Skip to main content
Deutsch

Research

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine
  2. Our departments
  3. Microbiology and Virology
  4. Department for Clinical Microbiology
  5. Research

Research focus

  • Molecular biological diagnostics
  • Antimicrobial resistance testing
  • Microbiome analyses
  • Sepsis diagnostics
  • Fungal infections
  • C. difficile infections
  • Blufstein, A., Pejcic, N., Spettel, K., Hausmann, B., Seki, D., Ertekin, T., Hinrichs-Priller, J., Altner, S., Nehr, M., Bekes, K., Makristathis, A. & Andrukhov, O. 2024. Salivary microbiome and MRP-8/14 levels in children with gingivitis, healthy children, and their mothers. Journal of periodontology.
  • Camp, I., Fuszl, A., Selitsch, B., Krockel, I., Kovac, K., Wahrmann, M., Steinlechner, B., Weber, J., Schellongowski, P., Zauner, C., Sengolge, G., Seitz, T., Zoufaly, A., Strobele, B., Fuchs, S., Lass-Florl, C., et al. 2024. Is the T2MR Candida Panel a suitable alternative to the SeptiFast for the rapid diagnosis of candidemia in routine clinical practice? Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 30, 816-821.
  • Chromy, D., Starossek, L., Grabmeier-Pfistershammer, K., Adamek, S., Maischack, F., Sammet, S., Sadoghi, B., Stary, G., Willinger, B., Weninger, W., Esser, S., Makristathis, A. & Bauer, W. M. 2024. High cure rates of Mycoplasma genitalium following empiric treatment with azithromycin alongside frequent detection of macrolide resistance in Austria. Infection.
  • Hotz, J. F., Staudacher, M., Schefberger, K., Spettel, K., Schmid, K., Kriz, R., Schneider, L., Hagemann, J. B., Cyran, N., Schmidt, K., Starzengruber, P., Lotsch, F., Leutzendorff, A., Daller, S., Ramharter, M., Burgmann, H., et al. 2024. Unraveling novel mutation patterns and morphological variations in two dalbavancin-resistant MRSA strains in Austria using whole genome sequencing and transmission electron microscopy. BMC infectious diseases, 24, 899.
  • Jandl, B., Dighe, S., Baumgartner, M., Makristathis, A., Gasche, C. & Muttenthaler, M. 2024a. Gastrointestinal Biofilms: Endoscopic Detection, Disease Relevance, and Therapeutic Strategies. Gastroenterology.
  • Jandl, B., Dighe, S., Gasche, C., Makristathis, A. & Muttenthaler, M. 2024b. Intestinal biofilms: pathophysiological relevance, host defense, and therapeutic opportunities. Clinical microbiology reviews, e0013323.
  • Kriz, R., Spettel, K., Pichler, A., Schefberger, K., Sanz-Codina, M., Lotsch, F., Harrison, N., Willinger, B., Zeitlinger, M., Burgmann, H. & Lagler, H. 2024. In vitro resistance development gives insights into molecular resistance mechanisms against cefiderocol. The Journal of antibiotics.
  • Lado, S., Thannesberger, J., Spettel, K., Arpovic, J., Ferreira, B. I., Lavitrano, M. & Steininger, C. 2024. Unveiling Inter- and Intra-Patient Sequence Variability with a Multi-Sample Coronavirus Target Enrichment Approach. Viruses, 16.
  • Obermueller, M., Traby, L., Weiss-Tessbach, M., Kriz, R., Spettel, K., Schneider, L., Hohl, L., Burgmann, H. & Kussmann, M. 2024. Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants: A potentially underestimated microbiological challenge in peritoneal dialysis. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 63, 107135.
  • Orgler, E., Baumgartner, M., Duller, S., Kumptisch, C., Hausmann, B., Moser, D., Khare, V., Lang, M., Kocher, T., Frick, A., Muttenthaler, M., Makristathis, A., Moissl-Eichinger, C. & Gasche, C. 2024. Archaea influence composition of endoscopically visible ileocolonic biofilms. Gut microbes, 16, 2359500.
