PEOPLE >>> Joachim Kurtz

Foto: Grewer	Joachim Kurtz Group Leader joachim.kurtzuni-muenster.de Tel. +49 251 83 24661 room 109

• Adaptation of parasites to different host immune systems
• DFG Priority Programme 1399 "Host-Parasite Coevolution" link
• The evolutionary ecology of specificity and phenotypic plasticity in innate immunity

Selected publications

• Roth, O., Joop, G., Eggert, H., Hilbert, J., Daniel, J., Schmid-Hempel, P. and Kurtz J. (2010). Paternally derived immune priming for offspring in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Journal of Animal Ecology 79, 403-413. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01617.x, in focus article, press release
• Roth, O., Sadd, B.M., Schmid-Hempel, P., and Kurtz, J. (2009). Strain-specific priming of resistance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Proc R Soc B-Biol Sci 276, 145-151. doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1157
• Kurtz, J., Kalbe, M., Langefors, S., Mayer, I., Milinski, M., and Hasselquist, D. (2007). An experimental test of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in a teleost fish: 11-ketotestosterone suppresses innate immunity in three-spined sticklebacks. Am Nat 170, 509-519. doi:10.1086/521316
• Kurtz J. (2005) Specific memory in innate immunity. Trends Immunol. 26: 186-192. doi:10.1016/j.it.2005.02.001
• Kurtz J., Kalbe M., Aeschlimann P.B., Häberli M.A., Wegner K.M., Reusch T.B.H. & Milinski M. (2004) Major histocompatibility complex diversity influences parasite resistance and innate immunity in sticklebacks. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 271: 197-204. doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2567
• Kurtz J. & Franz K. (2003) Evidence for memory in the invertebrate immunity. Nature 425: 37-38. doi:10.1038/425037a
• Kurtz J. & Sauer K.P. (1999) The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis: testing the genetic predictions. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 266 (1437): 2515-2522. doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0954 

Selected cooperations

• ETH Zürich (Switzerland), Institute of Integrative Biology (Prof. P. Schmid-Hempel, Prof. S. Bonhoeffer) link
• Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Biology Plön (Dr. M. Kalbe, Prof. M. Milinski) link
• University of Kiel, Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics (Prof. H. Schulenburg) link

Complete list of publications

• Roth, O., Kurtz J. and Reusch T.B.H. (2010). A summer heat wave decreases the immunocompetence of the mesograzer, Idotea baltica. Marine Biology 157(7), 1605-1611. doi:10.1007/s00227-010-1433-5

• Roth, O., Joop, G., Eggert, H., Hilbert, J., Daniel, J., Schmid-Hempel, P. and Kurtz J. (2010). Paternally derived immune priming for offspring in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Journal of Animal Ecology 79, 403-413. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01617.x, in focus article, press release

• Roth, O. and Kurtz, J. (2009). Phagocytosis mediates specificity in the immune defence of an invertebrate, the woodlouse Porcellia scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda). Dev Comp Immunol 33 (11), 1151-5. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2009.04.005
  

   

• Hammerschmidt, K. and Kurtz, J. (2009). Ecological immunology of a tapeworms' interaction with its two consecutive hosts. Adv. Parasitol. 68, 111-137. doi:10.1016/S0065-308X(08)00605-2

• Roth, O., Sadd, B.M., Schmid-Hempel, P., and Kurtz, J. (2009). Strain-specific priming of resistance in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Proc R Soc B-Biol Sci 276, 145-151. doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1157

• Schulenburg, H., Kurtz, J., Moret, Y., and Siva-Jothy, M.T. (2009). Introduction. Ecological immunology. Philos Trans R Soc B-Biol Sci 364, 3-14. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0249

• Roth, O., and Kurtz, J. (2008). The stimulation of immune defence accelerates development in the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum). J Evol Biol 21, 1703-1710. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2008.01584.x

• Kurtz, J. (2007). The correlation between immunocompetence and an ornament trait changes over lifetime in Panorpa vulgaris scorpionflies. Zoology 110, 336-343. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2007.07.001

• Kurtz, J., and Scharsack, J.P. (2007). Resistance is skin-deep: innate immunity may help amphibians to survive a deadly fungus. Anim Conserv 10, 422-424. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2007.00149.x

• Kurtz, J., Kalbe, M., Langefors, S., Mayer, I., Milinski, M., and Hasselquist, D. (2007). An experimental test of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in a teleost fish: 11-ketotestosterone suppresses innate immunity in three-spined sticklebacks. Am Nat 170, 509-519. doi:10.1086/521316

• Kurtz, J. (2007). Big fleas have little fleas: How discoveries of invertebrate diseases are advancing modern science. Am J Hum Biol 19, 600-601. doi:10.1002/ajhb.20696

