Microbial Drugs

The majority of the medically important antibiotic drugs are derived from secondary metabolites, which are produced by bacteria and filamentous fungi. Despite intensive world-wide efforts using alternative approaches, no other concept could so far surpass the historically successful strategy to exploit biologically active natural products as candidates for anti-infective drugs. The recently observed, increasing resistance of the human pathogens against antibiotics has prompted us to intensify our search for novel lead structures from microorganisms and fungi, which can be used as anti-infective drugs.

Leader

Team

Sandra Halecker

PhD Student

Curriculum Vitae

Since 09/2013 
PhD student in the group of Prof. Marc Stadler, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

10/2012 - 06/2013            
Diploma thesis in the department of Prof. Dr. Marc Stadler,  Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany Title: “Charakterisierung der Sekundärmetabolitbildung des pathogenen Ascomyceten Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus und der endophytischen Mycobiota seines Wirtsbaumes Fraxinus excelsior”  

2003 - 2013                     
study of biotechnology at the Technical University of Braunschweig (focus on bioprocess engineering)

Abstract 
The ascomycete Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus was proven to be the causal agent of ash dieback in extended parts of Europe, however, virulence factors responsible for the pathogenicity of this fungus are hitherto unknown. My project will focus on the novel antimicrobially active natural product from H. pseudoalbidus that was recently isolated by me and my colleagues in preliminary work and furthermore on the exploitation of new secondary metabolites of the pathogen by using antagonistic assays as well as chemical-epigenetic methods to induce changes in fungal secondary metabolism. The cultures (from fermentations in solid and liquid media) of several strains of H. pseudoalbidus and of promising antagonists will be screened by HPLC/DAD-MS profiling and antimicrobial assays and the most promising biologically active compounds will be isolated using bioassay-guided isolation procedures using preparative chromatography and identified by NMR and MS.    

Mycology

Natural Product Chemistry

Fermentation

Microbial Strain Collection

Guests and former members

Over the past years, our department has become a training centre for young researchers who came to the HZI from all over Germany, Europe and other continents.

Former PhD students (including guests; if they graduated abroad or at other German research facilities, the universities/institutes where they were working are listed)

Dr. Kevin Becker

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57203983531

Dr. Samad Ashrafi (JKI Braunschweig)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56376369700

Dr. Amelie Glemser

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amelie-Glemser

Dr. Lilibeth Chaverra-Munoz

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57205703399

Dr. Tian Cheng

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57200618210

Dr. Clara Chepkirui

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191512092

Dr. Boontiya Chuankind (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57203999176

Dinushani Anupama Daranagama

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56436667800

Sandra Halecker

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56100561300

Dr. Khadija Hassan

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57223933186

Sae Kanaki (former BSc student)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57201120169

Dr. Sarunpron Khruengsai (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57208059889

Dr. Wilawan Kuephadungphan (Prince of Songkla University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194599410

Dr. Eric Kuhnert

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55711117800

Dr. Sebastian Lopez-Fernandez

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=58332210500

Dr. Ausana Mapook (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55984885800

Dr.  Lucky Mulwa

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57201089726

Dana Nedder (former MSc student)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57909360100

Maira Michehl (former BSc student)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57208547387

Dr. Nico Mitschke (former MSc student)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194775733

Dr. Abolfazl Narmani Kordlar

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55577177000

Dr. Allen G. Niego (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194589053

Dr. Sarah Raouia Noumeur (Univ. Batna, Algeria)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57192706285

Dr. Pathompong Paomephan (Mahidol University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57190839836

Associate Prof. Dr. Chayanard Phukhamsakda (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56663217400

Kunthida Gift Phutthacharoen

Dr. Mohammad Javad Pourmoghaddam

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57214091702

Dr. Gian Primahana

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57200047825

Dr. Monique Rascher

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191329035

Dr. Christian Richter

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christian-Richter-10/research

Dr. Milan Samarakoon (Chiang Mai University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57194189277

Dr. Zeljka Rupcic

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191328786

Dr. Lulu Shao

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57212510174

Chutima Tanapichatsakul (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57197754876

Dr. Esteban B. Sir (Universidad de Buenos Aires)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55768990200

Dr. Benjarong (Zine) Thongbai (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55940744700

Dr. Naritsada Thongklang (Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=54997948600

Dr. Lucile Wendt

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56754857700

Former postdocs and guest PhD students (including researchers funded by AvH, DAAD and other grants)

Dr. Adela Cmokova

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56120956600

Dr. Güner Ekiz

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55922281800

Prof. Dr. Soleiman Helaly (†)

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35118897900

Dr. Stephan Hüttel

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57195363421

Dr. Lili Jia

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57209258668

Prof. Dr. Allan Patrick Macabeo

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8632579600

Dr. Ashaimaa Y. Moussa

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55038572000

Dr. Kathrin I. Mohr

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=12774474800

M.Sc. Chitwadee Phithakrotchanakoon

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=25638715800

Dr. Sara Rodrigo

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55443450900

Dr. Enge Sudarman

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=14029509100

Prof. Dr. Rémy Bertrand Teponno

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=1300510400

Dr. Vincent Wiebach

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56682133300

Dr. Kathrin Wittstein

https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=36515782700

Former technical staff

Burkhard Ebert

Simone Heitkämper

Christel Kakoschke

Kerstin Schobert

Romy Vogel

Philine Wotsch

Story: New drugs from fungi

HZI researchers traveled to Yaoundé, Cameroon, for a workshop on the collection, culture and identification of fungal strains. A new research hub will strengthen natural product research in fungi in the country. [read more]

Bachelor & Master
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Video

  • How do researchers at the HZI and HIPS develop antibiotic candidates from natural products?

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