糖心原创

Cells, Organisms and Molecular Genetics

Our research team

The Cells, Organisms and Molecular Genetics team here at the 糖心原创’s School of Life Sciences is a diverse, collaborative group of researchers. We’re academics, postdoctoral research fellows, research technicians and postgraduate students, all working together to break new ground and make a real impact on the world around us.

Image of Matthias Brock

Matthias Brock

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

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Biography

1994-1995 Basic studies in Biology at the Johannes-Guternberg University Mainz, Germany; 1995-1998 Studies of Microbiology at the Philipps University Marburg, Germany, 1997 Erasums/Sokrates exchange program with the University of Oxford, UK; 1998 Diploma in Microbiology at the Philipps University Marburg, Germany; 1998-2001 PhD student at the Phillips University Marburg, Germany; 2001 Research Associate at the Phillips University Marburg, Germany; 2001-2005 Assistant Professor at the Leibniz University Hannover, Germany; 2005 Advanced Training at the Institute Pasteur, Paris, France, 2005-2006 Group leader "Biochemistry and Physiology of Filamentous Fungi" at the Department for Molecular and Applied Microbiology at the Leibniz Institute for Natural product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany; 2006-2011 Independent research group leader "Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology" at the Leibniz Institute for Natural product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany; 2010 Venia Legendi at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany; 2011-2012 Head of the research group "Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology" at the Leibniz Institute for Natural product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany; 2012-2015 Head of the research group "Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology" at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany; since 2015 Assistant Professor at the 糖心原创 in the Fungal Biology and Genetics Group

Expertise Summary

The following key aspects are studied in the group:

- Metabolic physiology of fungi during infection processes

- In vivo bioluminescence imaging of fungal infections

- Interactions of Aspergillus species with immune cells

- Secondary metabolite production by Aspergillus terreus

- Heterologous secondary metabolite production in Aspergillus niger

Teaching Summary

Teaching includes all aspects of fungi. This includes the production of toxins as well as antibiotics or psychedelic drugs, fungal infections of plants, humans, insects and nematodes,… read more

Research Summary

The group focuses on filamentous fungi and yeasts that are of medical or industrial importance. We establish and develop tailored bioluminescence imaging systems to study the pathogenicity of human… read more

Selected Publications

  • GRESSLER M, HORTSCHANSKY P, GEIB E and BROCK M, 2015. Frontiers in microbiology. 6, 184
  • ZAEHLE C, GRESSLER M, SHELEST E, GEIB E, HERTWECK C and BROCK M, 2014. Chemistry & biology. 21(6), 719-31
  • SLESIONA S, GRESSLER M, MIHLAN M, ZAEHLE C, SCHALLER M, BARZ D, HUBE B, JACOBSEN ID and BROCK M, 2012. PloS one. 7(2), e31223
  • FLECK CB and BROCK M, 2010. Eukaryotic cell. 9(7), 1120-35

Teaching includes all aspects of fungi. This includes the production of toxins as well as antibiotics or psychedelic drugs, fungal infections of plants, humans, insects and nematodes, biotechnological exploitation as producers of enzymes and small molecules and immune interactions of fungal pathogens. Basic contents are delivered in first and second year lectures and practicals. Advanced content and integration into research is realized in 3rd and 4th year projects.

Current Research

The group focuses on filamentous fungi and yeasts that are of medical or industrial importance. We establish and develop tailored bioluminescence imaging systems to study the pathogenicity of human pathogenic fungi. These systems are used by collaboration partners in different countries to study disease progression and therapeutic options in in vitro and in vivo model systems. The second focus is on the exploitation of the pharmaceutical potential of secondary metabolites from fungal or synthetic sources. A special emphasis is given on the investigation of NRPS-like enzymes that produce bioactive small molecules that are used by the natural producer for stress protection, quorum sensing or pathogenicity. However, several of these molecules have a great potential as pharmaceutical drugs due to anti-viral and antibiotic effects or as drugs in type II diabetes treatment. We have developed new heterologous expression systems in Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae that allow rapid cloning and high-level expression of heterologous genes for investigating these enzymes. In addition, by combining genes from different organisms and changing the cultivation conditions, we are able to produce "novel-to-nature" metabolites that are investigated for their biological activities.

