Melanin in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatur: discovery of a novel melanin in the fungus and the use of conidial melanin as a target for camelid heavy-chain antibodies [Elektronische Ressource] / von Jeanette Christina Schmaler-Ripcke

Melanin in the human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus: Discovery of a novel melanin in the fungus and the use of conidial melanin as a target for camelid heavy-chain antibodies Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) vorgelegt dem Rat der Biologisch-Pharmazeutischen Fakultät der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena von Dipl.-Apothekerin Jeannette Christina Schmaler-Ripcke geboren am 23.11.1979 in Hoyerswerda 2009 1. Gutachter: Prof. Axel A. Brakhage, Jena 2. Gutachter: Prof. Bernhard Hube, Jena 3. Gutachter: Prof. Gerhard Braus, Göttingen Datum der öffentlichen Verteidigung: 1. Dezember 2009Abstract I ABSTRACT The most important air-borne fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, is the causative agent of invasive aspergillosis. This disease is often fatal for immunocompromised patients due to the difficult diagnosis and limited therapy. The biosynthesis of the pigment dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN) -melanin is an important virulence determinant of this fungus. DHN-melanin is predominantly present in conidia, and it may be produced during infection to protect the fungus from the host immune system. This work aimed at: (i) studying the role of melanisation as pathogenicity mechanism and (ii) detecting the fungus with the help of a melanin specific antibody.