@article{AlZabenMedyukhinaDietrichetal.2019,
  author    = {Al-Zaben, Naim and Medyukhina, Anna and Dietrich, Stefanie and Marolda, Alessandra and H{\"u}nniger, Kerstin and Kurzai, Oliver and Figge, Marc Thilo},
  title     = {Automated tracking of label-free cells with enhanced recognition of whole tracks},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-019-39725-x},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221093},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Migration and interactions of immune cells are routinely studied by time-lapse microscopy of in vitro migration and confrontation assays. To objectively quantify the dynamic behavior of cells, software tools for automated cell tracking can be applied. However, many existing tracking algorithms recognize only rather short fragments of a whole cell track and rely on cell staining to enhance cell segmentation. While our previously developed segmentation approach enables tracking of label-free cells, it still suffers from frequently recognizing only short track fragments. In this study, we identify sources of track fragmentation and provide solutions to obtain longer cell tracks. This is achieved by improving the detection of low-contrast cells and by optimizing the value of the gap size parameter, which defines the number of missing cell positions between track fragments that is accepted for still connecting them into one track. We find that the enhanced track recognition increases the average length of cell tracks up to 2.2-fold. Recognizing cell tracks as a whole will enable studying and quantifying more complex patterns of cell behavior, e.g. switches in migration mode or dependence of the phagocytosis efficiency on the number and type of preceding interactions. Such quantitative analyses will improve our understanding of how immune cells interact and function in health and disease.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{AldejohannWiesePosseltGastmeieretal.2022,
  author    = {Aldejohann, Alexander Maximilian and Wiese-Posselt, Miriam and Gastmeier, Petra and Kurzai, Oliver},
  title     = {Expert recommendations for prevention and management of Candida auris transmission},
  series = {Mycoses},
  volume    = {65},
  journal   = {Mycoses},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1111/myc.13445},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-318570},
  pages     = {590 -- 598},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Candida auris was first described as a yeast pathogen in 2009. Since then, the species has emerged worldwide. In contrast to most other Candida spp., C. auris frequently exhibits multi-drug resistance and is readily transmitted in hospital settings. While most detections so far are from colonised patients, C. auris does cause superficial and life-threatening invasive infections. During management of the first documented C. auris transmission in a German hospital, experts from the National Reference Centers for Invasive Fungal Infections (NRZMyk) and the National Reference Center for Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections screened available literature and integrated available knowledge on infection prevention and C. auris epidemiology and biology to enable optimal containment. Relevant recommendations developed during this process are summarised in this guidance document, intended to assist in management of C. auris transmission and potential outbreak situations. Rapid and effective measures to contain C. auris spread require a multi-disciplinary approach that includes clinical specialists of the affected unit, nursing staff, hospital hygiene, diagnostic microbiology, cleaning staff, hospital management and experts in diagnostic mycology / fungal infections. Action should be initiated in a step-wise process and relevant interventions differ between management of singular C. auris colonised / infected patients and detection of potential C. auris transmission or nosocomial outbreaks.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ApsemidouFuellerIdelevichetal.2020,
  author    = {Apsemidou, Athanasia and F{\"u}ller, Miriam Antonie and Idelevich, Evgeny A. and Kurzai, Oliver and Tragiannidis, Athanasios and Groll, Andreas H.},
  title     = {Candida lusitaniae breakthrough fungemia in an immuno-compromised adolescent: case report and review of the literature},
  series = {Journal of Fungi},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Journal of Fungi},
  number    = {4},
  issn      = {2309-608X},
