News
Understanding how bacterial colonisation antagonizes a pathogenic fungus: metabolites matter
Candida albicans is probably not the fastest or the strongest of our enemies. This fungus lives in all of us, in several parts of our bodies, mostly as a harmless commensal. However, when there are no defenders to be seen, C. albicans can seize the opportunity and become pathogenic, potentially posi…
more… Understanding how bacterial colonisation antagonizes a pathogenic fungus: metabolites matter
How do fungal infections spread in the human lung?
A chip-based infection model developed by Jena researchers enables live microscopic observation of damage to lung tissue caused by the invasive fungal infection aspergillosis. The team developed algorithms to track the spread of fungal hyphae as well as the response of immune cells. The development …
Arts & Science: Genesis of an Artistic Fact
In summer 2021 scientists and artists come together for a unique exchange between the disciplines. The project “Entstehung einer künstlerischen Tatsache” (“Genesis of an Artistic Fact”) enables scientists to gain new perspectives on their work and artists to expand their artistic practice through sc…
Alternative energy in the fungal cell
Until now, almost all studies suggested that the formation of hyphae is one of the most important virulence factors of the yeast Candida albicans. Ilse Jacobsen, Project leader of FungiNet Project C5 at Leibniz-HKI and her team in in Jena – in close collaboration with the group of Thomas Dandekar wi…
TRR 124 FungiNet granted DFG funding for a further four years
The German Research Foundation (DFG) will fund the Collaborative Research Center/Transregio (CRC/TR) “FungiNet” for four more years with approximately ten million Euro. In the only CRC studying human pathogenic fungi, scientists in Jena and Würzburg will investigate infection processes and novel the…
more… TRR 124 FungiNet granted DFG funding for a further four years
Cellular altruism
Candida albicans forms filaments on epithelial cells that help the fungus attach and cause infections. Infections caused by yeasts of the genus Candida trigger an immune response that was previously known only in the defense against viruses, bacteria or parasites. A research team from Jena including…
Wissenschaftler:innen und Karriere Jena
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) promotes equal opportunities for scientists in its programmes. In order to pool and use the equal opportunities funds of coordinated programmes for targeted and tailored measures, the association "Wissenschaftler:innen und Karriere Jena" („Scientists and Car…
Coinfection: More than the sum of its parts
Infections with two pathogens pose a serious threat in the clinics. Researchers from Würzburg and Jena have developed a technique that provides new insights into this process and can be used as an early warning system. Organ and stem cell transplants are proven and frequently used methods in everyda…
Antibiotics affect balance of intestinal microbiome
Treatment with antibiotics has a lasting effect on the microbiome in the digestive system. While the bacterial flora is largely regenerated within 30 to 90 days after drug treatment, its interaction with resident fungi changes. In a combination of bioinformatic analyses and laboratory experiments, a…