Alexandra Schubert-Unkmeir

Institute for Hygiene and Mikrobiology
University of Würzburg
Josef-Schneider-Straße 2
D-97080 Würzburg

Tel.: 0931 31 46721
Fax: 0931 31 46445

Email: aunkmeir@hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de
Web: www.hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de/forschung/ag_schubert_unkmeir

Research Area:
Infection Biolgy, Molecular and Cellular Microbiology

Neisseria meningitidis can cross the epithelium of the nasopharynx, gain access to the bloodstream and cause severe septicemia and/or meningitis. In the case of invasive meningococcal diseases endothelial adhesion events must occur during circulation under conditions of physiological blood pressure. To investigate the bacterial and host factors, which contribute to this essential step of invasive meningococcal disease, the group of Alexandra Schubert-Unkmeir aims to develop an in vitro circulatory 2D N. meningitidis-endothelium interaction model. Work on this model and the impact of shear stress on N. gonorrhoeae-host interaction involves the groups of Vera Kozjak-Pavlovic and Thomas Rudel. Furthermore, a human in vitro 3D model of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (B-CSF) barrier will be developed to study colonization and penetration of brain microvessels by N. meningitidis.