(2015)
A second stimulus required for enhanced antifungal activity of human neutrophils in blood is provided by anaphylatoxin C5a.
The Journal of Immunology 194(3),
1199-1210.
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
(2015)
Candida albicans bloodstream isolates in a German university hospital are genetically heterogenous and susceptible to commonly used antifungals.
Int J Med Microbiol 305(7),
742-747.
(2015)
Bottom-up modeling approach for the quantitative estimation of parameters in pathogen-host interactions.
Frontiers in Microbiology 6(608),
*authors contributed equally.
(2015)
The fungal quorum-sensing molecule farnesol activates innate immune cells but suppresses cellular adaptive immunity.
MBio 6(2),
e00143.
(2015)
Defining the transcriptomic landscape of Candida glabrata by RNA-Seq.
Nucleic Acids Res 43(3),
1392-1406.
(2014)
Genetic PTX3 deficiency and aspergillosis in stem-cell transplantation.
N Engl J Med 370(5),
421-432.
(2014)
PTX3 deficiency and aspergillosis.
N Engl J Med 370(17),
1666-1667.
(2014)
Neutrophil Responses to Aspergillosis: New Roles for Old Players.
Mycopathologia
[Epub ahead of print]
(2014)
Aspergillus fumigatus induces microRNA-132 in human monocytes and dendritic cells.
Int J Med Microbiol 304(5-6),
592-596.
(2014)
Impact of plasma histones in human sepsis and their contribution to cellular injury and inflammation.
Crit Care 18(5),
543.