Understanding how pathogenic streptococci sense and respond to metal intoxication

链球菌包括大量的细菌，它们栖息在人体内，通常与我们共同生活。然而，有些链球菌会从好细菌变成坏细菌，转化为造成伤害的机会致病菌。它们通过确保优势来做到这一点，例如逃避免疫监视或抵制我们身体通常破坏病原体的方式，包括利用抗菌金属离子。有趣的是，人们对某些细菌如何在分子水平上检测金属或链球菌如何对体内变化的环境做出反应知之甚少。为了解决这些重要问题，本项目将研究B群链球菌，一种年轻人和老年人的机会致病菌，以了解细菌如何抵抗宿主施加的金属中毒。

The streptococci encompass a plethora of bacteria that inhabit the human body and usually live co-operatively with us as commensals. Some streptococci, however, switch from being good bacteria to being bad bacteria, transforming into opportunistic pathogens that cause harm. They do this by securing an advantage, such as by evading immune surveillance or by resisting the ways in which our bodies normally destroy pathogens, including by exploiting antimicrobial metal ions. Intriguingly, little is known about how certain bacteria detected metals at the molecular level or how streptococci can respond to a changing environment within the body. To address these important questions, this project will study Group B streptococcus, an opportunistic pathogen of the young and old, to develop an understanding of how bacteria resist metal intoxication imposed by the host.