Integration of a bacterial endosymbiont into the intracellular networks of a eukaryotic host cell (A01)

• Subject Area: Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458090666

The trypanosomatid Angomonas deanei contains a ß-proteobacterial endosymbiont. Cell cycles of host and symbiont are strictly synchronised, host effector proteins are targeted to the symbiont, and the symbiont is tightly associated with host glycosomes. Project aims (i) to elucidate the role of the symbiont/glycosome association for integration of host/symbiont metabolic networks; (ii) to engineer a synthetic endosymbiosis between the natural A. deanei symbionts or genetically modified cyanobacteria, and mammalian cells; and (iii) to use the synthetic system to study elements of host/symbiont interaction such as protein targeting and host control over symbiont division.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1535: Microbial networking – from organelles to cross-kingdom communities
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Project Heads: Professorin Dr. Eva C.M. Nowack; Professor Dr. Matias Daniel Zurbriggen