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Professor Naglik
Professor Naglik

Professor Julian Naglik

Professor in Fungal Pathogenesis & Immunology

Research interests

  • Immunology

Biography

Professor Julian Naglik graduated with a BSc from the University of East London in 1992 and obtained his Ph.D. from King’s College London in 2001, studying the expression of the secreted aspartyl proteinases in Candida albicans infections.  He was appointed Lecturer in 2006, Reader in 2013 and Professor in 2016.

Previously, he also undertook roles as a visiting research scientist at the Robert Koch Institute (Berlin, Germany) as well as the University of California San Francisco. 

Julian is currently Professor of Fungal Pathogenesis and Immunology in the Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences at King’s College London.  

His current research projects relate to the molecular analysis of host/pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces, with specific focus on epithelial mechanisms activated by the human fungal pathogen C. albicans.  His laboratory described the danger response signalling pathways activated by the invasive hyphal form of C. albicans, which recently was found to be due to the secretion of candidalysin.  

Candidalysin is the first cytolytic peptide toxin identified in any human fungal pathogen and has been recognised as a seminal advance in the microbiology field.  His research is supported by grants from the Medical Research Council (MRC), Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Wellcome Trust.

As well as being a patent holder, Professor Naglik is an academic editor for numerous journals and has received awards from King's College London, the German Mycological Society, Heinz Maurer-Prize award, and the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology. He is also an Honorary Member of the British Society of Medical Mycology.

    Research

    Naglik Lab Hero banner
    Naglik Lab

    The Naglik Lab employs molecular, cellular, immunological, biophysical and structural biology to investigate host-fungal interactions.

    pg23-pg-aq-fodocs-gut-microbiome
    Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions

    Millions of microorganisms live in and on our bodies forming microbiomes on different surfaces. Researchers in the Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions study our relationship with these bacteria and fungi in health or in oral and systemic diseases such as periodontitis, candidiasis, oral cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

    News

    Julian Naglik among 65 Fellows elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

    The American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) has elected Professor Julian Naglik and 64 peers to the Class of 2024.

    julian-naglik-news

    A platelet-mediated, beneficial allergic response protects against yeast asthma

    New evidence shows that some allergic reactions provide necessary protection against highly invasive and potentially lethal infectious agents, such as yeast.

    Clys-allergy MODEL

    King's Study Provides Clues to Body's Defense against Common Oral Infection

    An international team, co-led by researchers at King’s College London and the University of Pittsburgh, has identified the mechanism by which the immune...

    mucosal-oral-dry

    Complex mechanism of protection against Candida albicans fungus identified

    King’s scientists identify complex mechanism required for initiating protection against a common fungus.

    Research image

    £2 million award to boost research into fungal infections

    Professor Julian Naglik has been awarded a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award for his work to understand how fungi cause disease.

    Professor Naglik

      Research

      Naglik Lab Hero banner
      Naglik Lab

      The Naglik Lab employs molecular, cellular, immunological, biophysical and structural biology to investigate host-fungal interactions.

      pg23-pg-aq-fodocs-gut-microbiome
      Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions

      Millions of microorganisms live in and on our bodies forming microbiomes on different surfaces. Researchers in the Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions study our relationship with these bacteria and fungi in health or in oral and systemic diseases such as periodontitis, candidiasis, oral cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

      News

      Julian Naglik among 65 Fellows elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

      The American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) has elected Professor Julian Naglik and 64 peers to the Class of 2024.

      julian-naglik-news

      A platelet-mediated, beneficial allergic response protects against yeast asthma

      New evidence shows that some allergic reactions provide necessary protection against highly invasive and potentially lethal infectious agents, such as yeast.

      Clys-allergy MODEL

      King's Study Provides Clues to Body's Defense against Common Oral Infection

      An international team, co-led by researchers at King’s College London and the University of Pittsburgh, has identified the mechanism by which the immune...

      mucosal-oral-dry

      Complex mechanism of protection against Candida albicans fungus identified

      King’s scientists identify complex mechanism required for initiating protection against a common fungus.

      Research image

      £2 million award to boost research into fungal infections

      Professor Julian Naglik has been awarded a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award for his work to understand how fungi cause disease.

      Professor Naglik