Springe direkt zu Inhalt

Working group PD Dr. Mundhenk

Research focus:

 

1. Mucus proteins in equine asthma: biomedical relevance and utility as biomarkers

Equine asthma is one of the most common diseases of the lower respiratory tract in horses. Its pathogenesis is still largely unclear and diagnosis is still a challenge. The massive accumulation of mucus is a major characteristic of all forms of equine asthma. The mucus obstructs the lower airways in particular and contributes significantly to the painful symptom of respiratory distress in animals. The composition of the mucus in both healthy and lung-diseased animals as well as its therapeutic influence is still largely unknown. A major component of the mucus in horses is the chloride channel regulator, calcium-activated 1 (CLCA1), which our research group has discovered and described. CLCA1 is produced by mucus-producing cells, e.g. in the respiratory tract, and released into the mucus. Our research group is investigating the pathophysiological function of the protein and other newly discovered mucus components in the respiratory tract of horses. We are also investigating the extent to which the findings can be translated to other species such as the cat, which suffers from the comparable disease of feline asthma, or to humans. In addition to the basic scientific approach, our working group is also pursuing the use of the discovered mucus proteins as biomarkers for equine asthma. The aim is to transfer the findings from research into a diagnostic product.

Selected literature:

  1. The Family of Chloride Channel Regulator, Calcium-activated Proteins in the Feline Respiratory Tract: A Comparative Perspective on Airway Diseases in Man and Animal Models. Erickson NA, Gruber AD, Mundhenk L. J Comp Pathol. 2020 Jan;174:39-53

  2. Interspecies diversity of chloride channel regulators, calcium-activated 3 genes. Mundhenk L, Erickson NA, Klymiuk N, Gruber AD. PLoS One. 2018 Jan 18;13(1):e0191512.

  3. Soluble mucus component CLCA1 modulates expression of leukotactic cytokines and BPIFA1 in murine alveolar macrophages but not in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Erickson NA, Dietert K, Enders J, Glauben R, Nouailles G, Gruber AD, Mundhenk L. Histochem Cell Biol. 2018 Jun;149(6):619-633

  4. A soluble secreted glycoprotein (eCLCA1) is overexpressed due to goblet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia in horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Range F, Mundhenk L, Gruber AD. Vet Pathol. 2007 Nov;44(6):901-11

  5. Overexpression of eCLCA1 in small airways of horses with recurrent airway obstruction. Anton F, Leverkoehne I, Mundhenk L, Thoreson WB, Gruber AD. J Histochem Cytochem. 2005 Aug;53(8):1011-21

  6. European Patent Application EP 4 260 906 A1

2. Neurotropic viruses in dead-end hosts

Well-known viruses such as Borna's disease virus and newly discovered viruses such as Rustrela virus cause non-purulent encephalitis in different species. Some of these are also zoonotic pathogens. The working group is investigating the occurrence and distribution of these viruses in various species. The findings help to clarify the pathogenesis and to assess the risk of infection.

Selected literature:

  1. Mystery of fatal 'staggering disease' unravelled: novel rustrela virus causes severe meningoencephalomyelitis in domestic cats. Matiasek K, Pfaff F, Weissenböck H, Wylezich C, Kolodziejek J, Tengstrand S, Ecke F, Nippert S, Starcky P, Litz B, Nessler J, Wohlsein P, Baumbach C, Mundhenk L, Aebischer A, Reiche S, Weidinger P, Olofsson KM, Rohdin C, Weissenbacher-Lang C, Matt J, Rosati M, Flegel T, Hörnfeldt B, Höper D, Ulrich RG, Nowotny N, Beer M, Ley C, Rubbenstroth D. Nat Commun. 2023 Feb 4;14(1):624.

  2. Rustrela virus infection - An emerging neuropathogen of red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus). Voss A, Schlieben P, Gerst S, Wylezich C, Pfaff F, Langner C, Niesler M, Schad P, Beer M, Rubbenstroth D, Breithaupt A, Mundhenk L. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2022 Nov;69(6):4016-4021

  3. Borna disease outbreak with high mortality in an alpaca herd in a previously unreported endemic area in Germany. Schulze V, Große R, Fürstenau J, Forth LF, Ebinger A, Richter MT, Tappe D, Mertsch T, Klose K, Schlottau K, Hoffmann B, Höper D, Mundhenk L, Ulrich RG, Beer M, Müller KE, Rubbenstroth D. Transbound Emerg Dis. 2020 Sep;67(5):2093-2107.