  • Pascual, S., Noble, B., Ahmad-Saeed, N., Aldridge, C., Ambretti, S., Amit, S., Annett, R., O'Shea, S. A., Barbui, A. M., Barlow, G., Barrett, L., Berth, M., Bondi, A., Boran, N., Boyd, S. E., Chaves, C., et al. 2024. Potential value of a rapid syndromic multiplex PCR for the diagnosis of native and prosthetic joint infections: a real-world evidence study. Journal of bone and joint infection, 9, 87-97.
  • Salmanton-Garcia, J., Cornely, O. A., Stemler, J., Barac, A., Steinmann, J., Sivakova, A., Akalin, E. H., Arikan-Akdagli, S., Loughlin, L., Toscano, C., Narayanan, M., Rogers, B., Willinger, B., Akyol, D., Roilides, E., Lagrou, K., et al. 2024. Attributable mortality of candidemia - Results from the ECMM Candida III multinational European Observational Cohort Study. The Journal of infection, 89, 106229.
  • Staudacher, M., Hotz, J. F., Kriz, R., Schefberger, K., Schneider, L., Spettel, K., Starzengruber, P., Hagemann, J. B., Leutzendorff, A., Burgmann, H. & Lagler, H. 2024. Differences in oxazolidinone resistance mechanisms and small colony variants emergence of Staphylococcus aureus induced in an in vitro resistance development model. Emerging microbes & infections, 13, 2292077.
  • Arendrup, M. C., Arikan-Akdagli, S., Jorgensen, K. M., Barac, A., Steinmann, J., Toscano, C., Arsenijevic, V. A., Sartor, A., Lass-Florl, C., Hamprecht, A., Matos, T., Rogers, B. R. S., Quiles, I., Buil, J., Ozenci, V., Krause, R., et al. 2023. European candidaemia is characterised by notable differential epidemiology and susceptibility pattern: Results from the ECMM Candida III study. The Journal of infection, 87, 428-437.
  • Bayer, N., Hausmann, B., Pandey, R. V., Deckert, F., Gail, L. M., Strobl, J., Pjevac, P., Krall, C., Unterluggauer, L., Redl, A., Bachmayr, V., Kleissl, L., Nehr, M., Kirkegaard, R., Makristathis, A., Watzenboeck, M. L., et al. 2023. Correction: Disturbances in microbial skin recolonization and cutaneous immune response following allogeneic stem cell transfer. Leukemia, 37, 724.
  • Chromy, D., Osmers, A. M., Bauer, W. M., Touzeau-Roemer, V., Borst, C., Esser, S., Weninger, W., Willinger, B. & Grabmeier-Pfistershammer, K. 2023a. Sexually Transmitted Dermatophytes Can Cause Severe Infection Among Men who Have Sex With Men as Tinea Genitalis. Open forum infectious diseases, 10, ofad519.
  • Chromy, D., Urban, N., Grabmeier-Pfistershammer, K., Touzeau-Roemer, V., Skoll, M., Geusau, A., Stary, G., Reiberger, T., Strassl, R., Willinger, B., Weninger, W., Rieger, A. & Bauer, W. M. 2023b. High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Sexually Transmitted Infections in Austrian Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Users: A Prospective Observational Study. AIDS patient care and STDs, 37, 115-118.
  • Farr, A., Swidsinski, S., Surbek, D., Tirri, B. F., Willinger, B., Hoyme, U., Walter, G., Reckel-Botzem, I. & Mendling, W. 2023. Bacterial Vaginosis: Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/028, June 2023). Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 83, 1331-1349.
