Metabolism and Infection

Metabolism of pathogenic bacteria in the hoste cell environment

We are investigating the metabolism of pathogenic bacteria within a host cell environment. For instance bacterial pathogens like Streptococcus spec., Gram-positive obligate human pathogens that colonizes mucosal surfaces in the host can cause a broad range of severe diseases like pneumonia, septicaemia, otitis media, sinusitis and meningitis. The high number of approximately 12.000 deaths per year in Germany (RKI) and 1.6 mio worldwide (WHO) due to invasive infections with this pathogens displays the need for knowledge regarding pneumococcal infections [1].

Since the knowledge about the pneumococcal metabolism is very limited, we aimed for a metabolomics approach that would allow us to investigate basic metabolic characteristics during growth in a chemical defined medium. By doing so we used different growth conditions for two S. pneumoniae strains and analyzed metabolic footprints and fingerprinting using ¹H-NMR, GC-MS or HPLC-MS. Also we are interesting on antibiotic profile. The project is funded by the DFG and involved in the RTG 1870.

Metabolome analysis of Gram-positive Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis under growth-limiting conditions.

Analysis of the nutrients availability in different human body fluids that reflect natural habitats of Staphylococcus aureus during host colonization.

[1] (2013) Progress in introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine - worldwide, 2000-2012. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 62 (16): 308–311.