Mechanisms driving persistence of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in lymphoid tissues of the intestinal tract (B03)

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

To gain a better understanding of the establishment of a persistent bacterial infection, B03 aims to elucidate the molecular decision points that drive Yersinia from the acute phase into persistency during the course of the infection. Based on preliminary data, B03 hypothesises that reprogramming of the expression of bacterial factors that reduce inflammation and modulate the function of immune cells during the acute phase allow immune evasion, survival, local spreading and long-term persistence of the pathogen in gut-associated lymphoid tissues. Elucidation of the molecular decision points that define the dynamics and spatial development of persistency will enable B03 to identify Yersinia-specific but also common drivers of bacterial persistence which can serve as basis for therapeutic approaches.

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