Host control of persistent Salmonella infection

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Chronic infection with Salmonella can develop despite adequate antibiotic treatment. In fact some infected individuals become life-long asymptomatic carriers spreading the infection and maintaining Salmonella infection in the human population. In this research project we will study the immunological mechanisms that support Salmonella persistence. We will employ mixed infections with a collection of isogenic Salmonella strains to identify key sites for the establishment of persistent infection and to define routes of Salmonella dissemination in the host. This approach of mixed infection will be combined with a neonate infection model, a model mimicking relapsing infection after antibiotic treatment and naturally resistant mouse strains. Our preliminary experiments revealed independent sites of persisting Salmonella. We therefore aim to dissect host mechanisms that segregate sites of persistence and to identify differences in myeloid cell subsets to support long term infection. We expect that these experiments will yield exciting insights into the dynamics of chronic Salmonella infection and help to improve the treatment of chronically infected patients.