  • Hoenigl, M., Salmanton-Garcia, J., Egger, M., Gangneux, J. P., Bicanic, T., Arikan-Akdagli, S., Alastruey-Izquierdo, A., Klimko, N., Barac, A., Ozenci, V., Meijer, E. F. J., Khanna, N., Bassetti, M., Rautemaa-Richardson, R., Lagrou, K., Adam, K. M., et al. 2023. Guideline adherence and survival of patients with candidaemia in Europe: results from the ECMM Candida III multinational European observational cohort study. The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 23, 751-761.
  • Kainz, J., Gawrylkowicz, J., Strassl, R., Willinger, B., Thalhammer, F., Rappelsberger, A. & Adlassnig, K. P. 2023. Microbiological and Virological Knowledge-Based Alert Service. Studies in health technology and informatics, 305, 153-154.
  • Nadvornik, C., Kallab, M., Hommer, N., Schlatter, A., Stengel, T., Garhofer, G., Zeitlinger, M., Eberl, S., Klymiuk, I., Trajanoski, S., Nehr, M., Makristathis, A., Schmidl, D. & Nussbaumer-Proell, A. 2023. Effect of Antibiotic Eye Drops on the Nasal Microbiome in Healthy Subjects-A Pilot Study. Antibiotics, 12.
  • Rittenschober-Boehm, J., Fuiko, R., Farr, A., Willinger, B., Berger, A. & Goeral, K. 2023. Intrauterine Detection of Ureaplasma Species after Vaginal Colonization in Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcome. Neonatology, 1-8.
  • Salmanton-Garcia, J., Hoenigl, M., Salzer, H. J. F., Lackner, M., Prattes, J., Dichtl, K., Winkler-Zamani, M., Krause, R., Stemler, J., Lass-Florl, C., Cornely, O. A. & Willinger, B. 2023. The Austrian landscape of diagnostic capacity and access to treatment for invasive fungal infections. Mycoses, 66, 1056-1063.
  • Spettel, K., Kriz, R., Wu, C., Achter, L., Schmid, S., Galazka, S., Selitsch, B., Camp, I., Makristathis, A., Lagler, H. & Willinger, B. 2023. Candida auris in Austria-What Is New and What Is Different. Journal of Fungi, 9.
  • Staudacher, M., Hotz, J. F., Kriz, R., Schefberger, K., Schneider, L., Spettel, K., Starzengruber, P., Hagemann, B., Leutzendorff, A., Burgmann, H. & Lagler, H. 2023. Differences in oxazolidinone resistance mechanisms and small colony variants emergence of Staphylococcus aureus induced in an in vitro resistance development model. Emerging microbes & infections, 2292077.
  • van Os, W., Wulkersdorfer, B., Eberl, S., Oesterreicher, Z., Schwabl, P., Reiberger, T., Paternostro, R., Weber, M., Willinger, B. & Zeitlinger, M. 2023. Bacterial growth and ceftriaxone activity in individual ascitic fluids in an in vitro model of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Frontiers in pharmacology, 14, 1124821.
  • Wielscher, M., Pfisterer, K., Samardzic, D., Balsini, P., Bangert, C., Jager, K., Buchberger, M., Selitsch, B., Pjevac, P., Willinger, B. & Weninger, W. 2023. The phageome in normal and inflamed human skin. Science advances, 9, eadg4015.
  • Geusau, A., Chromy, D., Heissenberger, D., Lippert, K., Eder, C., Heger, F., Indra, A., Willinger, B. & Pleininger, S. 2022. Resistance profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in Vienna, Austria: a phenotypic and genetic characterization from 2013 to 2020. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 106656.
  • Bayer, N., Hausman, B., Pandey, R. V., Deckert, F., Gail, L. M., Strobl, J., Pjevac, P., Krall, C., Unterluggauer, L., Redl, A., Bachmayr, V., Kleissl, L., Nehr, M., Kirkegaard, R., Makristathis, A., Watzenboeck, M. L., et al. 2022. Disturbances in microbial skin recolonization and cutaneous immune response following allogeneic stem cell transfer. Leukemia, 36, 2705-2714.
