Mechanisms of Chlamydia and human papillomavirus co-infection in metaplastic tissue of the uterine cervix (A08)

• Subject Area: Medical Microbiology and Mycology, Hygiene, Molecular Infection Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 492620490

A08 will investigate how infection alters the host tissue microenvironment and which molecular decision points contribute to virulence, persistence, and enhanced carcinogenesis. Towards this aim, A08 will induce squamous metaplasia in the cervix of wild-type and KRT14-HPV transgenic mice, which express the early genes of human papillomavirus (HPV), and these mice will then be infected with Chlamydia. A08 will investigate the extent of alterations in the epithelial-stromal-immune crosstalk upon Chlamydia infection and their influence with and without HPV E6E7 expression on Chlamydia virulence and persistence. This study will identify novel host mechanisms that can be used for therapeutic interventions against pathogens and the prevention of cancer development.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1583: Decisions in Infectious Diseases (DECIDE)
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Head: Cindrilla Chumduri, Ph.D.