Bacterial bombs or stress response - how does the environment influence production and function of bacterial outer membrane vesicles?

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are naturally secreted by Gram-negative bacteria by bulging of the outer membrane and selective packaging of bacterial molecules within spherical vesicles. OMVs are part of the bacterial stress response and necessary for bacterial detoxification and survival. In addition, many other functions such as biofilm formation, antimicrobial activity, nutrient acquisition, and delivery of biomolecules, have been described. Due to their immunogenic properties, OMVs are also increasingly used in vaccine development. Despite these advances, little is known about OMV biogenesis and the factors determining OMV formation, their molecular composition, and interaction with host cells.In this project, we will investigate OMV production by the foodborne pathogen enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) which naturally resides in the intestinal tract of cattle. It also persists in the environment for prolonged periods of time, predominantly within protozoa. In humans, EHEC colonises the colon and is a major cause of diarrhoea worldwide. It can also lead to haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a severe systemic complication affecting the kidneys and central nervous system.The aim of this study is to determine the effect of environmental conditions relevant to the different habitats of EHEC (cattle, humans, external environment) on OMV production and function with particular focus on OMV release, protein composition, and interaction with host cells.