SFB 766 - The Bacterial Cell Envelope: Structure, Function and Infection Interface
Collaborative Research Center 766 at the University of Tübingen
(01.07.2007 - 30.06.2019)
Funding of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC- SonderForschungsBereich SFB) 766 was extended until June 2019. In its third phase the SFB Speaker, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wohlleben, integrated five new projects to extend the investigation of “secretion” as an important function of the cell envelope, in particular in the field of bacteria-host interaction. Until now, projects dealing with the infection interface were concentrating largely on adhesion.The DFG highlighted, besides the outstanding scientific quality, promotion of young scientists and women and the successful cooperation between the projects.
In total 21 projects the scientists are investigating different aspects of the biology of the bacterial cell envelope. They are located at various departments of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University, the University Hospital and at the Max-Planck-Institute of Developmental Biology.
Aim
Our aim is to identify new targets for antimicrobial agents, vaccines, and diagnostics in the area of the bacterial cell envelope, thereby contributing to fundamental knowledge required for the development of new healthcare strategies.
Research on the bacterial cell envelope in recent years has changed this situation dramatically:
It was discovered that the bacterial cell wall has a number of unexpected features for the cell: The cell wall turned out not to be a static barrier for the cell, but it takes over important functions in many essential processes such as differentiation, cell division and cell-cell communication. Furthermore it became clear that the cell wall is involved in all steps of bacteria-host recognition, interaction, and response. The SFB766 contributed substantially to this new perception on the role of the bacterial cell envelope: By analysing cell wall synthesis and structure we could show among others that
- cell wall turnover is a permanent, dynamic process
- nanopores in septa of filamentous bacteria are required for cell-cell communication
- gene transfer across streptomycetal cell walls is mediated by a process resembling chromosome segregation
- studies on new structural data of adhesins, the assembly of β-barrel proteins in the cell envelope, and the immune reaction of plants confronted with bacterial pathogen resulted in a better understanding how bacteria infect their hosts
In future we plan to extend the investigation of “secretion” as an important function of the cell envelope, in particular in the field of bacteria-host interaction. Until now, projects dealing with the infection interface were concentrating largely on adhesion.
We would like to explore the next step in the infection process, namely the secretion of effector molecules across the cell envelope into host cells. To this end, we now include three new projects fully dedicated to type I, type III, and type VI secretion systems.
Organisation
Download: List of members and PIs of the SFB Organisation chart
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wohlleben
Universität Tübingen
IMIT - Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin
SFB-Geschäftsstelle
Auf der Morgenstelle 28
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Telefon: 0 70 71 - 29 76484
Telefax: 0 70 71 - 29 5467
wolfgang.wohllebenspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de
Contact:
Geschäftsstelle des SFB 766
Leitung/Koordination: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wohlleben
Koordination und Administration: Dr. Ana Jorge
Auf der Morgenstelle 28
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Telefon: 0 70 71 - 29 76484
Telefax: 0 70 71 - 29 5979
ana.jorge (at) mikrobio.uni-tuebingen.de
2. Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Stephanie Grond
Institut für Organische Chemie
Auf der Morgenstelle 18
72076 Tübingen
Telefon: 0 70 71 - 29 72060
stephanie.grond@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Ingo Autenrieth
Universtitätsklinikum Tübingen
IMIT - Interfakultäres Institut für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsmedizin
Abteilung Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene
Elfriede-Aulhorn-Str. 6
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Telefon: 0 70 71 - 29 82351
Telefax: 0 70 71 - 29 5440
andreas.peschel@med.uni-tuebingen.de
The SFB is subdivided in three tightly intertwined sections (Partners & Projects)
Section A: The bacterial cell envelope : Syntheses, Structures und Functions
Projects A1 - A17 Speaker of Project-Section : PD Dr. Christiane Wolz (Project A07)
Section B: Host-Pathogen-Interactions
Project B1 - B15 Speaker of Project-Section: Prof. Dr. Doron Rapaport (Project B11)
Section C: Central Functions is responsible for fermentation and cell wall analytics (as a service for the projects) and for the coordination and administration of the SFB.