Karl Kuchler Lab

My group currently emphasizes two main areas that are related in terms of model organisms and topics. First, we are dissecting the molecular mechanisms of selected eukaryotic ATP-binding Cassette (ABC) transporters. In particular, we are studying their role in stress signaling in yeast and in fungal pathogens of medical importance. We are also interested to delineate the mechanisms underlying clinical antifungal drug resistance development, and we study transcriptional networks that control drug resistance and stress response in Candida albicans and baker's yeast. Second, host-pathogen relationships represent a new area of intense research interest, particularly the determinants of fungal virulence and pathogenicity. A third major project on mammalian ABC proteins will start by early 2005. Hence, within the next 3 years, my laboratory shall pursue several main research topics supported by personnel as indicated:

• Molecular structure-function analysis and expression regulation of ABC proteins in lower eukaryotes (yeast, fungal pathogens, stress response, drug resistance mechanisms and signal transduction).
• Molecular mechanism of fungal virulence and host-pathogen interaction (Signal transduction during host cell invasion, immune response, animal models to study pathogenesis).
• Molecular medicine and systems biology of novel genes encoding mammalian ABC proteins (Genetic analysis of hepatic, intestinal and brain ABC transporters).
• Database of Systems Biology researchers
• Database of ABC protein researchers