Bioinorganic chemistry between immune cell and pathogen

该项目旨在研究当免疫系统细胞遇到病原体时发生的生物无机化学，它们试图杀死彼此，或者在病原体的情况下，也修改哺乳动物细胞的遗传学，使其能够在细胞内存活。病原细菌和真菌在细胞膜上积累铬，最近发现铬可能是一个重要的毒力因子。类似地，镍（Ni）的过度活化也涉及毒力。该项目将利用先进的光谱成像和生物化学技术研究铬和镍在毒力中的作用。这些见解将为先天免疫系统提供新的知识，并可能导致更有效的治疗严重感染。

This project aims to investigate the bioinorganic chemistry that occurs when immune system cells encounter pathogens and they try to kill one another, or in the case of a pathogen, to also modify the genetics of the mammalian cell to enable its intracellular survival. Pathogenic bacteria and fungi accumulate chromium (Cr) in their membranes and it was recently discovered that Cr is likely to be an important virulence factor. Similarly, Hyperaccummulation of Nickel (Ni) is also involved in virulence. The project will investigate the roles of Cr and Ni in virulence using advanced spectroscopic imaging and biochemical techniques. These insights will provide new knowledge on the innate immune system and may lead to more efficacious treatments for serious infections.