Type IV Secretion in Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Steffen BackertChair of MicrobiologyFriedrich Alexander University Erlangen/NurembergDepartment of BiologyDivision of MicrobiologyStaudtstr. 5D-91058 ErlangenGermanyTel.  ++49 9131 8528081Fax  ++49 9131 8528082 Prof. Dr. techn. Elisabeth GrohmannProfessor of MicrobiologyBeuth University of Applied Sciences BerlinDepartment of Life Sciences and TechnologyDivision of MicrobiologyForum SeestraßeSeestr. 64D-13347 BerlinGermanyTel. ++49 30 45043942Fax ++49 30 45043983

• Biological diversity of prokaryotic type IV secretion systems.- Evolution of type IV secretion systems and their substrates.- Structural and molecular biology of type IV secretion systems.- Relaxosome formation and transfer of broad-host range plasmids Gram-negative bacteria.- Mechanisms of conjugative transfer by Gram-positive broad-host range plasmids.- Social behavior and decision making in bacterial conjugation.- Structure and chemical biology approaches to understand type IV secretion system function and inhibition.- Type IV secretion systems: A pivotal tool to establish intracellular lifestyle by pathogens.- Subversion of host target cells by the Legionella type IV secretion system.- Role of multiple type IV secretion systems in Bartonella infections.- Requirements for T4SS effector protein translocation and function by the Coxiella Dot/Icm system.- Composition and function of the Helicobacter pylori cag type IV secretion system.- Secretion of chromosomal DNA by the gonococcal type IV secretion system.