Karl Kuchler is at the Vienna Biocenter, with a main interest in deciphering mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and antifungal immune response. The group is particulary interested to use systems biology approaches for deconvoluting the complexity and dynamics underlying the immune surveillance of major human fungal pathogens.
Karl Kucher is an Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics at the Medical University of Vienna. He also held faculty positions in the Depatment of Molecular Genetics of Vienna, The University of Alberta and University of California Berkeley. He also holds experience in scientific Management, Organization and PhD student supervision. Karl has supported multiple leading conferences such as, 2016 CESC Meeting on Mycology, 2015 Chromosome Stability, 2015 GRC, and the Meeting of Paracoccioides & Mycoses.
Research
Studying fundamental problems in infection biology using a combination of molecular as well as genome-wide and systems biology approaches. We are particularly interested in a better understanding of the dynamic gene regulation during host-pathogen interplay, with a focus on fungal pathogens such as Candida spp.
On the pathogen side, we use reverse genetics, systems biology and functional genomics strategies (gene deletions, RNA-Seq / Chip-Seq) to identify virulence and antifungal drug resistance genes, decipher the role of histone modifications and chromatin alterations in morphogenetic switching or cell fate determination, and study signaling mechanisms during fungal morphogenesis and host colonization.
On the host side, we exploit transcriptomics and proteomics of primary phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils) and T cells to study the mechanisms of gene regulation underlying fungal immunity, The interplay of adaptive (T cells) and innate (dendritic cells) immunity in fungal surveillance, and type I interferon signaling (i.e. IFNbeta) and inflammation controlling the function and activity of inflammatory phagocytes (monocytes, neutrophils and T cells), and the critical role of Th17 inflammation on pathogen elimination in invasive fungal diseases.
For more information please visit http://www.cdl.univie.ac.at/