Professor Dr. Axel A. Brakhage - Vice President of the DFG since 2020
Member of the Executive Committee
Prof. Dr. Axel A. Brakhage
Prof. Dr. Axel A. Brakhage
Career
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| since 2005 | Scientific Director, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena |
| since 2005 | Head of Department Molecular and Applied Microbiology, HKI Jena |
| since 2004 | Full Professor and Chair of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) Jena |
| 2001 - 2004 | Full Professor and Chair of Microbiology, Leibniz University Hannover |
| 1998 - 2001 | Associate Professor of Microbiology, Technical University of Darmstadt |
| 1996 | Habilitation in microbiology, LMU Munich |
| 1992 - 1998 | Assistant professor (C1), Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, LMU Munich; mentor Prof. Dr. August Böck |
| 1990 - 1992 | Research assistant, University of Sheffield, UK, funded by a postdoctoral fellowship from the DFG |
| 1989 - 1990 | Group leader, biotechnology, BASF AG, Ludwigshafen |
| 1989 | Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) in microbiology, summa cum laude, University of Münster and Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), Paris |
| 1985 | Studies in biology/chemistry, degree (Diplom) in biology at WWU Münster |
Leadership of Research Programmes
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| since 2019 | Spokesperson, DFG Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse", FSU Jena |
| since 2013 | Spokesperson, DFG-CRC/Transregio 124 FungiNet "Pathogenic Fungi and their Human Host: Networks of Interaction" |
| since 2012 | Spokesperson, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) consortium "InfectControl 2020 - New Anti-Infection Strategies – Research • Society • Industry" |
| 2010 - 2020 | Spokesperson, Leibniz Research Cluster "Biotechnology 2020+" |
| since 2007 | Spokesperson, DFG Excellence Graduate School Jena School for Microbial Communication |
| 2006 - 2008 | Founding spokesperson of the Graduate School International Leibniz Research School (ILRS) for Microbial and Biomolecular Interactions |
| 2004 - 2010 | Spokesperson, DFG Priority Programme 1160 "Colonisation and Infection by Human-pathogenic Fungi" |
| 2003 - 2009 | Member of the programme committee, DFG Priority Programme 1152 Evolution of Metabolic Diversity |
Research Policy Activities and Roles
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| since 2020 | Elected as senator, Section 13 – Microbiology and Immunology, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |
| since 2019 | Board of trustees, Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology |
| since 2019 | Scientific advisory board, Heinrich Pette Institute, Hamburg |
| since 2018 | Scientific advisory board, Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, University Hospital Münster |
| since 2017 | Scientific advisory board, Robert Koch Foundation |
| since 2017 | International Scientific Advisory Board, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, Exeter, UK |
| since 2015 | Scientific advisory board, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin |
| 2013 - 2020 | Deputy spokesperson, Leibniz Research Alliance "Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnology" |
| 2010 - 2018 | Scientific advisory board, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig |
| 2010 - 2018 | Scientific advisory board, Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research, Saarbrücken |
| 2010 - 2020 | Scientific advisory board, Research Center Borstel, deputy chair since 2013 |
| since 2009 | Scientific advisory board, Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF), Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg |
| 2009 - 2016 | Supervisory board, Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig |
| 2009 - 2011 | President, German Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) |
| 2008 - 2019 | University Council (re-appointed in 2011, 2014), FSU Jena |
| 2008 - 2015 | Member and spokesperson (2012-2015) of the DFG Review Board 204 Microbiology, Virology and Immunology |
| 2007 - 2016 | Liaison officer for scientific misconduct, FSU Jena |
| 2007 - 2009 | First Vice President, German Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) |
| 2005 - 2010 | Scientific advisory board, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen |
| since 2005 | Faculty Council, Faculty of Biological Sciences, FSU Jena |
| 2003 - 2004 | Dean, Department of Biology, Leibniz University Hannover |
| 2003 - 2010 | Scientific advisory board, Center for Microbial Biotechnology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) |
| 2002 - 2006 / 2009 - 2015 | Scientific advisory board, Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Würzburg (JMU) |
| since 1998 | Editor of various journals, including eLife, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology, Applied and Microbial Biotechnology, Frontiers in Microbiology, microLife |
| since 1995 | Involvement in projects of the European Union |
Prizes and Honours
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Foundation Lecture, British Society for Medical Mycology, Sheffield, UK |
| 2017 | Elected as Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology |
| 2016 | Elected as Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology |
| 2015 | Honorary member of the German-Speaking Mycological Society (DMykG) |
| 2014 | Career Award (Hauptpreis) of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology |
| 2008 | Elected member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina |
| 2006 | Heinz Seeliger Prize for Infection Biology |
| 1990 | DFG postdoctoral fellowship |
Core Research Areas
- Infection biology of human-pathogenic fungi, host-pathogen interactions
- Biotechnology and development of microbial bioactive compounds / antibiotics
- Microbial communication – functional microbiome research
Publications
Number of publications in peer-reviewed journals: 260, plus 7 patents
Selected Publications
- Stroe MC, Netzker T, Scherlach K, Krüger T, Hertweck C, Valiante V, Brakhage AA (2020) Targeted induction of a silent gene cluster of Aspergillus fumigatus encoding the bacteria-specific spore germination inhibitor fumigermin by Streptomyces rapamycinicus. eLife 9, e5254.