Future Research

In a BBSRC-funded research project we aim to understand the enzymatic mechanisms of metabolite production from non-reducing NRPS-like enzymes with the aim to modify the proteins for a tailor made production of new compounds. This interdisciplinary project involves researchers with expertise in molecular and synthetic biology, chemistry, dynamic modeling and pharmacy.

  • VANHERP, LIESBETH, RISTANI, ALEXANDRA, POELMANS, JENNIFER, HILLEN, AMY, LAGROU, KATRIEN, JANBON, GUILHEM, BROOK, MATTHIAS, HIMMELREICH, UWE and VANDE VELDE, GREETJE, 2019. Sensitive bioluminescence imaging of fungal dissemination to the brain in mouse models of cryptococcosis DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS. 12(6),
  • ARAUJJO, DANIELLE SILVA, PEREIRA, MARISTELA, PORTIS, IGOR GODINHO, MOREIRA DOS SANTOS JUNIOR, AGENOR DE CASTRO, FONTES, WAGNER, DE SOUSA, MARCELO VALLE, ASSUNCAO, LEANDRO DO PRADO, BAEZA, LILIAN CRISTIANE, BAILAO, ALEXANDRE MELLO, ORNELAS RICART, CARLOS ANDRE, BROCK, MATTHIAS and DE ALMEIDA SOARES, CELIA MARIA, 2019. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY. 10,
  • GEIB, ELENA, BALDEWEG, FLORIAN, DOERFER, MAXIMILIAN, NETT, MARKUS and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2019. CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY. 26(2), 223-+
  • PERSYN, ARANKA, ROGIERS, ONA, BROCK, MATTHIAS, VANDE VELDE, GREETJE, LAMKANFI, MOHAMED, JACOBSEN, ILSE D., HIMMELREICH, UWE, LAGROU, KATRIEN, VAN DIJCK, PATRICK and KUCHARIKOVA, SONA, 2019. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY. 63(2),
  • DELLAFIORA, LUCA, AICHINGER, GEORG, GEIB, ELENA, SANCHEZ-BARRIONUEVO, LEYRE, BROCK, MATTHIAS, CANOVAS, DAVID, DALL'ASTA, CHIARA and MARKO, DORIS, 2019. FOOD CHEMISTRY. 270, 61-69
  • DE ASSIS, LEANDRO JOSE, MANFIOLLI, ADRIANA, MATTOS, ELICIANE, MARILHANO FABRI, JOAO H. T., MALAVAZI, IRAN, JACOBSEN, ILSE D., BROCK, MATTHIAS, CRAMER, ROBERT A., THAMMAHONG, ARSA, HAGIWARA, DAISUKE, ANNICK RIES, LAURE NICOLAS and GOLDMAN, GUSTAVO HENRIQUE, 2018. MBIO. 9(6),
  • POELMAN, JENNIFER, HIMMELREICH, UWE, VANHERP, LIESBETH, ZHAI, LUCA, HILLEN, AMY, HOLVOET, BRYAN, BELDERBOS, SARAH, BROCK, MATTHIAS, MAERTENS, JOHAN, VANDE VELDE, GREETJE and LAGROU, KATRIEN, 2018. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY. 62(7),
  • DE CURCIO, JULIANA S., PACCEZ, JULIANO A., NOVAES, EVANDRO, BROCK, MATHIAS and DE ALMEIDA SOARES, CELIA MARIA, 2018. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY. 9,
  • NARANJO-ORT脥Z MA, BROCK M, BRUNKE S, HUBE B, MARCET-HOUBEN M and GABALD脫N T, 2017. Frontiers in microbiology. 7, 2001
  • HSIEH SH, BRUNKE S and BROCK M, 2017. Frontiers in microbiology. 8, 117
  • HSIEH SH, KURZAI O and BROCK M, 2017. Scientific reports. 7(1), 10590