  doi       = {10.3390/jof6040380},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-220125},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Candida lusitaniae is a rare cause of candidemia that is known for its unique capability to rapidly acquire resistance to amphotericin B. We report the case of an adolescent with grade IV graft-vs.-host disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation who developed catheter-associated C. lusitaniae candidemia while on therapeutic doses of liposomal amphotericin B. We review the epidemiology of C. lusitaniae bloodstream infections in adult and pediatric patients, the development of resistance, and its role in breakthrough candidemia. Appropriate species identification, in vitro susceptibility testing, and source control are pivotal to optimal management of C. lusitaniae candidemia. Initial antifungal therapy may consist of an echinocandin and be guided by in vitro susceptibility and clinical response.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{CzakaiLeonhardtDixetal.2016,
  author    = {Czakai, Kristin and Leonhardt, Ines and Dix, Andreas and Bonin, Michael and Linde, Joerg and Einsele, Hermann and Kurzai, Oliver and Loeffler, J{\"u}rgen},
  title     = {Kr{\"u}ppel-like Factor 4 modulates interleukin-6 release in human dendritic cells after in vitro stimulation with Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  doi       = {10.1038/srep27990},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181185},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Invasive fungal infections are associated with high mortality rates and are mostly caused by the opportunistic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Immune responses against these fungi are still not fully understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial players in initiating innate and adaptive immune responses against fungal infections. The immunomodulatory effects of fungi were compared to the bacterial stimulus LPS to determine key players in the immune response to fungal infections. A genome wide study of the gene regulation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) confronted with A. fumigatus, C. albicans or LPS was performed and Kr{\"u}ppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was identified as the only transcription factor that was down-regulated in DCs by both fungi but induced by stimulation with LPS. Downstream analysis demonstrated the influence of KLF4 on the interleukine-6 expression in human DCs. Furthermore, KLF4 regulation was shown to be dependent on pattern recognition receptor ligation. Therefore KLF4 was identified as a controlling element in the IL-6 immune response with a unique expression pattern comparing fungal and LPS stimulation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HaederSchaeubleGehlenetal.2023,
  author    = {H{\"a}der, Antje and Sch{\"a}uble, Sascha and Gehlen, Jan and Thielemann, Nadja and Buerfent, Benedikt C. and Sch{\"u}ller, Vitalia and Hess, Timo and Wolf, Thomas and Schr{\"o}der, Julia and Weber, Michael and H{\"u}nniger, Kerstin and L{\"o}ffler, J{\"u}rgen and Vylkova, Slavena and Panagiotou, Gianni and Schumacher, Johannes and Kurzai, Oliver},
  title     = {Pathogen-specific innate immune response patterns are distinctly affected by genetic diversity},
  series = {Nature Communications},
  volume    = {14},
  journal   = {Nature Communications},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41467-023-38994-5},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357441},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Innate immune responses vary by pathogen and host genetics. We analyze quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) and transcriptomes of monocytes from 215 individuals stimulated by fungal, Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. We identify conserved monocyte responses to bacterial pathogens and a distinct antifungal response. These include 745 response eQTLs (reQTLs) and corresponding genes with pathogen-specific effects, which we find first in samples of male donors and subsequently confirm for selected reQTLs in females. reQTLs affect predominantly upregulated genes that regulate immune response via e.g., NOD-like, C-type lectin, Toll-like and complement receptor-signaling pathways. Hence, reQTLs provide a functional explanation for individual differences in innate response patterns. Our identified reQTLs are also associated with cancer, autoimmunity, inflammatory and infectious diseases as shown by external genome-wide association studies. Thus, reQTLs help to explain interindividual variation in immune response to infection and provide candidate genes for variants associated with a range of diseases.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kurzai2001,
