CRC 1450 - C07: Imaging of immune cell dynamics and host-pathogen interactions in gut-associated lymphoid tissue during Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infections

Basic data for this project

Description

In order to obtain a high spatio-temporal resolution of the infection process of the gut pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, we will image the recruitment and dynamics of immune cell populations and characterize Yersinia-targeted immune cells in infected lymphoid tissue of mice during the entire course of the infection. For this purpose, the immune response will be visualized on a cellular level (confocal intravital microscopy) as well as on whole organ levels (e.g. by PET-CT). In this context, we will also analyse the role of platelets for neutrophil recruitment during Yersinia infections and address different neutrophil functions, including NET formation. In an approach to investigate how Yersinia may escape removal by the immune system and achieve persistence in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues, we will investigate bacterial evasion mechanisms and how they are regulated and manipulated in vivo.