Research project
Cryo-EM of cholera infection
The structure of bacterial cells provides crucial clues about their interaction with their host. What are the key structural features of a bacterial cell that determine pathogenicity? What roles do these structures play in the life cycle, and how do they change during the infection process?
- Duration
- 2017
- Contact
- Ariane Briegel
- Funding
-
NWO - Building Blocks of Life
- Partners
The structure of bacterial cells provides crucial clues about their interaction with their host. What are the key structural features of a bacterial cell that determine pathogenicity? What roles do these structures play in the life cycle, and how do they change during the infection process?
Dr. Ariane Briegel and partners will aim to answer these questions by determining the ultrastructural composition of Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of Cholera. They will utilize the zebrafish as a model, a natural host with a human-like immune system. Using a multidisciplinary approach, they will combine advanced microscopy and novel chemical markers in order to get unprecedented insights into the biology of V. cholerae and its complex interplay with its host organism.
The research team will determine exactly when pathogens express specific cell attachment structures and signal transduction machinery and determine their role in infection. This work will provide a solid foundation to guide development of new and targeted treatments for cholera, which is urgently needed in view of the rise of antibiotic resistant pathogens.
The project will be carried out within the Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN), the Cell Observatory, Leiden University’s state-of-the-art core facilities, and the Institute of Chemistry.