The role of human factor XIII in infectious diseases

• Applicant: Dr. Torsten Loof
• Subject Area: Immunology
• Term: from 2009 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 111412455

Over the last two decades the analysis of host pathogen interactions has led to the discovery of novel defense mechanisms that are of importance for a better understanding of the molecular interactions of our battle against an intruding pathogen. Notably, invertebrates are almost entirely dependent on the innate immune system and some recent findings (for instance TOLL in drosophila) have dramatically influenced our current concept of host parasite interactions. While it is now generally accepted that the coagulation system in insects is part of the innate immune system, its function in vertebrate immunity is not completely understood. Preliminary results have shown that in drosophila, transglutaminase (a factor involved the coagulation cascade) is able to immobilize an invading pathogen in a clot by covalently crosslinking bacterial surface proteins within a formed clot. Importantly, transglutaminase is the only clotting factor in drosophila that shares homology with a vertebrate clotting factor (factor XIII). In the present application, I aim to explore whether human factor XIII, like its drosophila analogue, is able to interact with bacterial surface proteins eventually leading to an irreversible immobilization of the pathogen within a fibrin network. It is also planned to investigate whether bacteria have evolved strategies to counteract this mechanism.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Sweden
• Host: Professor Dr. Heiko Herwald