From being regarded a minor class of RNAs, ncRNAs (noncoding RNAs, mostly antisense) have recently emerged as ubiquitous key players in important life processes in animals, plants, fungi and metazoans. Similarly, 65 small ncRNAs, encoded by the E. coli genome, have been recently identified, and additional ones are being discovered in other bacterial species. Many of these RNAs play key roles in the control of global regulatory networks, e.g. in stress responses.
With this project, we address a timely issue, which is central to EU's Health Science call - the roles that ncRNAs play in the regulation of bacterial virulence. The partner groups will use a multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of microbial pathogenicity, RNA biology, biochemistry and computational biology. We will identify novel ncRNAs and their targets (mRNA or proteins) in several representative pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pyogenes). Their roles in the establishment of bacterial pathogenicity will be analysed. Infection studies using cell culture and animal models will allow the validation of ncRNAs and respective targets in virulence. Structural and mechanistic aspects of the ncRNAs will elucidate their interaction with the targets. Research on these topics will propose how the regulatory ncRNAs are integrated into the general network of control of stress responses, host adaptation and bacterial virulence. Since our long-term objective is to generate fundamental knowledge that can be directly applicable for therapeutic purposes to combat bacterial infections, we expect with this research to identify novel targets for drug design strategies (SME partner). In conclusion, given the soaring interest in the many roles of ncRNAs today, the knowledge base arising from our collaborative project will be invaluable for strengthening Europe's international standing in this exciting field...