We constantly inhale spores of Aspergillus fumigatus —the pathogenic fungus that is the focus of our research—that are present in the air. In healthy individuals, the immune system can fight off the fungus. However, in the lungs of patients with weakened immune systems, it can survive within immune cells. Similarly, other pathogenic microorganisms can also evade destruction by our immune system and cause disease.
The discovery of antibiotics was one of the greatest breakthroughs in healthcare and has saved countless lives. However, the constant use of antibiotics in recent years has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Therefore, there is currently a great need for new antibiotics and therapeutic strategies to combat these pathogens. Antibiotics are small chemical molecules that can specifically kill microorganisms. In nature, for example, they are produced by bacteria and fungi as a weapon against competing organisms. They are part of the language that microorganisms use to communicate with one another in nature. Our research into microbial communication may lead to the identification of new active compounds that can be used to treat infectious diseases.
