Determining the mechanism of Akt activation by the Salmonella type III effector SopB

• Applicant: Dr. Bernhard Roppenser
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2009 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 157163844

Salmonella Typhimurium is a major cause of food poisoning worldwide and infections can be lethal in young children or immunocompromised individuals. These bacteria have the ability to invade and replicate within host cells during an infection. To accomplish this, they use specialized toxins to alter the regulatory systems of the cells. These toxins cause drastic changes to the membranes of infected cells, forcing them to internalize the bacteria and in the process providing them with a specialized compartment that allows the microorganisms to replicate inside the cells. In this proposal, the Salmonella toxin SopB, which alters cellular membranes and modulates regulatory mechanisms, important for cell survival, will be investigated. These membrane alterations and modulations inside the cells caused by SopB are related to those that occur during other human diseases, including cancer, diabetes or neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore these studies will provide a new fundamental understanding not only of bacterial infections but also of other human diseases, possibly allowing the development of new treatments.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Canada
• Host: Professor Dr. John Brumell, Ph.D.