Project Details
Projekt
Mode of action of cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors in Wolbachia spp. (A08)
Subject Area
Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
Term
from 2019 to 2023
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398967434
We will elucidate the connection between the lipid II cycle and cell division in the obligate intracellular Wolbachia, a genus of Gram-negative alpha-proteobacteria thought to have no cell wall. Using fosfomycin, the impact of inhibiting MurA on cell division will be studied at the cellular and molecular levels. We will employ transcriptomics and proteomics to clarify how fosfomycin depletes these endobacteria from host cells and how they respond to blocking of the lipid II cycle, including its recycling. Using labeled precursors, Wolbachia will be probed for a rudimentary peptidoglycan and the role of lipid II in interacting with or coordinating the cell division machinery (e.g. MreB or FtsZ) will be investigated.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
Applicant Institution
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Project Head
Dr. Kenneth Pfarr, Ph.D.
