SFB 796:  Reprogramming of Host Cells by Microbial Effectors

• Subject Area: Biology ; Chemistry ; Medicine
• Term: from 2009 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 52732026

elucidates host-pathogen interactions at the molecular and cellular level in order to gain insight into microbial strategies to hijack or reprogram cellular processes of the host. The unique feature of CRC796 is the study of viral and bacterial strategies to successfully invade and colonize both plant and mammalian cells. This offers the possibility to identify unique and conserved interaction patterns. Examples of conserved strategies include the effector-mediated suppression of cell death by interfering with ER-stress responses, SUMO-dependent nuclear trafficking of proteins and the interaction of viral effectors with cytosolic stress granule components of host cells. All processes require specific interactions between microbial effectors and host target structures. Despite the obvious importance of these interactions, many targets and cellular functions of these effectors are still unknown. Therefore, research has focused on the structural basis of effector-host target interactions and on the elucidation of cellular functions of known effector proteins. As an example, we gained insight into the structural basis of the human cytomegalovirus pUL50/pUL53 core nuclear egress complex, opening new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to block viral infections. Beside the scientific benefits of the boundary-bridging research strategy, provides access to state-of-the-art technology platforms which are needed in all fields and exceed the capabilities of the individual research groups by far. During the third funding period the CRC796 will focus on the development of novel antimicrobial strategies and the continuation of basic, cross-border research on effector-mediated host cell manipulations. Furthermore, the CRC796 will have established state-of-the-art research infrastructures and an invaluable collaborative research network at the FAU at the end of the third funding period.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Completed projects

• A01 - Interaction of the HIV-1 regulatory virus protein R (Vpr) with host cell factors (Project Head Schubert, Ulrich )
• A02 - Computational analysis of linear interaction motifs and globular protein intervaces in effector proteins (Project Head Sticht, Heinrich )
• A03 - Structural biology of plant potyvirus and cytomegalovirus effector proteins (Project Head Muller, Yves André )
• A04 - Automated multi-dimensional, high-content image-analysis for fluorescence-microscopy (Project Head Wittenberg, Thomas )
• A05 - Exploration of the structural basis for the functional mimicry of the CD4 binding site of HIV-1gp120: Implications vor virus entry inhibition and the induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies (Project Head Eichler, Jutta )
• A06 - Functional selectivity as a result of viral chemokine receptor heteromerization (Project Heads Stamminger, Thomas ;  Tschammer, Nuska )
• B01 - STAT-Activation in T-cell growth transformation (Project Head Ensser, Armin )
• B02 - Control of HSV-1 specific replication and transmission mechanisms in human dentritic cells (Project Head Steinkasserer, Alexander )
• B03 - Interference of the viral effector proteins pp71 and IE1 with ND10-mediated intrinsic immunity against human cytomegalovirus infections (Project Head Stamminger, Thomas )
• B04 - Re-programming of plant metabolism by type III effectors from Xanthomonas campestris (Project Head Sonnewald, Sophia )
• B05 - Analysis of virulence factors of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (Project Head Burkovski, Ph.D., Andreas )
• B06 - Reprogramming of macrophages by the mycobacterial cord factor (Project Head Lang, Roland )
• B07 - Functional analysis of bacterial Type VI effectors in EBI3-dependent regulation of enteric infection and inflammation (Project Heads Neurath, Markus F. ;  Wirtz, Stefan )
• B08 - Functional analysis of Coxiella burnetii type IV effector-induced inhibition of host cell apoptosis (Project Head Lührmann, Anja )
• B09 - Viral regulators of cellular ripoptosome protein complex (Project Heads Becker, Christoph ;  Stürzl, Michael )
• B10 - Molecular function and signal transduction of the serine protease HtrA, a novel secreted effector protein of bacterial pathogens (Project Head Backert, Steffen )
• C01 - The structural and functional basis of reprogramming of vesicular transport by Salmonella enterica effector proteins (Project Head Hensel, Michael )
• C02 - Functional analysis of the interaction between host factors and viral transport proteins (Project Head Sonnewald, Uwe )
• C03 - Regulation of nuclear egress of human cytomegalovirus through a multifunctional viral-cellular protein complex (Project Head Marschall, Manfred )
• C04 - In vivo expression analysis of virulence proteins of Salmonella Thyphimurium in macrophages and mouse models (Project Heads Berens, Christian ;  Hillen, Wolfgang )
• C05 - Functional characterisation of bacterial type III effectors targeting host cell vesicle trafficking (Project Head Börnke, Frederik )
• C06 - Effects of Tax and p8 proteins on cell-to-cell transmission of Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) (Project Head Thoma-Kreß, Andrea Karin )
• C07 - Modulation of cellular processes and Rac/Rop (Rho) activity in Arabidopsis by Pto TTSS effector proteins (Project Head Kost, Benedikt )
• MGK - Integrated Research Training group (Project Head Burkovski, Ph.D., Andreas )
• Z01 - Bioanalytics - Proteomics Platform (Project Heads Muller, Yves André ;  Sonnewald, Uwe )
• Z02 - Centra Tasks (Project Head Sonnewald, Uwe )

• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
• Participating Institution: Fraunhofer-Institut für Integrierte Schaltungen (IIS); Abteilung Bildverarbeitung und Medizintechnik (aufgelöst)
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Uwe Sonnewald