Molecular Pathogenesis Of Gram Negative Bacterial Infections

Dr Elizabeth Hartland

Pathogenesis of infections with enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) is an emerging food-borne, bacterial cause of acute gastro-enteritis and bloody diarrhea in humans. Infections with EHEC are also frequently associated with a severe, life-threatening complication in children and the elderly that may result in acute renal failure. Research in this laboratory is primarily focussed on understanding the molecular determinants required for colonisation of the host intestine by EHEC and the closely related human pathogen, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Our aim is to identify and characterise novel adhesins and invasins that are required for full virulence of these mucosal pathogens.

Interaction of EHEC and EPEC with epithelial cells

Characterisation of Legionella pneumophila virulence attributes.

Legionella pneumophila is an emerging bacterial pathogen and the major cause of Legionnaire's disease, an opportunistic, potentially fatal form of pneumonia. As part of its pathogenesis, L. pneumophila persists inside human alveolar macrophages where the bacteria replicate in non-acidified, early endosomes. Survival of L. pneumophila inside macrophages depends on a complex bacterial secretion system which exports and translocates bacterial virulence proteins into the macrophage endosomal membrane and cytoplasm. These bacterial effector proteins then interfere with vesicle trafficking and maturation. The main aim of this research program is to identify and characterise novel bacterial proteins that contribute to the subversion of endosome trafficking within the host cell.