  • BRANDENBURGER E, GRESSLER M, LEONHARDT R, LACKNER G, HABEL A, HERTWECK C, BROCK M and HOFFMEISTER D, 2017. Applied and environmental microbiology. (In Press.)
  • GEIB E and BROCK M, 2017. Microorganisms. 5(2),
  • GEIB E and BROCK M, 2017. Fungal biology and biotechnology. 4, 13
  • SKRAHINA, VOLHA, BROCK, MATTHIAS, HUBE, BERNHARD and BRUNKE, SASCHA, 2017. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY. 8,
  • HSIEH, SHIH-HUNG and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2017. FUNGAL BIOLOGY. 121(11), 929-938
  • FUNK, JANA, SCHAARSCHMIDT, BARBARA, SLESIONA, SILVIA, HALLSTROM, TERESIA, HORN, UWE and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2016. International journal of medical microbiology : IJMM. 306(1), 59-68
  • SAVERS, AMELIE, RASID, ORHAN, PARLATO, MARIANNA, BROCK, MATTHIAS, JOUVION, GREGORY, RYFFEL, BERNHARD, CAVAILLON, JEAN-MARC, EBERL, GERARD and IBRAHIM-GRANET, OUMAIMA, 2016. PloS one. 11(4), e0153829
  • GEIB, ELENA, GRESSLER, MARKUS, VIEDIERNIKOVA, IULIIA, HILLMANN, FALK, JACOBSEN, ILSE D, NIETZSCHE, SANDOR, HERTWECK, CHRISTIAN and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2016. A Non-canonical Melanin Biosynthesis Pathway Protects Aspergillus terreus Conidia from Environmental Stress. Cell chemical biology. 23(5), 587-97
  • GRESNIGT, MARK S., REKIKI, ABDESSALEM, RASID, ORHAN, SAVERS, AMELIE, JOUVION, GREGORY, DANNAOUI, ERIC, PARLATO, MARIANNA, FITTING, CATHERINE, BROCK, MATTHIAS, CAVAILLON, JEAN-MARC, VAN DE VEERDONK, FRANK L. and IBRAHIM-GRANET, OUMAIMA, 2016. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 6,
  • KALLEDA N, AMICH J, ARSLAN B, POREDDY S, MATTENHEIMER K, MOKHTARI Z, EINSELE H, BROCK M, HEINZE KG and BEILHACK A, 2016. Frontiers in microbiology. 7, 1107
  • GRESSLER M, HORTSCHANSKY P, GEIB E and BROCK M, 2015. Frontiers in microbiology. 6, 184
  • GRESSLER, MARKUS, MEYER, FLORIAN, HEINE, DANIEL, HORTSCHANSKY, PETER, HERTWECK, CHRISTIAN and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2015. eLife. 4,
  • KALLEDA, N., AMICH, J., BEILHACK, A., HEINZE, K., BROCK, M., KALLEDA, N., AMICH, J., BEILHACK, A., HEINZE, K., BROCK, M. and KALLEDA, N., 2015. Myeloid cells act as major host defense against pulmonary Aspergillus fumigatus infections under immunocompromised conditions MYCOSES. 58, 23-24
  • BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2015. CYTOMETRY PART A. 87A(9), 793-794
  • ZAEHLE C, GRESSLER M, SHELEST E, GEIB E, HERTWECK C and BROCK M, 2014. Chemistry & biology. 21(6), 719-31
  • PAPON N, COURDAVAULT V, LANOUE A, CLASTRE M and BROCK M, 2014. PLoS pathogens. 10(7), e1004179
  • JACOBSEN ID, L脺TTICH A, KURZAI O, HUBE B and BROCK M, 2014. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy. 69(10), 2785-96
  • BRUNKE S, SEIDER K, RICHTER ME, BREMER-STRECK S, RAMACHANDRA S, KIEHNTOPF M, BROCK M and HUBE B, 2014. Eukaryotic cell. 13(6), 758-65
