Control of metabolism of host and pathogen by the Yersinia type three secretion system

• Antragsteller: Privatdozent Dr. Gottfried Wilharm
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Parasitologie und Biologie der Erreger tropischer Infektionskrankheiten
• Förderung: Förderung von 2008 bis 2016
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 72128409

In the model organism Yersinia enterocolitica, a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae primarily causing diarrhoea, we examine the coordination of virulence and metabolic functions. A protein transport machinery, a so-called type III secretion system, which allows to manipulate host cells by injection of effector proteins is among the most important virulence factors of pathogenic Yersinia. We could show recently that proteins of the type III system modulate the metabolism of the pathogen, possibly to guarantee the functionality of the type III system during an infection requiring specific metabolic conditions. Now, in addition, during the first funding period we could show that at least one additional protein of the type III system and at least one additional metabolic enzyme are involved in the coordination of virulence and metabolic functions. Further, our data suggest that also the metabolism of host cells is manipulated directly by the injection of type III effectors. We want to extend our understanding of the metabolic control both of the pathogen and the host in the second funding period by means of metabolic flux analyses, cell biology, biochemical and structural biology methods. We hope that, in addition, these studies can contribute to the development of novel drugs.

• DFG-Verfahren: Schwerpunktprogramme
• Teilprojekt zu: SPP 1316: Host-Adapted Metabolism of Bacterial Pathogens