 2020 – New Antiinfection Strategies – Science • Society • Economy” within the BMBF-Programme “Zwanzig 20 – Partnership for Innovation” (Head: Prof. A. Brakhage) |
Since 2012 | Editor-in-chief, Medical Mycology Case Reports, member (ex officio) of the executive board of the International Society for Human & Animal Mycology (ISHAM) |
Since 2011 | Elected note taker at the Deutschsprachige Mykologische Gesellschaft DMykG |
2015-2016 | Speaker of the ZIK Septomics |
2011-2013 | Editor, Journal of Basic Microbiology |
2009 | Hans-Rieth-poster prize from the Deutschsprachige Mykologische Gesellschaft (DMykG) |
2008 | Award from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie |
2003 | Science award from the Unterfränkische Gedenkjahrstiftung |
2003 | Dissertation award from the medical faculty of the University Würzburg |
2002 | Becton-Dickinson PhD award from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie |
Publications
(2018)
Candida auris: Epidemiological situation, laboratory capacity and preparedness in European Union and European economic area countries, 2013 to 2017.
Euro Surveill 23(13),
18-00136.
(2018)
Tracheal, laryngeal and pulmonary mucormycosis followed by organizing pneumonia in a patient with adult onset still's disease.
Med Mycol Case Rep 20,
28-32.
(2018)
Validation of a simplified in vitro Transwell® model of the alveolar surface to assess host immunity induced by different morphotypes of Aspergillus fumigatus.
Int J Med Microbiol 308(8),
1009-1017.
(2018)
Farnesol signalling in Candida albicans - more than just communication.
Crit Rev Microbiol 44(2),
230-243.
(Review)
(2018)
Predictive virtual infection modeling of fungal immune evasion in human whole blood.
Front Immunol 9,
560.
(2018)
Diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases in haematology and oncology: 2018 update of the recommendations of the infectious diseases working party of the German society for hematology and medical oncology (AGIHO).
Mycoses 61(11),
796-813.
(Review)
(2018)
Quantitative simulations predict treatment strategies against fungal infections in virtual neutropenic patients.
Front Immunol 9,
667.
(2018)
Proteome analysis reveals the conidial surface protein CcpA essential for virulence of the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.
mBio 9(5),
e01557-18.
(2018)
FunResDB-A web resource for genotypic susceptibility testing of Aspergillus fumigatus.
Med Mycol 56(1),
117-120.