The award-winning publications 2024:

1. Mechanism of secretion of a Candida albicans toxin decoded

An interdisciplinary team led by Bernhard Hube investigated how the peptide toxin candidalysin is released by the yeast Candida albicans. The study shows that it is not the toxin itself, but specific peptide sequences of the precursor protein Ece1 that are decisive for secretion. The findings published in Nature Microbiology could offer new approaches for the treatment of fungal infections.

2. Synthetic peptides as a new weapon against fungal infections

In a cross-institute collaboration that even reached as far as Australia, researchers at the Leibniz-HKI led by Sascha Brunke developed synthetic peptide mimics with a strong antifungal effect. These compounds attack the cell wall of Candida albicans, boost the immune response and could act synergistically with already established drugs. The results of the study were published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.

3. Innovative organ-on-chip model for fungal infections

Using a novel gut-on-chip model, a research group simulated the interactions between Candida albicans and human tissue. The study, published in Biomaterials, shows how the antifungal drug caspofungin alters the morphology of fungal microcolonies and reduces their pathogenicity. This work represents a breakthrough for more precise models of infection research that do not require animal testing. Researchers from the fields of biotechnology, infection biology and biological image analysis were involved under the leadership of Mark Gresnigt, Bernhard Hube and Thilo Figge.

4. Chemical control of reproduction in a fungal-bacterial symbiosis

Another award went to a publication by Ingrid Richter and her team in The ISME Journal. They analyzed the influence of bacterial cofactors on the reproduction of the pathogenic fungus Rhizopus microsporus. The multidisciplinary team identified a deazaflavin-containing compound that acts as an essential factor for the symbiosis between fungus and bacterium. These results expand the understanding of mutualistic interactions that could also play a role in the complex human microbiome, for example in the defense against pathogens.

Outstanding teamwork as a recipe for success

Institute Director Axel Brakhage emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary research: “Today, we can only understand infection mechanisms and develop new therapeutic concepts by pooling different areas of expertise. For two decades now, the medac Research Award has offered young researchers in particular an excellent incentive to further strengthen this collaboration.”

The Head of Product Development at medac GmbH, Dr. Florian Ende, accentuated: “These works illustrate how scientific excellence can only be achieved through teamwork. We are pleased to continue to promote this cooperation and thus make an important contribution to successful careers in research.” medac GmbH has maintained a close partnership with the Leibniz-HKI for decades. As a global pharmaceutical company with a therapeutic focus on rheumatology, urology, haematology and oncology and a seat on the institute’s Board of Trustees, the company specifically supports scientific collaboration with the research award in order to develop new approaches in the fight against diseases, even if these are not directly in its own business focus.

Original publications

Müller R, König A, Groth S, Zarnowski R, Visser C, Handrianz T, Maufrais C, Krüger T, Himmel M, Lee S, Priest EL, Yildirim D, Richardson JP, Blango MG, Bougnoux ME, Kniemeyer O, d'Enfert C, Brakhage AA, Andes DR, Trümper V, Nehls C, Kasper L, Mogavero S, Gutsmann T, Naglik JR, Allert S, Hube B (2024) Secretion of the fungal toxin candidalysin is dependent on conserved precursor peptide sequences. Nature Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01606-z

Schaefer S, Vij R, Sprague JL, Austermeier S, Dinh H, Judzewitsch PR, Müller-Loennies S, Lopes Silva T, Seemann E, Qualmann B, Hertweck C, Scherlach K, Gutsmann T, Cain AK, Corrigan N, Gresnigt MS, Boyer C, Lenardon MD, Brunke S (2024) A synthetic peptide mimic kills Candida albicans and synergistically prevents infection. Nature Communications, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50491-x

Kaden T, Alonso-Roman R, Akbarimoghaddam P, Mosig AS, Graf K, Raasch M, Hoffmann B, Figge MT, Hube B, Gresnigt MS (2024) Modeling of intravenous caspofungin administration using an intestine-on-chip reveals altered Candida albicans microcolonies and pathogenicity. Biomaterials, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122525

Richter I, Hasan M, Kramer JW, Wein P, Krabbe J, Woitas KP, Stinear TP, Pidot SJ, Kloss F, Hertweck C, Lackner G (2024) Deazaflavin metabolite produced by endosymbiotic bacteria controls fungal host reproduction. ISME J, https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrae074