Einfluss von Schwermetallen (Zink) auf die Pathogenität von Salmonella enterica pv. Typhimurium

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In my research I will investigate the role of metals other than iron in bacterial virulence. There are many pathogenic microorganisms that require metals for virulence including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria meningitis and Salmonella enterica. I will first employ Salmonella as a model organism because it is easily genetically manipulated. Salmonella enterica pv. Typhimurium has a broad host range and it is for example responsible for human gastroenteritis. In the mouse model S. enterica pv. Typhimurium can serve as a model for typhoid fever caused by S. enterica pv. Typhi in humans. The role of different trace elements, such as iron and manganese, on virulence of S. enterica pv. Typhimurium are partially well investigated. Starting to understand the role of zinc in virulence of S. enterica pv. Typhimurium, the frist goals are: i) characterization the role of zinc transporters in infection and survival, ii) starting identification and characterization of Zn2+-dependent enzymes involved in virulence, and iii) characterization of ZupT (determining membrane topology and characterization of ZupT mediated metal transport).