Professor Dr Carmen Buchrieser
- Section Microbiology and Immunology
- Location Paris, France
- Election year 2014
Research
Research Priorities: Pathogenesis of infections with intracellular bacteria
Carmen Buchrieser is an Austrian biologist. She works in the field of infection biology and genetics of pathogenic bacteria. She is considered a specialist for pathogens such as Listeria, Yersinia and Legionella, which can cause severe infectious diseases in humans.
In recent years, her work has mainly focused on researching the pathogen of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionellosis). In her research, Carmen Buchrieser investigates and characterises molecular, genetic and cellular causes of an infection with Legionella in humans. Legionnaires’ disease is a dreaded infection that can be associated with severe pneumonia. For people with a weakened immune system in particular, the course of the disease can be extremely severe or even fatal. At molecular and cell biological level, Carmen Buchrieser describes the strategies used by certain bacteria proteins in order to manipulate their host cells and to allow intracellular replication of Legionella. She coined the phrase “Molecular mimicry”, the concept of Legionella proteins that mimic host cell proteins and manipulate them to the pathogens’ advantage.
Carmen Buchrieser led efforts to clarify and compare the genome of various strains of Legionellosis as part of a project that investigated more than 200 pathogenic strains of Legionella pneumophila. This research led to the detection of three genes that allow the identification of any Legionella pneumophila. These genes are responsible for more than 80 percent of Legionellosis cases worldwide. Based on this research, a rapid test to detect Legionella in the environment and in patients could be developed.
Carmen Buchrieser is an Austrian biologist. She works in the field of infection biology and genetics of pathogenic bacteria. She is considered a specialist for pathogens such as Listeria, Yersinia and Legionella, which can cause severe infectious diseases in humans.
In recent years, her work has mainly focused on researching the pathogen of Legionnaires’ disease (Legionellosis). In her research, Carmen Buchrieser investigates and characterises molecular, genetic and cellular causes of an infection with Legionella in humans. Legionnaires’ disease is a dreaded infection that can be associated with severe pneumonia. For people with a weakened immune system in particular, the course of the disease can be extremely severe or even fatal. At molecular and cell biological level, Carmen Buchrieser describes the strategies used by certain bacteria proteins in order to manipulate their host cells and to allow intracellular replication of Legionella. She coined the phrase “Molecular mimicry”, the concept of Legionella proteins that mimic host cell proteins and manipulate them to the pathogens’ advantage.
Carmen Buchrieser led efforts to clarify and compare the genome of various strains of Legionellosis as part of a project that investigated more than 200 pathogenic strains of Legionella pneumophila. This research led to the detection of three genes that allow the identification of any Legionella pneumophila. These genes are responsible for more than 80 percent of Legionellosis cases worldwide. Based on this research, a rapid test to detect Legionella in the environment and in patients could be developed.
Career
- 2014 Research Stay, Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- since 2014 Professor, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- since 2008 Head of the Biology of Intracellular Bacteria Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 2005-2013 Professor by Special Appointment (Directeur de Recherche, IP), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 2000-2005 Professor by Special Appointment (Chargée de Recherche, IP), Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 1995-1998 Postdoctoral Fellow, Fellow, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria, Yersinia Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 1992-1995 Research Associate, Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
- 1991-1992 Postdoctoral Fellow, Listeria Laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 1987-1990 Research Assistant, Hygiene Institute, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- 1986 PhD in Microbiology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
- 1984 Magister rer. nat., University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Functions
- since 2014 Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- since 2014 Member, Scientific Advisory Committee, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
- 2005-2010 Member, Managing Board, European Network of Excellence “EuroPathgenomics”
- 2005-2012 Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Austrian Genome Research Programme “GEN-AU”, Austria
- 2004-2008 Member, Scientific Evaluation Committee, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 2003-2010 Member, Election Committee for the Scientific Advisory Board, Bayerisches Genom-Forschungsprogramm “BayGen” (Bavarian Genome Research Programme), Germany
- 2003 Member, Scientific Evaluation Committee, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- 2002-2006 Vice Chairwoman, Scientific Advisory Board, ERA-Net “Pathogenomics”, European Union
Honours and Memberships
- 2019 Jacques Piraud Award, French Foundation for Medical Research (FRM), France
- since 2014 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
- 2014 Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), USA
- 2014 Elected Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Heidelberg, Germany
- 2013 Gay-Lussac Humboldt Prize, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany
- 2009 Pasteur Vallery-Radot Prize, National Library of France, France
- 2007 Descartes Prize, European Commission
- 2005 Charles-Louis de Saulces de Freycinet Award, Institut de France, Paris, France
- 1995-1998 APART Fellow, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria