Dr Daniel H Scharf

Daniel H. Scharf received his Diploma degree in biology from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena in Germany in 2008. He then pursued his Ph.D. at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology under the supervision of Dr. Axel A. Brakhage, where his studies focused on elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of gliotoxin in Aspergillus fumigatus. After postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan and Stanford, he joined Zhejiang University in 2019 as a Principal Investigator. His current work centers on investigating pathogenicity mechanisms and natural product biosynthesis in pathogenic fungi.

Abstract:

Gliotoxin is the prototype of the infamous family of ETP (epidithiodiketopiperazine) toxins. A hallmark of ETPs is a transannular disulfide bridge. This outstanding structural unit is indeed responsible for deleterious effects. I will discuss the biosynthesis of gliotoxin, its implication in virulence and potential use as a diagnostic marker of infection.