  author    = {Kurzai, Oliver},
  title     = {Molekulare Charakterisierung pH-regulierter Gene bei der humanpathogenen Hefespezies Candida dubliniensis und ihr Nutzen f{\"u}r die epidemiologische Diagnostik},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-1182281},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2001},
  abstract  = {Candida dubliniensis ist eine 1995 erstmals beschriebene pathogene Hefespezies mit enger phylogenetischer Verwandtschaft zu Candida albicans. Sie wird mittels routinem{\"a}ßig angewendeter Verfahren nicht von C. albicans unterschieden, weil sie als einzige Spezies im Genus Candida neben C. albicans Chlamydosporen ausbilden kann. C. dubliniensis ist bisher vor allem aus dem Oropharynx HIV-positiver Patienten isoliert worden. PHR1 und PHR2 sind funktionell homologe, pH-abh{\"a}ngig exprimierte Gene von C. albicans, deren Produkte essentiell f{\"u}r die Verkn{\"u}pfung von b-1,3- und b-1,6-Glukan in der Zellwand sind. Die Deletion jedes dieser Gene f{\"u}hrt zu einem pH-abh{\"a}ngigen Ph{\"a}notyp mit aberranter Morphogenese in vitro und reduzierter Virulenz im Tiermodell. In dieser Arbeit werden PHR homologe Gene im Genom von C. dubliniensis charakterisiert. CdPHR1 weist eine Homologie von 90,5 Prozent zu PHR1 und CdPHR2 eine Homologie von 91,7 Prozent zu PHR2 auf. Wie PHR1 wird auch CdPHR1 nur unter neutralen und alkalischen Bedingungen exprimiert, w{\"a}hrend sich CdPHR2 Transkript, wie das von PHR2, nur unter sauren Bedingungen nachweisen l{\"a}sst. Die funktionelle Homologie von CdPHR1 zu PHR1 wird durch Komplementation des Ph{\"a}notyps einer C. albicans phr1 Mutante mit CdPHR1 gezeigt. Dabei erweist sich der native Promoter von CdPHR1 als funktional in C. albicans. Im Modellorganismus Saccharomyces cerevisiae wird CdPHR1 unter Kontrolle seines nativen Promotors dagegen pH-unabh{\"a}ngig exprimiert. Auch die zus{\"a}tzliche Einf{\"u}hrung eines mutierten, dominant aktiven Allels von RIM101, das in C. albicans f{\"u}r die pH-abh{\"a}ngige Genexpression verantwortlich ist, hat darauf keinen Einfluss. In C. glabrata und Aspergillus nidulans findet sich keine Expression von CdPHR1. Basierend auf Sequenzunterschieden zwischen PHR1 und CdPHR1 wird ein PCR-Schnelltest zur Speziesunterscheidung entwickelt. Dieser wird in einer epidemiologischen Studie mit 133 chlamydosporenpositiven klinischen Isolaten evaluiert. 21 oropharyngeale Isolate von 14 HIV-positiven Patienten k{\"o}nnen so retrospektiv als C. dubliniensis klassifiziert werden, dies entspricht einer Pr{\"a}valenz von C. dubliniensis in diesem Kollektiv von 30 Prozent. Die Ergebnisse der PCR werden durch Sequenzierung ribosomaler Gene (V3, ITS1, ITS2) best{\"a}tigt. Parallel werden ph{\"a}notypische Tests zur Identifizierung von C. dubliniensis auf ihre diagnostische Validit{\"a}t getestet. W{\"a}hrend sich die Chlamydosporenmorphologie der Isolate und die Kolonief{\"a}rbung auf dem Farbindikatormedium CHROMagar Candida als unzul{\"a}nglich f{\"u}r die Unterscheidung erweisen und das f{\"u}r C. dubliniensis beschriebene Wachstumsdefizit bei 45°C zwar sensitiv, nicht aber spezifisch f{\"u}r die Identifizierung dieser Spezies ist, korreliert die Koloniemorphologie auf Staib-Agar zu 100 Prozent mit den molekularen Daten. Alle C. dubliniensis Isolate werden in einem biochemischen Assay (Micronaut RC) untersucht, dabei zeigt der Test auf b-Glukosidase Aktivit{\"a}t hohes diskriminatorisches Potenzial. In Resistenztestungen zeigen sich die C. dubliniensis Isolate sensibler als die oropharyngealen C. albicans Isolate gegen gebr{\"a}uchliche Antimykotika. In dieser Studie kann gezeigt werden, dass C. dubliniensis und C. albicans auf teilweise austauschbare Mechanismen zur Reaktion auf Alterationen des pH-Milieus verf{\"u}gen. Die pH-abh{\"a}ngige Regulation zellwandassoziierter Gene ist dabei eng mit morphogenetischen Prozessen verbunden. Trotz dieser {\"A}hnlichkeit ist C. dubliniensis nicht nur weniger virulent als C. albicans, sondern zeigt auch ein unterschiedliches epidemiologisches Spektrum, das durch eine Spezialisierung auf oropharyngeale Kolonisation und Infektion bei HIV-positiven Patienten gekennzeichnet ist. Um die Gr{\"u}nde f{\"u}r diese Unterschiede aufzeigen zu k{\"o}nnen, ist eine verl{\"a}ssliche Identifizierung von C. dubliniensis notwendig. Dazu stellen die pr{\"a}sentierten Daten einerseits einen schnellen und verl{\"a}sslichen PCR Test, andererseits eine sorgf{\"a}ltige Evaluierung derzeit gebr{\"a}uchlicher ph{\"a}notypischer Verfahren vor. Ph{\"a}notypisch und genotypisch exzellent charakterisierte Isolate beider Spezies stehen f{\"u}r weitere Untersuchungen zur Verf{\"u}gung.},
