Research Interests

• Molecular mechanisms of resistance in fungi and bacteria
• Microbiome and mycobiome profiling and analysis
• Candida auris: An emerging hospital-associated fungal pathogen
• Evaluation of the Efficacy of Antiseptics and Disinfectants

Molecular Biology

• Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
  • Library preparation
  • High-throughput wet lab techniques
  • Whole-genome sequencing
  • Targeted sequencing
  • RNA sequencing

Microbiology

• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
• MALDI-TOF MS analysis
• Classical microbiological techniques
• Cultivation of bacteria, yeasts, and molds
• Anaerobic cultivation methods

Professional experience in the following core areas of biomedical science

Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Hematology, Hemostaseology, Clinical Chemistry, and Immunohematology

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First Authorship Publications

In vitro long-term exposure to chlorhexidine or triclosan induces cross-resistance against azoles in Nakaseomyces glabratus
Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01511-4
Spettel K & Bumberger D, Kriz R, Frank S, Loy M, Galazka S, Suchomel M, Lagler H, Makristathis A, Willinger B

2026   In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Octenidine Against Emerging Dermatophyte Species
Mycopathologia
https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s11046-026-01084-3
Spettel K , Kriz R, Fellhuber S, Loy M, Tiefenbrunner H, Schabransky M, Galazka S, Willinger B

In vitro resistance development gives insights into molecular resistance mechanisms against cefiderocol
The journal of antibiotics (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-024-00762-y
Kriz R & Spettel K, Pichler A, Schefberger K, Sanz-Codina M, Lötsch F, Harrison N, Willinger B, Zeitlinger M, Burgmann H & Lagler H

Candida auris in Austria — What Is New and What Is Different.
Journal of Fungi (2023)
https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9020129
Spettel K, Kriz R, Wu C, Achter L, Schmid S, Galazka S, Selitsch B, Camp I, Makristathis A, Lagler H, Willinger B

Efficacy of octenidine against emerging echinocandin-, azole- and multidrug-resistant Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JGAR.2022.01.028
Spettel K, Bumberger D, Camp I, Kriz R, Willinger B

Do Candida albicans isolates with borderline resistant micafungin MICs always harbor FKS1 hot spot mutations?
Journal of Fungi (2021)
https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7020093
Spettel K, Galazka S, Kriz R, Camp I, Willinger B

Analysis of antifungal resistance genes in Candida albicans and Candida glabrata using next generation sequencing.
PLoS One (2019)
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210397
Spettel K, Barousch W, Makristathis A, Zeller I, Nehr M, Selitsch B, Lackner M, Rath, PM, Steinmann J, Willinger

Co-Authorships

PubMed

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Awards and Prizes

05/2026             METEKA-Preis für Krankenhaus und Betriebshygiene 2026 – ÖGHMP

03/2026             2^nd Place „Infektiologische Forschung 2026“ ÖIK

05/2025             Grant for second best poster – Forschungsforum – FH Campus Vienna

09/2022             Nachwuchsförderpreis für Klinische Mykologie der DMykG

07/2022             For Women in Science Stipendium – L’Oréal Österreich/ÖUK/ ÖAW

11/2021             ÖGACH Projektförderung “An insight into the future of antifungal resistance”

06/2020             ÖGMM publication price for “Medizinisch Angewandte Mykologische Forschung”

03/2017             Paul Ehrlich Gesellschaft – Bonn – grant for best poster