  • Dekkerova, J., Cernakova, L., Kendra, S., Borghi, E., Ottaviano, E., Willinger, B. & Bujdakova, H. 2022. Farnesol Boosts the Antifungal Effect of Fluconazole and Modulates Resistance in Candida auris through Regulation of the CDR1 and ERG11 Genes. Journal of Fungi, 8.
  • Hoenigl, M., Sprute, R., Arastehfar, A., Perfect, J. R., Lass-Florl, C., Bellmann, R., Prattes, J., Thompson, G. R., 3rd, Wiederhold, N. P., Al Obaidi, M. M., Willinger, B., Arendrup, M. C., Koehler, P., Oliverio, M., Egger, M., Schwartz, I. S., et al. 2022. Invasive candidiasis: investigational drugs in the clinical development pipeline and mechanisms of action. Expert opinion on investigational drugs, 31, 795-812.
  • Steurer, L. M., Hetzmannseder, M., Willinger, B., Starzengruber, P., Mikula-Pratschke, C., Kormann-Klement, A., Weber, M., Berger, A. & Grill, A. 2022. Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in health care professionals at a tertiary university pediatric hospital. European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 41, 971-976.
  • Honsig, C., Selitsch, B., Hollenstein, M., Vossen, M. G., Spettel, K. & Willinger, B. 2022. Identification of Filamentous Fungi by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry: Evaluation of Three Different Sample Preparation Methods and Validation of an In-House Species Cutoff. Journal of Fungi, 8.
  • Ebner, J., Van den Nest, M., Bouvier-Azula, L., Fuszl, A., Gabler, C., Willinger, B., Diab-Elschahawi, M. & Presterl, E. 2022. Routine Surveillance of Healthcare-Associated Infections Misses a Significant Proportion of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients with Severe COVID-19. Journal of Fungi, 8.
  • Spettel, K., Bumberger, D., Camp, I., Kriz, R. & Willinger, B. 2022. Efficacy of octenidine against emerging echinocandin-, azole- and multidrug-resistant Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Journal of global antimicrobial resistance, 29, 23-28.
  • Rocchi, S., Scherer, E., Mengoli, C., Alanio, A., Botterel, F., Bougnoux, M. E., Bretagne, S., Cogliati, M., Cornu, M., Dalle, F., Damiani, C., Denis, J., Fuchs, S., Gits-Muselli, M., Hagen, F., Halliday, C., et al. 2021. Interlaboratory evaluation of Mucorales PCR assays for testing serum specimens: A study by the fungal PCR Initiative and the Modimucor study group. Medical mycology, 59, 126-138.
  • Van den Nest, M., Wagner, G., Riesenhuber, M., Dolle, C., Presterl, E., Gartlehner, G., Moertl, D. & Willinger, B. 2021. Filamentous Fungal Infections in a Tertiary Care Setting: Epidemiology and Clinical Outcome. Journal of Fungi, 7.
  • Szepfalusi, Z., Schmidthaler, K., Sieber, J., Kopanja, S., Gotzinger, F., Schoof, A., Hoz, J., Willinger, B., Makristathis, A., Weseslindtner, L., Stiasny, K., Bohle, B., Krotka, P., Graf, A. & Frischer, T. 2021. Lessons from low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in schoolchildren: A cross-sectional study. Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 32, 762-770.
  • Spettel, K., Galazka, S., Kriz, R., Camp, I. & Willinger, B. 2021. Do Candida albicans Isolates with Borderline Resistant Micafungin MICs Always Harbor FKS1 Hot Spot Mutations? Journal of Fungi, 7.
