Sphingolipids in gonococcal infection

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Thomas Rudel
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 242127429

Disseminated gonococcal infection is a serious complication caused by the bacteremic spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonococci rapidly invade epithelial and endothelial cells via the scavenger receptor SREC. We could recently demonstrate, that SREC-dependent invasion requires intact detergent-resistant microdomains, caveolin 1 phosphorylation and the involvement of several signaling molecules, including neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (NSM2), but not of ASM Published data already suggested ASM as important enzyme involved in the interaction of gonococci with epithelial and phagocytic cells during acute infection. The major objective of the current project therefore is to understand the role of sphingolipids and NSM in the course of bacterial invasion during disseminated gonococccal infection.The main focus will be the investigation of (1) the sphingolipid balance in the epithelial cells, the (2) role of sphingosine and associated signaling pathways, the (3) role of sphingosine kinases and the (4) role of S1P during gonococcal infection.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2123: Sphingolipid Dynamics in Infection Control