  language  = {de}
}
@article{LeonhardtSpielbergWeberetal.2015,
  author    = {Leonhardt, Ines and Spielberg, Steffi and Weber, Michael and Albrecht-Eckardt, Daniela and Bl{\"a}ss, Markus and Claus, Ralf and Barz, Dagmar and Scherlach, Kirstin and Hertweck, Christian and L{\"o}ffler, J{\"u}rgen and H{\"u}nniger, Kerstin and Kurzai, Oliver},
  title     = {The fungal quorum-sensing molecule farnesol activates innate immune cells but suppresses cellular adaptive immunity},
  series = {mBio},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {mBio},
  number    = {2},
  doi       = {10.1128/mBio.00143-15},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143756},
  pages     = {e00143-15},
  year      = {2015},
  abstract  = {Farnesol, produced by the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans, is the first quorum-sensing molecule discovered in eukaryotes. Its main function is control of C. albicans filamentation, a process closely linked to pathogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the effects of farnesol on innate immune cells known to be important for fungal clearance and protective immunity. Farnesol enhanced the expression of activation markers on monocytes (CD86 and HLA-DR) and neutrophils (CD66b and CD11b) and promoted oxidative burst and the release of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-\(\alpha\)] and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha [MIP-1 \(\alpha\)]). However, this activation did not result in enhanced fungal uptake or killing. Furthermore, the differentiation of monocytes to immature dendritic cells (iDC) was significantly affected by farnesol. Several markers important for maturation and antigen presentation like CD1a, CD83, CD86, and CD80 were significantly reduced in the presence of farnesol. Furthermore, farnesol modulated migrational behavior and cytokine release and impaired the ability of DC to induce T cell proliferation. Of major importance was the absence of interleukin 12 (IL-12) induction in iDC generated in the presence of farnesol. Transcriptome analyses revealed a farnesol-induced shift in effector molecule expression and a down-regulation of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor during monocytes to iDC differentiation. Taken together, our data unveil the ability of farnesol to act as a virulence factor of C. albicans by influencing innate immune cells to promote inflammation and mitigating the Th1 response, which is essential for fungal clearance.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MachataSreekantapuramHuennigeretal.2021,
  author    = {Machata, Silke and Sreekantapuram, Sravya and H{\"u}nniger, Kerstin and Kurzai, Oliver and Dunker, Christine and Schubert, Katja and Kr{\"u}ger, Wibke and Schulze-Richter, Bianca and Speth, Cornelia and Rambach, G{\"u}nter and Jacobsen, Ilse D.},
  title     = {Significant Differences in Host-Pathogen Interactions Between Murine and Human Whole Blood},
  series = {Frontiers in Immunology},
  volume    = {11},
  journal   = {Frontiers in Immunology},
  issn      = {1664-3224},
  doi       = {10.3389/fimmu.2020.565869},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-222575},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Murine infection models are widely used to study systemic candidiasis caused by C. albicans. Whole-blood models can help to elucidate host-pathogens interactions and have been used for several Candida species in human blood. We adapted the human whole-blood model to murine blood. Unlike human blood, murine blood was unable to reduce fungal burden and more substantial filamentation of C. albicans was observed. This coincided with less fungal association with leukocytes, especially neutrophils. The lower neutrophil number in murine blood only partially explains insufficient infection and filamentation control, as spiking with murine neutrophils had only limited effects on fungal killing. Furthermore, increased fungal survival is not mediated by enhanced filamentation, as a filament-deficient mutant was likewise not eliminated. We also observed host-dependent differences for interaction of platelets with C. albicans, showing enhanced platelet aggregation, adhesion and activation in murine blood. For human blood, opsonization was shown to decrease platelet interaction suggesting that complement factors interfere with fungus-to-platelet binding. Our results reveal substantial differences between murine and human whole-blood models infected with C. albicans and thereby demonstrate limitations in the translatability of this ex vivo model between hosts.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MortonVargaHornbachetal.2011,
