Projects
Ergosterol biosynthesis project
Mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance; Identification of the mode of action of novel antifungals.
Key Publications:
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Phan-Canh T, Coman C, Lackner M, Troppmair N, Müller C, Cerbu D, Seiser S, Penninger P, Tsymala I, Khunweeraphong N, Bitencourt T, Knarr A, Jenull S, Arzani H, Zenz LM, Ianiri G, Chen W, Chowdhary A, Mobley HLT, Hartl M, Moser D, Ahrensds R, Elbe-Bürger A, Kuchler K. Candida auris skin tropism and antifungal resistance are mediated by carbonic anhydrase Nce103. Nature Microbiology, 2025; in press.
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Elsaman H, Golubtsov E, Brazil S, Ng N, Klugherz I, Martin R, Dichtl K, Müller C, Wagener J. Toxic eburicol accumulation drives the antifungal activity of azoles against Aspergillus fumigatus. Nature Communications, 2024; 15: 6312
- Müller C, Binder U, Bracher F, Giera M. Antifungal drug testing: Combining minimal inhibitory concentration testing with target identification by the use of gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Nature Protocols, 2017, 12:947-963.
Cholesterol biosynthesis project
Analysis of neurosteroids; Analysis of sterols in body tissues/fluids; Druggability of 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24).
Key Publications:
- Feng R, Spieth L, Liu L, Berghoff S, Franz J, Liu Q, Wang Z, Tiwari V, Vitale S, Frerich S, Florensa S, Junker N, Huber L, Keller M, Müller C, Bracher F, Ge X, Rensen PCN, Kooij G, Hosang L, Chornyi S, Dichgans M, Gokce O, Saher G, Stadelmann C, Giera M, Groh J, Simons M. Single-cell spatial transcriptomic profiling defines a pathogenic inflammatory niche in chronic active multiple sclerosis lesions. Immunity, 2025; 58: 1-17.
- Junker J, Kamp F, Winkler E, Steiner H, Bracher F, Müller C. Effective sample preparation procedure for the analysis of free neutral steroids, free steroid acids and sterol sulfates in different tissues by GC-MS. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2021; 211:105880.
- Müller C, Junker J, Bracher F, Giera M. A gas chromatography – mass spectrometry based whole cell screening assay for target identification in distal cholesterol biosynthesis. Nature Protocols, 2019; 14:2546-2570.
Environmental project
Method development for trace analysis of pesticides, pharmaceuticals,persistent organic pollutants, and new emerging pollutants from different matrices by GC-MS/MS; Analysis of environmental pollution and loss of biodiversity.
Key Publications:
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Peter M, Němcová B, Twietmeyer S, Schumacher N, Klamm A, Luckas V, Henrich M, Puffpaff S, Rönitz T, Schneider A, Adamczak O, Busse A, Bracher J, Heurich M, Müller C. Deer as sentinels of emerging environmental pollution: Assessing contamination patterns and seasonal variations. Science of The Total Environment, 2026; 1015, 181415.
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Schnelle A, Peter M, Müller C, Risch M, Liedvogel M, Bouwhuis S. A comprehensive assessment of contaminant exposure in an endangered tern population. Environmental Research, 2025; 285: 122444.
- Schanzer S, Koch M, Kiefer A, Jentke T, Veith M, Bracher F, Bracher J, Müller C. Analysis of pesticide and persistent organic pollutant residues in German bats. Chemosphere, 2022; 305:135342.
Barn dust project
Preparation of stable barn dust extracts for the prevention and treatment of asthma and allergies.
Key Publications:
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WO 2023/012221 (2023). von Mutius E, Rankl B, Bracher F, Müller CA, Walker A, Hauck S, Merl-Pham J, Adler H, Yildirim AÖ, Sattler M, Santos Dias Mourão A, Borggräfe J, O'Connor PD, Plettenburg O: “Proteins identified from barn dust extract for the prevention and treatment of diseases”
- Korkmaz RÜ, Omony J, Tan X, Klotz M, Dragunas G, Chen S, Shankhwar S, Ertüz Z, Müller C, Ragab M, Jeridi A, Augustin R, Nawroth J, Kapellos TS, Rankl B, Yildirim AÖ, von Mutius E. The therapeutic potential of farm dust extracts in a mouse model of eosinophilic inflammation. Allergy, 2025; in press.
- Dos Santos MM, Pivniouk V, Rankl B, Walker A, Pagani G, Hertkorn N, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Müller C, Bracher F, Merl-Pham J, Hauck SM, Schloter M, Michael AN, Anderson D, Honeker L, Gozdz J, Pivniouk O, Ober C, Holbreich M, Martinez FD, Snyder SA, von Mutius E, Vercelli D. Asthma-protective agents in dust from traditional farm environments. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2023; 152: 610-621.