Mechanisms driving chlamydial persistence and ascending infection in the female reproductive tract (B01)

• Subject Area: Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 492620490

B01 will identify molecular decision points that determine the switch from productive to persistent Chlamydia trachomatis (Ctr) infection in various infection scenarios. In addition, B01 hypothesise that specific subpopulations of immune cells that are mounting the local immune response in the infected epithelia may take up the bacteria and transport them to the upper female genital tract as a mechanism of ascending infection. A long-term goal will be the mechanistic understanding of molecular decision points for spatial and time resolved development of ascending and persistent Ctr infection in the female reproductive tract as the basis for new therapeutic approaches.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1583: Decisions in Infectious Diseases (DECIDE)
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Thomas Rudel