  • RAMACHANDRA S, LINDE J, BROCK M, GUTHKE R, HUBE B and BRUNKE S, 2014. PloS one. 9(3), e92734
  • OTZEN C, BARDL B, JACOBSEN ID, NETT M and BROCK M, 2014. The Journal of biological chemistry. 289(12), 8151-69
  • GALIGER C, BROCK M, JOUVION G, SAVERS A, PARLATO M and IBRAHIM-GRANET O, 2013. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. 57(7), 3046-59
  • OTZEN C, M脺LLER S, JACOBSEN ID and BROCK M, 2013. FEMS yeast research. 13(6), 553-64
  • FELICITAS FAZIUS, CHRISTOPH ZACHLE and MATTHIAS BROCK, 2013. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 97(9), 3763-3772
  • SLESIONA S, IBRAHIM-GRANET O, OLIAS P, BROCK M and JACOBSEN ID, 2012. The Journal of infectious diseases. 205(8), 1268-77
  • SLESIONA S, GRESSLER M, MIHLAN M, ZAEHLE C, SCHALLER M, BARZ D, HUBE B, JACOBSEN ID and BROCK M, 2012. PloS one. 7(2), e31223
  • BROCK M, 2012. International journal of microbiology. 2012, 956794
  • CITIULO F, JACOBSEN ID, MIRAM脫N P, SCHILD L, BRUNKE S, ZIPFEL P, BROCK M, HUBE B and WILSON D, 2012. PLoS pathogens. 8(6), e1002777
  • FEKKAR, A., PIONNEAU, C., BROSSAS, J. Y., MARINACH-PATRICE, C., SNOUNOU, G., BROCK, M., IBRAHIM-GRANET, O. and MAZIER, D., 2012. JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS. 75(9), 2536-2549
  • FELICITAS FAZIUS, EKATERINA SHELEST, PETER GEBHARDT and MATTHIAS BROCK, 2012. Molecular Microbiology. 86(6), 1508-1530
  • GRESSLER M, ZAEHLE C, SCHERLACH K, HERTWECK C and BROCK M, 2011. Chemistry & biology. 18(2), 198-209
  • OLIAS P, GRUBER AD, HAFEZ HM, LIERZ M, SLESIONA S, BROCK M and JACOBSEN ID, 2011. Veterinary microbiology. 148(2-4), 348-55
  • DA SILVA CRUZ, ALINE H., BROCK, MATTHIAS, ZAMBUZZI-CARVALHO, PATRICIA F., SANTOS-SILVA, LUDIER K., TROIAN, ROGERIO F., GOES, ALFREDO M., DE ALMEIDA SOARES, CELIA M. and PEREIRA, MARISTELA, 2011. FEBS JOURNAL. 278(13), 2318-2332
  • MUELLER, SEBASTIAN, FLECK, CHRISTIAN B., WILSON, DUNCAN, HUMMERT, CHRISTIAN, HUBE, BERNHARD and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2011. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY. 13(6), 1534-1548
  • FLECK, CHRISTIAN B., SCHOEBEL, FELICITAS and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2011. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY. 301(5), 400-407
  • FLECK CB and BROCK M, 2010. Eukaryotic cell. 9(7), 1120-35
  • JACOBSEN ID, GROSSE K, SLESIONA S, HUBE B, BERNDT A and BROCK M, 2010. Infection and immunity. 78(7), 2995-3006
  • SCH脰BEL F, JACOBSEN ID and BROCK M, 2010. Eukaryotic cell. 9(6), 878-93
  • IBRAHIM-GRANET O, JOUVION G, HOHL TM, DROIN-BERG脠RE S, PHILIPPART F, KIM OY, ADIB-CONQUY M, SCHWENDENER R, CAVAILLON J and BROCK M, 2010. BMC microbiology. 10, 105
  • BRUNKE S, SEIDER K, ALMEIDA RS, HEYKEN A, FLECK CB, BROCK M, BARZ D, RUPP S and HUBE B, 2010. Molecular microbiology. 76(1), 25-47
