Final Report Summary - NUCHLEAR (Disarming bacterial weapons in the nucleus:functional study of Chlamydia nuclear effectors)
The high prevalence of Chlamydia infections and the heavy burden they inflict on public health justify the search for novel therapeutic approaches directed against this pathogen. Research on this obligate intracellular bacterium is difficult, due to substantial technical impediments. One current challenge is to identify bacterial proteins that are required for Chlamydia to survive and proliferate in the host and that could serve as targets in novel therapeutic strategies. Tailored by evolutions, these proteins also constitute unique tools to explore fundamental aspects of cell biology. Over the course of this project we have:
• Identified several novel chlamydial proteins that are secreted by the bacteria and have tropism for the host cell nucleus.
• Investigated the function of several chlamydial effector proteins.
• Demonstrated that upon their developmental cycle the bacteria hijacked the energy resource of their host cell for their own use, and uncovered the underlying molecular mechanisms.
• Demonstrated that one host enzyme, the transglutaminase 2, played an essential role in supplying the infected cells with sufficient glucose and glucose derivatives to meet bacterial needs.
• Identified several novel chlamydial proteins that are secreted by the bacteria and have tropism for the host cell nucleus.
• Investigated the function of several chlamydial effector proteins.
• Demonstrated that upon their developmental cycle the bacteria hijacked the energy resource of their host cell for their own use, and uncovered the underlying molecular mechanisms.
• Demonstrated that one host enzyme, the transglutaminase 2, played an essential role in supplying the infected cells with sufficient glucose and glucose derivatives to meet bacterial needs.