My Research Interest in RESIST |
Biofilms are a matrix consisting of proteins, extracellular DNA, and polysaccharides embedding microbial communities. They not only shield the microorganism from the host immune system but also limit the efficacy of antimicrobials. Our aim is RESIST is to develop molecules preventing biofilm formation to ease clearance of the microbes by the host immune system and potentiate the efficacy of existing drugs. We characterise bacterial and fungal enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the polysaccharide component of biofilm, define the structure of these enzymes and search for inhibitors.
Prof. Routier about her scientific work
Prof. Dr. Françoise Routier – Curriculum Vitae
Current Position
Since 2011 Associate (APL) Professor, Institute for Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training
1986 – 1990 Studies in Biochemistry, Lille University, France
1991 Diploma of advanced studies in Health- and Life-Sciences, Lille University, France
1991 – 1994 Doctoral studies, Lille University, France and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Academic and Research Posts
1995 – 1996 Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Biochemistry, University college London, England
1997 – 1999 Postdoctoral fellow, Division of Molecular parasitology, University of Dundee, Scotland
2000 Postdoctoral fellow, Centre for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
2001 Marie Curie fellow, Plant development and reproduction unit, Wageningen Research Centre, The Netherlands
2001 – 2002 Postdoctoral researcher, Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany
2003 – 2010 Assistant (Junior) Professor, Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany
Since 2011 Associate (APL) Professor, Institute for Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Germany
Other Scientific Roles
Ad Hoc reviewer for various international scientific journals
Since 2007 Member of the German society for Hygiene and Microbiology
2011 – 2015 Vice president and president of the Eukaryotic Pathogens group of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology
Since 2013 Representative of the Hannover Medical School Senate for student exchange with France
Since 2017 Member of the international consortium for anti-infective research iCAIR
Awards and Prizes
2001 Marie Curie fellowship from the European Community
2017/2018 and 2018/2019 Teaching prizes

10 Selected Publications
Albuquerque-Wendt A, Jacot D, Dos Santos Pacheco N, Seegers C, Zarnovican P, Buettner FFR, Bakker H, Soldati-Favre D, Routier FH. C-Mannosylation of Toxoplasma gondii proteins promotes attachment to host cells and parasite virulence. J. Biol. Chem. 2020; 295:1066-1076.
Lee DJ, O’Donnell H, Routier FH, Tiralongo J, Haselhorst T. Glycobiology of Human Fungal Pathogens: New Avenues for Drug Development. Cells 2019; 8: E1348.
Albuquerque-Wendt A, Hütte HJ, Buettner FFR, Routier FH, Bakker H. Membrane Topological Model of Glycosyltransferases of the GT-C Superfamily. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019; 29: E4842.
Prakash O, Fuhring J, Post J, Shepherd SM, Eadsforth TC, Gray D, Fedorov R, Routier FH. Identification of Leishmania major UDP-Sugar Pyrophosphorylase Inhibitors Using Biosensor-Based Small Molecule Fragment Library Screening. Molecules 2019; 24: E996
Kruger AT, Engel J, Buettner FF, Routier FH. Aspergillus fumigatus Cap59-like protein A is involved in alpha1,3-mannosylation of GPI-anchors. Glycobiology 2016; 26:30-38.
Engel J, Schmalhorst PS, Kruger AT, Muller CT, Buettner FF, Routier FH. Characterization of an N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase involved in Aspergillus fumigatus zwitterionic glycoinositolphosphoceramide biosynthesis. Glycobiology 2015; 25:1423-1430.
Führing J, Cramer JT, Routier FH, Lamerz AC, Baruch P, Gerardy-Schahn R and Fedorov R. Catalytic Mechanism and Allosteric Regulation of UDP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase from Leishmania major. ACS Catal. 2013; 3: 2976−2985.
Engel J, Schmalhorst PS and Routier FH. Biosynthesis of the fungal cell wall polysaccharide galactomannan requires intraluminal GDP-mannose. J. Biol. Chem. 2012; 287(53): 44418-44424.
Engel J, Schmalhorst PS, Dork-Bousset T, Ferrieres V and Routier FH. A single UDP-galactofuranose transporter is required for galactofuranosylation in Aspergillus fumigatus. J Biol Chem 2009; 284: 33859-33868.
Schmalhorst PS, Krappmann S, Vervecken W, Rohde M, Muller M, Braus GH, Contreras R, Braun A, Bakker H and Routier FH. Contribution of galactofuranose to the virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Eukaryot Cell 2008; 7: 1268-1277.
