Florian Groeber-Becker

Translational Center Regenerative Therapies TLCRT
Röntgenring 11
D-97070 Würzburg

Tel.: 0 931 4100-136
Email: florian.kai.groeber-becker@isc.fraunhofer.de

Web: https://www.regenerative-therapien.fraunhofer.de/en/fields-of-activity/in-vitro-test-systems.html

The human parasite Trypanosoma b. gambiense is transmitted via the tsetse fly that injects the parasites into the subcutaneous tissue. From there it disseminates via the vasculature to other organs such as the brain causing the effects of the life-threatening human sleeping sickness. Hence, the focus together with the group of Markus Engstler on the skin- vasculature-interface. To better understand the penetration into the blood vessels, we work on the refinement of the existing skin models and aim to establish a vascularized skin model based on state-of-the-art bioprinting approaches provided by Jürgen Groll. In the future, the work can help to develop therapeutics to block the transmission of parasite I to the bloodstream and thus render the systemic infection to a local effect.