Biogenesis of novel membrane compartments in Salmonella enterica-infected host cells

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Michael Hensel
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2011 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 198065218

Salmonella enterica is a facultative intracellular pathogen that inhabits a unique membrane-bound compartment, termed Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV). Intracellular Salmonella induce the massive remodeling of the host endosomal system, resulting in tubular membrane aggregated such as Salmonella-induced filaments and further tubular structures. Based on our novel observations on ultrastructural and dynamic properties of host membranes modified by Salmonella, the project will explore the cellular and molecular basis of SCV and tubular compartment formation. These analyses will deploy electron microscopy (EM) and immuno-EM. Host membranes modified by activities of intracellular Salmonella will be specifically enriched and subjected to analyses of the proteome and lipidome. These analyses should complement the investigation of cellular origin of the unique com-partments. For a detailed understanding of the composition of the SCV, specific reporter assays will be developed to study the interaction of bacteria within the SCV with the content of other compartments of the host cell. Due to the heterogeneity of the intracellular bacteria, these analyses will be directed to individual bacteria serving as reporters. The role of Salmonella-derived membrane material in the biogenesis of novel membrane compartments will be analysed.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1580: Intracellular Compartments as Places of Pathogen-Host Interaction