  • DOMIN N, WILSON D and BROCK M, 2009. Microbiology (Reading, England). 155(Pt 12), 3903-12
  • BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2009. CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY. 12(4), 371-376
  • FLECK, CHRISTIAN B. and BROCK, MATTHIAS, 2009. FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY. 46(6-7), 473-485
  • MATTHIAS BROCK, 2009. Microbial Biotechnology. 2(2), 132-133
  • BROCK M, JOUVION G, DROIN-BERG脠RE S, DUSSURGET O, NICOLA M and IBRAHIM-GRANET O, 2008. Applied and environmental microbiology. 74(22), 7023-35
  • FLECK CB and BROCK M, 2008. Molecular microbiology. 68(3), 642-56
  • IBRAHIM-GRANET O, DUBOURDEAU M, LATG脡 J, AVE P, HUERRE M, BRAKHAGE AA and BROCK M, 2008. Cellular microbiology. 10(1), 134-48
  • BEHNSEN J, NARANG P, HASENBERG M, GUNZER F, BILITEWSKI U, KLIPPEL N, ROHDE M, BROCK M, BRAKHAGE AA and GUNZER M, 2007. PLoS pathogens. 3(2), e13
  • SCH脰BEL F, IBRAHIM-GRANET O, AV脡 P, LATG脡 J, BRAKHAGE AA and BROCK M, 2007. Infection and immunity. 75(3), 1237-44
  • SUGAREVA V, H脛RTL A, BROCK M, H脺BNER K, ROHDE M, HEINEKAMP T and BRAKHAGE AA, 2006. Archives of microbiology. 186(5), 345-55
  • EBEL F, SCHWIENBACHER M, BEYER J, HEESEMANN J, BRAKHAGE AA and BROCK M, 2006. Fungal genetics and biology : FG & B. 43(7), 476-89
  • BROCK M, 2005. Applied and environmental microbiology. 71(9), 5465-75
  • MAERKER C, ROHDE M, BRAKHAGE AA and BROCK M, 2005. The FEBS journal. 272(14), 3615-30
  • ZHANG Y, BROCK M and KELLER NP, 2004. Genetics. 168(2), 785-94
  • LIEBMANN B, M脺HLEISEN TW, M脺LLER M, HECHT M, WEIDNER G, BRAUN A, BROCK M and BRAKHAGE AA, 2004. Archives of microbiology. 181(5), 378-83
  • BROCK M and BUCKEL W, 2004. European journal of biochemistry / FEBS. 271(15), 3227-41
  • HETZEL M, BROCK M, SELMER T, PIERIK AJ, GOLDING BT and BUCKEL W, 2003. European journal of biochemistry / FEBS. 270(5), 902-10
  • GRIMM, C, EVERS, A, BROCK, M, MAERKER, C, KLEBE, G, BUCKEL, W and REUTER, K, 2003. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 328(3), 609-621
  • BROCK M, MAERKER C, SCH脺TZ A, V脰LKER U and BUCKEL W, 2002. Oxidation of propionate to pyruvate in Escherichia coli. Involvement of methylcitrate dehydratase and aconitase. European journal of biochemistry / FEBS. 269(24), 6184-94
  • GEISSENH脰NER A, SIEVERS N, BROCK M and FISCHER R, 2001. Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG. 266(4), 672-85
  • BROCK M, DARLEY D, TEXTOR S and BUCKEL W, 2001. European journal of biochemistry / FEBS. 268(12), 3577-86
  • BROCK M, FISCHER R, LINDER D and BUCKEL W, 2000. Molecular microbiology. 35(5), 961-73
  • JOUVION G, BROCK M, DROIN-BERG脠RE S and IBRAHIM-GRANET O, 1. Virulence. 3(1), 43-50

Cells, Organisms and Molecular Genetics

School of Life Sciences
糖心原创
Medical School
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham NG7 2UH