• Hammerschmidt, K., and Kurtz, J. (2007). Schistocephalus solidus: Establishment of tapeworms in sticklebacks - fast food or fast lane? Exp Parasitol 116, 142-149. doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2006.12.013

• Krobbach, C.K., Kalbe, M., Kurtz, J., and Scharsack, J.P. (2007). Infectivity of two nematode parasites, Camallanus lacustris and Anguillicola crassus, in a paratenic host, the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus. Dis Aquat Org 74, 119-126. doi:10.3354/dao074119

• Kurtz, J., and Armitage, S.A.O. (2006). Alternative adaptive immunity in invertebrates. Trends Immunol 27, 493-496. doi:10.1016/j.it.2006.09.001

• Kurtz, J. and Hammerschmidt, K. (2006). Resistance against heterogeneous sequential infections: experimental studies with a tapeworm and its copepod host.
  Journal of Helminthology 80, 199-206. doi:10.1079/JOH2006349


• Kurtz, J., Wegner, K. M., Kalbe, M., Reusch, T. B. H., Schaschl, H., Hasselquist, D. and Milinski, M. (2006)
  MHC genes and oxidative stress in sticklebacks: an immuno-ecological approach.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 273, 1407-1414. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3450


• Wegner, K. M., Kalbe, M., Rauch, G., Kurtz, J., Schaschl, H. and Reusch, T. B. H. (2006)
  Genetic variation in MHC class II expression and interactions with MHC sequence polymorphism in three-spined sticklebacks.
  Molecular Ecology 15, 1153-1164. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.02855.x


• Kalbe, M. and Kurtz, J. (2006)
  Local differences in immunocompetence reflect resistance of sticklebacks against the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum.
  Parasitology 132, 105-116. doi:10.1017/S0031182005008681

• Irmak, P., Kurtz, J. and Zimmer, M. (2005)
  Immune response in Porcellio scaber (Isopoda : Oniscidea): copper revisited.
  European Journal of Soil Biology 41, 77-83. doi:10.1016/j.ejsobi.2005.09.011 

• Hammerschmidt, K. and Kurtz, J. (2005)
  Surface carbohydrate composition of a tapeworm in its consecutive intermediate hosts: Individual variation and fitness consequences.
  International Journal for Parasitology35, 1499-1507. doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.08.011


• Hammerschmidt, K. and Kurtz, J. (2005)
  Evolutionary implications of the adaptation to different immune systems in a parasite with a complex life cycle.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 272, 2511-2518. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3241


• Jacot, A., Scheuber, H., Kurtz, J. and Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2005)
  Juvenile immune status affects the expression of a sexually selected trait in field crickets.
  Journal of Evolutionary Biology 18, 1060-1068. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00899.x


• Kurtz, J. (2005)
  Specific memory within innate immune systems.
  Trends in Immunology 26, 186-192. doi:10.1016/j.it.2005.02.001 

• Jacot, A., Scheuber, H., Kurtz, J. and Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2005)
  Juvenile immune system activation induces a costly upregulation of adult immunity in field crickets Gryllus campestris.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 272, 63-69. PubMedCentral


• Kurtz, J. (2004)
  Memory in the innate and adaptive immune systems.
  Microbes and Infection6, 1410-1417. doi:10.1016/j.micinf.2004.10.002 

• Hammerschmidt, K. and Kurtz, J. (2004)
  Following a parasite through its life cycle: how tough is it to cope with different immune systems?
  International Journal of Medical Microbiology 293, 53-53.


• Scharsack, J. P., Kalbe, M., Derner, R., Kurtz, J. and Milinski, M. (2004)
  Modulation of granulocyte responses in three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus infected with the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 59, 141-150. doi:10.3354/dao059141  

• Field, S. G., Kurtz, J., Cooper, E. L. and Michiels, N. K. (2004)
  Evaluation of an innate immune reaction to parasites in earthworms.
  Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 86, 45-49. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2004.04.001 

• Wegner, K. M., Kalbe, M., Kurtz, J., Reusch, T. B. H. and Milinski, M. (2004)
  Response to comment on "Parasite selection for immunogenetic optimality".
  Science 303. doi:10.1126/science.1093355 

• Kurtz, J., Kalbe, M., Aeschlimann, P. B., Haberli, M. A., Wegner, K. M., Reusch, T. B. H. and Milinski, M. (2004)
  Major histocompatibility complex diversity influences parasite resistance and innate immunity in sticklebacks.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 271, 197-204. doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2567

• Kurtz, J. (2003)
  Sex, parasites and resistance - an evolutionary approach.
  Zoology 106, 327-339. doi:10.1078/0944-2006-00126

• Wegner, K. M., Kalbe, M., Kurtz, J., Reusch, T. B. H. and Milinski, M. (2003)
  Parasite selection for immunogenetic optimality.
  Science 301, 1343-1343. doi:10.1126/science.1088293 

