Cell-free analysis of phagosome biogenesis in macrophages

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Albert Haas
• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: from 2007 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 54760881

Microorganisms that have entered our body are quickly ingested by phagocytic cells of the immune system (in particular, macrophages and neutrophils). The microbe is wrapped into a portion of the phagocyte’s plasma membrane, ingested by the host cell, and a new organelle (phagosome) is created. This compartment is similar to endosomes and ‘matures’ into a phagolysosome in which most microorganisms are killed and degraded. Little is known about how precisely maturation proceeds and which factors are required in the different maturation steps. This study will define stage-specific factors for the fusion of endosomes/lysosomes with phagosomes in a cell-free system and will analyse the dynamic changes in fusion competences of phagosomes that contain intracellular pathogens. The results foreseen will help us to define the maturation of phagosomes at the molecular level and set the stage for understanding how intracellular pathogens manipulate vesicular trafficking in macrophages.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Major Instrumentation: Fluoreszenzmikroskop einschl. Kamera und Software
• Instrumentation Group: 5040 Spezielle Mikroskope (außer 500-503)