Cell-autonomous defence against bacterial infection
My group studies conserved mechanisms of cell-autonomous defences against mycobacterial infections, using a powerful alternative host model, the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. During infection with pathogenic Mycobacterium marinum, we study aspects of nutritional immunity, acquisition of metabolites and the interference with membrane integrity, and trafficking and the impact of the ESCRT, TOR and autophagy pathways.
Keywords
Dictyostelium discoideum / phagocytosis / membrane trafficking / Mycobacterium marinum / virulence / pathogenesis / evolution / innate immunity