  • Farr, A., Effendy, I., Tirri, B. F., Hof, H., Mayser, P., Petricevic, L., Ruhnke, M., Schaller, M., Schafer, A. P. A., Willinger, B. & Mendling, W. 2021b. Vulvovaginal Candidosis (Excluding Mucocutaneous Candidosis): Guideline of the German (DGGG), Austrian (OEGGG) and Swiss (SGGG) Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry Number 015/072, September 2020). Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 81, 398-421.
  • Wagner, G., Moertl, D., Glechner, A., Mayr, V., Klerings, I., Zachariah, C., Van den Nest, M., Gartlehner, G. & Willinger, B. 2021. Paracoccidioidomycosis Diagnosed in Europe-A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Fungi, 7.
  • Baumgartner, M., Lang, M., Holley, H., Crepaz, D., Hausmann, B., Pjevac, P., Moser, D., Haller, F., Hof, F., Beer, A., Orgler, E., Frick, A., Khare, V., Evstatiev, R., Strohmaier, S., Primas, C., et al. 2021. Mucosal Biofilms Are an Endoscopic Feature of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Ulcerative Colitis. Gastroenterology, 161, 1245-1256 e20.
  • Beer, A., Hudler, H., Hader, M., Kundi, M., Hudler, S., Tauber, V., Schachner, H., Gruber, S., Hirschl, A. M., Kain, R. & Makristathis, A. 2021. Apparent Intracellular Helicobacter pylori Detected by Immunohistochemistry: The Missing Link in Eradication Failure. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 73, e1719-e1726.
  • Farr, A., Effendy, I., Tirri, B. F., Hof, H., Mayser, P., Petricevic, L., Ruhnke, M., Schaller, M., Schafer, A. P. A., Willinger, B. & Mendling, W. 2021. Vulvovaginal Candidosis (Excluding Mucocutaneous Candidosis): Guideline of the German (DGGG), Austrian (OEGGG) and Swiss (SGGG) Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry Number 015/072, September 2020). Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 81, 398-421.
  • Kussmann, M., Obermueller, M., Spettel, K., Winkler, S. & Aletaha, D. 2021. In vitro evaluation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs against rheumatoid arthritis associated pathogens of the oral microflora. RMD open, 7.
  • Willinger, B. 2021. Emerging Fungi and Diagnosis of Fungal Infections: Current Knowledge and New Developments. Journal of Fungi, 7.
  • Groll, A. H., Gordon, K., Buchheidt, D., Willinger, B., Heinz, W. J., Kurzai, O., Rickerts, V. & Cornely, O. A. 2021. State of Medical Mycology at German Academic Medical Centres: A Survey of the German-Speaking Mycological Society (DMYKG) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Society for Chemotherapy (PEG). Mycoses, 64, 1177-1182.
  • Steurer, L. M., Hetzmannseder, M., Willinger, B., Starzengruber, P., Mikula, C., Kormann-Klement, A., Weber, M., Berger, A. & Grill, A. 2020. Pharyngeal carriage rates of Neisseria meningitidis in health care professionals at a tertiary university pediatric hospital. European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 39, 1703-1709.
  • Kresken, M., Grabein, B., Becker, K., Straube, E., Wichelhaus, T. A. & Willinger, B. 2020. Calculated parenteral initial treatment of bacterial infections: Microbiology. GMS infectious diseases, 8, Doc18.
  • Lass-Florl, C., Krause, R., Willinger, B., Starzengruber, P., Decristoforo, P., Neururer, S., Kreidl, P. & Aigner, M. 2020. Clinical Usefulness of Susceptibility Breakpoints for Yeasts in the Treatment of Candidemia: A Noninterventional Study. Journal of Fungi, 6.
  • Farr, A., Sustr, V., Kiss, H., Rosicky, I., Graf, A., Makristathis, A., Foessleitner, P. & Petricevic, L. 2020. Oral probiotics to reduce vaginal group B streptococcal colonization in late pregnancy. Scientific reports, 10, 19745.
  • Camp, I., Spettel, K. & Willinger, B. 2020. Molecular Methods for the Diagnosis of Invasive Candidiasis. Journal of Fungi, 6.