- Bacher P, Hohnstein T, Beerbaum E, Röcker M, Blango MG, Kaufmann S, Röhmel J, Eschenhagen P, Grehn C, Seidel K, Rickerts V, Lozza L, Stervbo U, Nienen M, Babel N, Milleck J, Assenmacher M, Cornely OA, Ziegler M, Wisplinghoff H, Heine G, Worm M, Siegmund B, Maul J, Creutz P, Tabeling C, Ruwwe-Glösenkamp C, Sander LE, Knosalla C, Brunke S, Hube B, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA, Schwarz C, Scheffold A (2019) Human antifungal Th17 immunity and pathology rely on cross-reactivity against Candida albicans. Cell 176, 1340-1355.
- Stappers MHT, Clark AE, Aimanianda V, Bidula S, Reid DM, Asamaphan P, Hardison SE, Dambuza IM, Valsecchi I, Kerscher B, Plato A, Wallace CA, Yuecel R, Hebecker B, da Glória Teixeira Sousa M, Cunha C, Liu Y, Feizi T, Brakhage AA, Kwon-Chung KJ, Gow NAR, Zanda M, Piras, M, Zanato C, Jaeger M, Netea MG, van de Veerdonk FL, Lacerdai JF, Campos Jr. A, Carvalho A, Willment JA, Latgé J-P, Brown GD (2018) Recognition of DHN-melanin by a C-type lectin receptor is required for immunity to Aspergillus.
Nature 555, 382-386. - Fischer J, Müller SY, Netzker T, Jäger N, Gacek-Matthews A, Scherlach K, Stroe MC, Garcia-Altares M, Pezzini F, Schoeler H, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Krespach MK, Shelest E, Schroeckh V, Valiante V, Heinzel T, Hertweck C, Strauss J, Brakhage AA (2018) Chromatin mapping identifies BasR, a key regulator of bacteria-triggered production of fungal secondary metabolites. eLife 7, pii: e40969.
- Bacher P, Heinrich F, Stervbo U, Nienen M, Vahldieck M, Iwert V, Vogt K, Kollet J, Babel N, Sawitzki B, Schwarz C, Beereswill S, Heimesaat M, Heine G, Gadermaier G, Asam C, Assenmacher M, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA, Ferreira-Briza F, Wallner M, Worm M, Scheffold A (2016) Regulatory T cell specificity directs tolerance versus allergy against aeroantigens in humans. Cell 167, 1067-1078.
- Gsaller F, Hortschansky P, Beattie SR, Klammer V, Tuppatsch K, Lechner BE, Rietzschel N, Werner ER, Vogan AA, Chung D, Mühlenhoff U, Kato M, Cramer RR, Brakhage AA*, Haas H* (2014) The Janus transcription factor HapX controls fungal adaptation to both iron starvation and iron excess. EMBO Journal 33, 2261-2276.
*corresponding authors - Nützmann H-W, Reyes-Dominguez Y, Scherlach K, Schroeckh V, Horn F, Gacek A, Schümann J, Hertweck C, Strauss J, Brakhage AA (2011) Bacteria-induced natural product formation in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans requires Saga/Ada mediated histone acetylation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 108, 14282-14287.
- Burmester A, ……, Brakhage AA (2011) Comparative and functional genomics provide insights into the pathogenicity of dermatophytic fungi. Genome Biology 12, R8.
- Thön M, Al-Abdalah Q, Hortschansky P, Scharf DH, Eisendle M, Haas H, Brakhage AA (2010) The CCAAT-binding complex coordinates the oxidative stress response in eukaryotes. Nucleic Acids Research 38, 1098-1111.
- Aimanianda V, Bayry J, Bozza S, Kniemeyer O, Perruccio K, Elluru SR, Clavaud C, Paris S, Brakhage AA, Kaveri SV, Romani L, Latgé J-P (2009) Surface hydrophobin prevents immune recognition of airborne fungal spores. Nature 460, 1117-1121.
- Schroeckh V, Scherlach K, Nuetzmann H-W, Shelest E, Schmidt-Heck W, Schuemann J, Martin K, Hertweck C*, Brakhage AA* (2009) Intimate bacterial-fungal interaction triggers biosynthesis of archetypal polyketides in Aspergillus nidulans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 106, 14558-14563. *corresponding authors
- Hortschansky P, Eisendle M, Al-Abdallah Q, Schmidt AD, Bergmann S, Kniemeyer O, Thön M, Abt B, Seeber B, Werner E, Kato M, Brakhage AA*, Haas H* (2007) Interaction of HapX with the CCAATbinding complex – a novel mechanism of gene regulation by iron. EMBO Journal 26, 3157-3168. *corresponding authors
- Bergmann S, Schuemann J, Scherlach K, Lange C, Brakhage AA*, Hertweck C* (2007) Genomicsdriven discovery of PKS-NRPS hybrid metabolites from Aspergillus nidulans. Nature Chemical Biology 3, 213-217. *corresponding authors
Selected Patents
- Mattern D, Valiante V, Petzke L, Herold A, Brakhage AA (2015) Gene cluster identification and manipulation for the fermentative production of different austin derivatives. EP 15200500.5