Understanding how pathogenic streptococci sense and respond to metal intoxication

链球菌包含了大量的细菌，它们栖息在人体中，通常以共生的方式与我们共同生活。然而，一些链球菌从好细菌转变为坏细菌，转化为造成伤害的机会性病原体。它们通过获得优势来做到这一点，例如通过逃避免疫监视或抵抗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，对于某些细菌如何在分子水平上检测金属，或者链球菌如何对体内不断变化的环境做出反应，人们知之甚少。为了解决这些重要问题，该项目将研究B群链球菌，一种年轻人和老年人的机会性病原体，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.