  • Zangl, I., Beyer, R., Pap, I. J., Strauss, J., Aspock, C., Willinger, B. & Schuller, C. 2020. Human Pathogenic Candida Species Respond Distinctively to Lactic Acid Stress. Journal of Fungi, 6.
  • Zangl, I., Beyer, R., Pap, I. J., Strauss, J., Aspock, C., Willinger, B. & Schuller, C. 2020. Human Pathogenic Candida Species Respond Distinctively to Lactic Acid Stress. Journal of Fungi, 6.
  • Camp, I., Manhart, G., Schabereiter-Gurtner, C., Spettel, K., Selitsch, B. & Willinger, B. 2020. Clinical evaluation of an in-house panfungal real-time PCR assay for the detection of fungal pathogens. Infection, 48, 345-355.
  • Springer, J., Walther, G., Rickerts, V., Hamprecht, A., Willinger, B., Teschner, D., Einsele, H., Kurzai, O. & Loeffler, J. 2019. Detection of Fusarium Species in Clinical Specimens by Probe-Based Real-Time PCR. Journal of Fungi, 5.
  • Lass-Florl, C., Lo Cascio, G., Nucci, M., Camargo Dos Santos, M., Colombo, A. L., Vossen, M. & Willinger, B. 2019. Respiratory specimens and the diagnostic accuracy of Aspergillus lateral flow assays (LFA-IMMY): real-life data from a multicentre study. Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 25, 1563 e1-1563 e3.
  • Koller, W., Kleinoscheg, G., Willinger, B., Rappelsberger, A. & Adlassnig, K. P. 2019. Augmenting Analytics Software for Clinical Microbiology by Man-Machine Interaction. Studies in health technology and informatics, 264, 1243-1247.
  • Salmanton-Garcia, J., Seidel, D., Koehler, P., Mellinghoff, S. C., Herbrecht, R., Klimko, N., Racil, Z., Falces-Romero, I., Ingram, P., Benitez-Penuela, M. A., Rodriguez, J. Y., Desoubeaux, G., Barac, A., Garcia-Vidal, C., Hoenigl, M., Mehta, S. R., et al. 2019. Matched-paired analysis of patients treated for invasive mucormycosis: standard treatment versus posaconazole new formulations (MoveOn). The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 74, 3315-3327.
  • Zoran, T., Sartori, B., Sappl, L., Aigner, M., Sanchez-Reus, F., Rezusta, A., Chowdhary, A., Taj-Aldeen, S. J., Arendrup, M. C., Oliveri, S., Kontoyiannis, D. P., Alastruey-Izquierdo, A., Lagrou, K., Lo Cascio, G., Meis, J. F., Buzina, W., et al. 2018. Corrigendum: Azole-Resistance in Aspergillus terreus and Related Species: An Emerging Problem or a Rare Phenomenon? Frontiers in microbiology, 9, 3245.
  • Beyer, R., Spettel, K., Zeller, I., Lass-Florl, C., Achleitner, D., Krause, R., Apfalter, P., Buzina, W., Strauss, J., Gregori, C., Schuller, C. & Willinger, B. 2019. Antifungal susceptibility of yeast bloodstream isolates collected during a 10-year period in Austria. Mycoses, 62, 357-367.
  • Klasinc, R., Riesenhuber, M., Bacher, A. & Willinger, B. 2019. Invasive Fungal Infection Caused by Exophiala dermatitidis in a Patient After Lung Transplantation: Case Report and Literature Review. Mycopathologia, 184, 107-113.
  • Spettel, K., Barousch, W., Makristathis, A., Zeller, I., Nehr, M., Selitsch, B., Lackner, M., Rath, P. M., Steinmann, J. & Willinger, B. 2019. Analysis of antifungal resistance genes in Candida albicans and Candida glabrata using next generation sequencing. PloS one, 14, e0210397.