The structural and functional basis of reprogramming of vesicular transport by Salmonella enterica effector proteins

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Hensel
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 186419184

Salmonella enterica is a facultative intracellular pathogen that resides and replicates within a membrane-bound compartment of host cells, the so-called ‘Salmonella-containing vacuole’ or SCV. Intracellular Salmonella deploy a type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded by Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI2) to manipulate host cell functions and to achieve intracellular proliferation. The project should lead to the understanding of molecular basis of these manipulations. We aim to i) define the role of individual SPI2-T3SS effectors in modification of cellular transport and remodeling of the endosomal system, ii) characterize host factors involved in remodeling of the endosomal system by Salmonella, iii) identify interaction partners of effectors by genetic screens and protein interaction analyses, and ultimately iv) to determine the structure/function relationship of SPI2-T3SS effectors. The identification and analyses of effector/target interactions in the proposed project will lead to a molecular understanding of the intracellular strategies of an important intracellular pathogen.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants