- Fremdstoffmetabolismus
- oxidativer Stress
- Glutathion
- Redox-Homöostase
- parasitische Nematoden

(1) Oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans
To elucidate the protective role of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) in a multicellular organism, we are investigating various GST-classes fromthe model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. This model system was chosen because genetic and transgenetic techniques are well developed and the system lends itself to carry out studies on organismal level under stress conditions. Furthermore, we are testing several stressors to determine whether they can induce resistance to subsequent stress. Here we are interested in analysing whether different stressors induce cross-tolerance, being not specific to the physical nature of the stressor but promoting adaption to subsequent environmental challenges.
(2) Target identification of dormant anthelminthis candidates using the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Parasitic nematodes are responsible for many of the major debilitating chronic diseases of man. Drugs that affect new molecular targets are urgently needed to improve treatment and control by killing macrofilariae. Using an optimized chemogenomics based approach, we are combining new genetic mapping strategies with RNAi-screening to identify novel drug target.
(3) Comparative investigations of lipid binding proteins of parasitic nematodes
Trichinellosis is still present in Europe, especially in Eastern Europe, where hundreds of human trichinellosis cases occur yearly. Among the allergens produced by parasitic nematodes are the Lipid Binding Proteins (LBPs). The high levels of hydrophobic binding proteins in helminths, together with their restricted lipid metabolism suggests that these proteins play an important role in metabolsm and, as such, are putative targets for chemotherapy and vaccine development. the objective of the proposal is to obtain functional, structural and imminological information about Trichinella LBPs using molecular, biochemical and structural methods. 

- Jordanova R, Radoslavov G, Fischer P, Torda A, Lottspeich F, Boteva R, Walter RD, Bankov I, Liebau E. (2005) The highly abundant protein Ag-lbp55 from Ascaridia galli represents a novel type of lipid binding proteins. J Biol Chem 280: 41429-38

- Ayyadevara S, Engle MR, Singh SP, Dandapat A, Lichti CF, Benes H, Shmookler Reis RJ, Liebau E, Zimniak P. (2005) Life span and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans are increased by expression of glutathione transferase capable of metabolizing the lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal. Aging Cell 4: 257-71

- Liebau E, De Maria F, Burmeister C, Perbandt M, Turella P, Antonini G, Federici G, Giansanti F, Stella L, Lo Bello M, Caccuri A, Ricci G. (2005) Cooperativity and pseudo-cooperativity in the glutathione S-transferase from Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 280: 26121-26128

- Kühnl J, Bobik T, Procter JB, Burmeister C, Hoppner J, Wilde I, Luersen K, Torda AE, Walter RD, Liebau E. (2005) Functional analysis of the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase from Caenorhabditis elegans. FEBS J. 273:1465-77.

- Perbandt M, Höppner J, Betzel C, Walter RD, Liebau E. (2005) Structure of the major cytosolic glutathione S-transferase from the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus. J Biol Chem.  280: 12630-6.

- Joranova R, Radoslavov G, Fischer P, Liebau E, Walter RD, Bankov I, Boteva R (2005) Conformational and functional analysis of lipid binding protein AgFABP from the parasitic nematode Ascaridia galli. FEBS J 272: 180-189

- Isermann K, Liebau E, Roeder T, Bruchhaus I (2004) A peroxiredoxin specifically expressed in two types of pharyngeal neurons is required for normal growth and egg production in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Mol Biol 338: 745-755

- Perbandt M, Burmeister C, Walter RD, Betzel C, Liebau E. (2004) Native and inhibited structure of a Mu-class related glutathione S-transferase from Plasmodium falciparum. J Biol Chem 279:1336-42

- Müller S, Liebau E, Walter RD, Krauth-Siegel RL. (2003) Thiol-based redox metabolism of protozoan parasites.Trends Parasitol 19:320-8

- Sommer A, Rickert R, Fischer P, Steinhart H, Walter RD, Liebau E. (2003) A dominant role for extracellular glutathione S-transferase from Onchocerca volvulus is the production of prostaglandin D2. Infect Immun 71:3603-6.

- Liebau E, Bergmann B, Campbell A, Teesdale-Spittle P, Brophy PM, Lüersen K, Walter RD (2002) The glutathione S-transferase from Plasmodium falciparum. Mol Biochem Parasitol 124: 85-90

- Sommer A, Nimtz M, Conradt HS, Brattig N, Boettcher K, Fischer P, Walter RD, Liebau E. (2001) Structural analysis and antibody response to the extracellular glutathione S-transferases from Onchocerca volvulus. Infect Immun 69:7718-28.

- Krause S, Sommer A, Fischer P, Brophy PM, Walter RD, Liebau E (2001). Gene structure of the extracellular glutathione S-tranferase from  Onchocerca volvulus and its overexpression and promoter analysis in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Biochem Parasitol 117: 145-154 >

- Sommer A, Fischer P, Krause K, Boettcher K, Brophy PM, Walter RD, Liebau E. (2001) A stress-responsive glyoxalase I from the parasitic nematode Onchocerca volvulus. Biochem J 353: 445-52.