Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology (Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine)
Position: Research Associate (Postdoc)
ORCID: 0000-0002-6730-5971
T +43 1 40160 38145
ursula.fuernkranz@meduniwien.ac.at
Keywords
Mycoplasma hominis; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Symbiosis; Trichomonas vaginalis
Research group(s)
- Molecular parasitology
Head: Julia Walochnik
Research Area: Acanthamoeba infections, amoebae as hosts for bacteria, vector-borne parasites, molecular phylogeny
Members: - sexually transmitted diseases
Head: Ursula Fürnkranz
Research Area: epidemiological data collection of asymptomatic carrieres of sexually transmitted diseaseshost-pathogen-interactionpathogen-pathogen-interaction
Members:
Research interests
My research focus to date is the symbiosis between T. vaginalis and M. hominis, two sexually transmitted, facultative pathogens of the human genital tract. This symbiosis has been investigated to a certain extent. My special interest is in the influence of the symbionts on the drug susceptibility of the respective other one and I am interested in the impact of M. hominis on the pathogenicity of T. vaginalis. Moreover, I want to investigate, if all clinical isolates of T. vaginalis and M. homins are equally able to undergo symbiosis. In an already granted further project I would like to reveal the prevalence of T. vaginalis and M. hominis infections in Austria and establish a molecular epidemiology of the isolates obtained. Moreover, also the prevelanece of other sexually transmitted diseases in asymptomatic carriers will be investigated. For T. vaginalis and M. hominis, correleations between distinct genes and pathogenicity and/or drug susceptibility will be investigated.
Techniques, methods & infrastructure
Methods used include cell and parasite culture, qPCR, RNA extraction, conventional PCR, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, drug susceptibility assays, viability assays
Grants
- Molecular epidemiology of Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis in Austria (2019)
Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Programme Clinical Research (KLIF)
Principal Investigator - Trichomonas vaginalis-Mycoplasma hominis-interactions (2013)
Source of Funding: FWF (Austrian Science Fund), Hertha Firnberg Programme
Principal Investigator
Selected publications
- Fürnkranz, U. et al., 2013. Factors influencing the cell adhesion and invasion capacity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 55(1), p.63. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-55-63.
- Fürnkranz, U. et al., 2011. In vitro activity of N-chlorotaurine (NCT) in combination with NH4Cl against Trichomonas vaginalis. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 37(2), pp.171-173. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.09.006.
- Fürnkranz, U., Henrich, B. & Walochnik, J., 2018. Mycoplasma hominis impacts gene expression in Trichomonas vaginalis. Parasitology Research, 117(3), pp.841–847. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5761-6.
- Fürnkranz, U., Walochnik, J. & Henrich, B., 2018. Mycoplasma hominis shows strain-dependent increase in resistance to selected antibiotics after symbiosis with Trichomonas vaginalis. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 14, pp.169–175. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2018.04.003.
- Küng, E., Fürnkranz, U. & Walochnik, J., 2019. Chemotherapeutic options for the treatment of human trichomoniasis. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 53(2), pp.116–127. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2018.10.016.