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]
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