  author    = {Morton, Charles O. and Varga, John J. and Hornbach, Anke and Mezger, Markus and Sennefelder, Helga and Kneitz, Susanne and Kurzai, Oliver and Krappmann, Sven and Einsele, Hermann and Nierman, William C. and Rogers, Thomas R. and Loeffler, Juergen},
  title     = {The Temporal Dynamics of Differential Gene Expression in Aspergillus fumigatus Interacting with Human Immature Dendritic Cells In Vitro},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-68958},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {No abstract avDendritic cells (DC) are the most important antigen presenting cells and play a pivotal role in host immunity to infectious agents by acting as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Monocyte-derived immature DCs (iDC) were infected with viable resting conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus (Af293) for 12 hours at an MOI of 5; cells were sampled every three hours. RNA was extracted from both organisms at each time point and hybridised to microarrays. iDC cell death increased at 6 h in the presence of A. fumigatus which coincided with fungal germ tube emergence; .80\% of conidia were associated with iDC. Over the time course A. fumigatus differentially regulated 210 genes, FunCat analysis indicated significant up-regulation of genes involved in fermentation, drug transport, pathogenesis and response to oxidative stress. Genes related to cytotoxicity were differentially regulated but the gliotoxin biosynthesis genes were down regulated over the time course, while Aspf1 was up-regulated at 9 h and 12 h. There was an up-regulation of genes in the subtelomeric regions of the genome as the interaction progressed. The genes up-regulated by iDC in the presence of A. fumigatus indicated that they were producing a pro-inflammatory response which was consistent with previous transcriptome studies of iDC interacting with A. fumigatus germ tubes. This study shows that A. fumigatus adapts to phagocytosis by iDCs by utilising genes that allow it to survive the interaction rather than just up-regulation of specific virulence genes.},
  subject      = {Dendritische Zelle},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MottolaRamirezZavalaHuenningeretal.2021,
  author    = {Mottola, Austin and Ram{\´i}rez-Zavala, Bernardo and H{\"u}nninger, Kerstin and Kurzai, Oliver and Morschh{\"a}user, Joachim},
  title     = {The zinc cluster transcription factor Czf1 regulates cell wall architecture and integrity in Candida albicans},
  series = {Molecular Microbiology},
  volume    = {116},
  journal   = {Molecular Microbiology},
  number    = {2},
  doi       = {10.1111/mmi.14727},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-259583},
  pages     = {483-497},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The fungal cell wall is essential for the maintenance of cellular integrity and mediates interactions of the cells with the environment. It is a highly flexible organelle whose composition and organization is modulated in response to changing growth conditions. In the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, a network of signaling pathways regulates the structure of the cell wall, and mutants with defects in these pathways are hypersensitive to cell wall stress. By harnessing a library of genetically activated forms of all C. albicans zinc cluster transcription factors, we found that a hyperactive Czf1 rescued the hypersensitivity to cell wall stress of different protein kinase deletion mutants. The hyperactive Czf1 induced the expression of many genes with cell wall-related functions and caused visible changes in the cell wall structure. C. albicans czf1Δ mutants were hypersensitive to the antifungal drug caspofungin, which inhibits cell wall biosynthesis. The changes in cell wall architecture caused by hyperactivity or absence of Czf1 resulted in an increased recognition of C. albicans by human neutrophils. Our results show that Czf1, which is known as a regulator of filamentous growth and white-opaque switching, controls the expression of cell wall genes and modulates the architecture of the cell wall.},
  language  = {en}
}