Molecular decision points that determine colorectal cancer colonisation by Fusobacterium nucleatum (A09)

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

A09 seeks to unravel the molecular mechanisms that allow Fusobacterium nucleatum to colonise colon cancer tissue and to understand how local environments are manipulated as host cells respond to fusobacteria at these sites. Key to our approach is the introduction of RNA-centric technologies to assay bacterial and host gene activities during initial fusobacterial colonisation of tumour cells in vitro and within the complex tumour environment. A09 aims to identify key molecular decision points during cancer tissue colonisation by F. nucleatum to define targets for intervention.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1583: Decisions in Infectious Diseases (DECIDE)
• Applicant Institution: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Jörg Vogel