Research project Host-bacteria interactions during disease progression

Infectious diseases cause death of many millions of people every year. Pathogenic microorganisms may induce rapid and life-threatening diseases that cause civil, medical, and social stress when entering a community. This project will extend our knowledge of how human pathogens, such as Neisseria meningitidis, Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus pyogenes interact with the human host. We study important virulence factors with a key role in regulating and fine-tuning bacterial virulence. Impact of the normal flora as well as innate immune defences are also investigated. Understanding critical steps of the disease will offer an opportunity for development of novel therapeutic agents with which to battle the continued problem of antimicrobial resistance. The outcome of this study will lead to development of treatments and new protective tools for severe bacterial diseases.