Dissecting bacterial signal transduction

细菌是有感觉的。它们使用被称为双组分信号系统(TCS)的蛋白质来感知和响应变化。这些包括一个传感器，它激活DNA结合蛋白，以响应特定的线索(信号)。利用最先进的基因技术和合成生物学方法，这项研究旨在首次揭示这些复杂的细菌TCS网络是如何相互作用的。其结果将是对细菌如何感知和响应环境信号的根本、新的理解；深入了解细菌的感受。这些知识将成为在生物技术中利用细菌的创新方法的基础，例如疫苗生产、生物燃料或阻止细菌感染的巧妙治疗干预。

Bacteria have feelings. They sense and respond to changes using proteins called two-component signalling systems (TCSS). These comprise a sensor which activates a DNA binding protein in response to specific cues (signals). Using state-of-the-art genetic techniques and a synthetic biology approach, this research aims to reveal for the first time how these complex bacterial TCSS networks interact. The outcomes will be a fundamental, new understanding of how bacteria sense and respond to environmental signals; a deep dive into how bacteria feel. This knowledge will be the basis for innovative approaches to harness bacteria in biotech such as vaccine production, biofuels, or clever therapeutic interventions to stop bacterial infections.