• Kurtz, J. and Franz, K. (2003)
  Evidence for memory in invertebrate immunity.
  Nature 425, 37-38. doi:10.1038/425037a 

• Christen, M., Kurtz, J. and Milinski, M. (2002)
  Outcrossing increases infection success and competitive ability: Experimental evidence from a hermaphrodite parasite.
  Evolution 56, 2243-2251. doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb00148.x
  


• Franz, K. and Kurtz, J. (2002)
  Altered host behaviour: manipulation or energy depletion in tapeworm-infected copepods?
  Parasitology 125, 187-196. doi:10.1017/S0031182002001932 

• Kurtz, J. (2002)
  Phagocytosis by invertebrate hemocytes: Causes of individual variation in Panorpa vulgaris scorpionflies.
  Microscopy Research and Technique 57, 456-468. doi:10.1002/jemt.10099 

• Van der Veen, I. T. and Kurtz, J. (2002)
  To avoid or eliminate: cestode infections in copepods.
  Parasitology 124, 465-474. doi:10.1017/S0031182001001275 

• Kurtz, J., van der Veen, I. T. and Christen, M. (2002)
  Fluorescent vital labeling to track cestodes in a copepod intermediate host.
  Experimental Parasitology 100, 36-43. doi:10.1006/expr.2001.4681 

• Kurtz, J., van der Veen, I. T. and Ryder, J. J. (2002)
  Ecological immunity of arthropods - a thread of Ariadne?
  Trends in Ecology & Evolution 17, 204-205. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(02)02457-6 

• Kurtz, J., Klappert, K., Schneider, W. and Reinhold, K. (2002)
  Immune defence, dispersal and local adaptation.
  Evolutionary Ecology Research 4, 431-439. 

• Reinhold, K., Kurtz, J. and Engovist, L. (2002)
  Cryptic male choice: sperm allocation strategies when female quality varies.
  Journal of Evolutionary Biology 15, 201-209. doi:10.1046/j.1420-9101.2002.00390.x


• Kurtz, J. and Sauer, K. P. (2001)
  Gender differences in phenoloxidase activity of Panorpa vulgaris hemocytes.
  Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 78, 53-55. doi:10.1006/jipa.2001.5040 

• Kurtz, J., Reinhold, K. and Engqvist, L. (2000)
  Immunosuppression under stress: necessary for condition-dependent signalling?
  Trends in Ecology & Evolution 15, 418-419. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(00)01969-8 

• Kurtz, J., Nahif, A. A. and Sauer, K. P. (2000)
  Phagocytosis of Vairimorpha sp (Microsporida, Nosematidae) spores by Plutella xylostella and Panorpa vulgaris hemocytes.
  Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 75, 237-239. doi:10.1006/jipa.1999.4909 

• Kurtz, J., Wiesner, A., Gotz, P. and Sauer, K. P. (2000)
  Gender differences and individual variation in the immune system of the scorpionfly Panorpa vulgaris (Insecta : Mecoptera).
  Developmental and Comparative Immunology 24, 1-12. doi:10.1016/S0145-305X(99)00057-9 

• Wipking, W. and Kurtz, J. (2000)
  Genetic variability in the diapause response of the burnet moth Zygaena trifolii (Lepidoptera : Zygaenidae).
  Journal of Insect Physiology 46, 127-134. doi:10.1016/S0022-1910(99)00108-0 

• Kurtz, J. and Sauer, K. P. (1999)
  The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis: testing the genetic predictions.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 266, 2515-2522. doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0954 

• Reinhold, K., Engqvist, L., Misof, B. and Kurtz, J. (1999)
  Meiotic drive and evolution of female choice.
  Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 266, 1341-1345. doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0785 

• Gerken, T., Kurtz, J., Sauer, K. P. and Lubjuhn, T. (1998)
  DNA preparation and efficient microsatellite analysis from insect hemolymph.
  Electrophoresis 19, 3069-3070. doi:10.1002/elps.1150191804


• Sauer, K. P., Lubjuhn, T., Sindern, J., Kullmann, H., Kurtz, J., Epplen, C. and Epplen, J. T. (1998)
  Mating system and sexual selection in the scorpionfly Panorpa vulgaris (Mecoptera : Panorpidae).
  Naturwissenschaften 85, 219-228. doi:10.1007/s001140050487

• Wiesner A., Rohloff L.-H., Wittwer D., Pohl U., van Sambeek J., Kurtz J. & Götz, P. (1998)
  Phagocytosis by insect hemocytes in vitro. In Techniques in Insect Immunology
  ed. A. Wiesner, G. B. Dunphy, V. J. Marmaras, I. Morishima, M. Sugumaran, M. Yamakawa. pp. 11-20. Fair Haven, NY: SOS Publ.