Prof. Dr. Arturo Zychlinsky
- Section Microbiology and Immunology
- Location Berlin, Germany
- Election year 2007
Research
Research Priorities: Microbiology, infection biology, pathogens, apoptosis, neutrophils, autoimmune diseases
Arturo Zychlinsky is a Mexican biologist. He investigates cellular microbiology and infection biology with a focus on the immune system and innate immunity. In particular, his insights into neutrophilic granulocytes have brought him world renown. Arturo Zychlinsky’s working group was the first to identify structures known as NETS (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps), which are formed by neutrophils when they come into contact with pathogenic germs, trapping the germs and causing them to die. This research led to a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in infections and in the kind of autoimmune diseases that can arise due to the overproduction of NETs.
Arturo Zychlinsky’s main focus is the infection biology of bacterial pathogens and of cellular microbiology. His work on the induction of apoptosis (the triggering of programmed cell death) in macrophages caused by bacterial factors linked to shigella and salmonella is considered groundbreaking.
He also elucidated a previously unknown mechanism in the antibacterial effects of neutrophilic granulocytes, the second focus of his work. He discovered that neutrophilic granulocytes, as immune system cells, can trap harmful microorganisms in Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and subsequently die a special cell death. Arturo Zychlinsky and his working group use cell biology and microscopic methods to study the molecular connections involving various proteins and additional components in the formation of these NETs.
In recent years, links have increasingly been made between NETs and autoinflammatory diseases. For example, the autoimmune disease lupus seems to be linked to excessive NET production. Arturo Zychlinsky and his team have collaborated with other research groups to launch a large-scale screening process with substances that might be able to prevent NET formation. The process may allow them to identify a possible inhibitor.
Arturo Zychlinsky’s insights have enabled him to create a niche in infection immunology that was previously neglected due to experimental difficulties. Consequently, conventional models concerning the pathogenicity of bacteria and resistance due to the innate immune system have been questioned. Arturo Zychlinsky has established cellular microbiology as a new sub-discipline of infection research.
Arturo Zychlinsky is a Mexican biologist. He investigates cellular microbiology and infection biology with a focus on the immune system and innate immunity. In particular, his insights into neutrophilic granulocytes have brought him world renown. Arturo Zychlinsky’s working group was the first to identify structures known as NETS (Neutrophil Extracellular Traps), which are formed by neutrophils when they come into contact with pathogenic germs, trapping the germs and causing them to die. This research led to a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in infections and in the kind of autoimmune diseases that can arise due to the overproduction of NETs.
Arturo Zychlinsky’s main focus is the infection biology of bacterial pathogens and of cellular microbiology. His work on the induction of apoptosis (the triggering of programmed cell death) in macrophages caused by bacterial factors linked to shigella and salmonella is considered groundbreaking.
He also elucidated a previously unknown mechanism in the antibacterial effects of neutrophilic granulocytes, the second focus of his work. He discovered that neutrophilic granulocytes, as immune system cells, can trap harmful microorganisms in Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) and subsequently die a special cell death. Arturo Zychlinsky and his working group use cell biology and microscopic methods to study the molecular connections involving various proteins and additional components in the formation of these NETs.
In recent years, links have increasingly been made between NETs and autoinflammatory diseases. For example, the autoimmune disease lupus seems to be linked to excessive NET production. Arturo Zychlinsky and his team have collaborated with other research groups to launch a large-scale screening process with substances that might be able to prevent NET formation. The process may allow them to identify a possible inhibitor.
Arturo Zychlinsky’s insights have enabled him to create a niche in infection immunology that was previously neglected due to experimental difficulties. Consequently, conventional models concerning the pathogenicity of bacteria and resistance due to the innate immune system have been questioned. Arturo Zychlinsky has established cellular microbiology as a new sub-discipline of infection research.
Career
- since 2001 Director, Department “Cellular Microbiology”, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- 1993-2001 Professor, Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Centre, New York City, USA
- 1993-2001 Professor, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, NYU, New York City, USA
- 1991-1993 Postdoctoral Fellow, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 1985-1991 PhD in Immunology, Rockefeller University, New York City, USA
- 1980-1985 Degree in Chemistry, Bacteriology and Parasitology, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico City, Mexico
Honours and Memberships
- since 2012 Member, American Academy of Microbiology (ASM), USA
- since 2005 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
- 2005 Eva and Klaus Grohe Prize, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin, Germany
- 2001 Scientific Member, Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science, Munich, Germany