About Bacterial Pathogenesis

Bacteria are prokaryotic microorganisms, without a membrane-bound nucleus. We are surrounded by them, such in soil and plants, and they also live on and in us, like on our skin, and inside our digestive system, where they impact our health and well-being.

Whereas most bacteria are harmless, there are a few with pathogenic ability that can cause infectious diseases. In fact, foodborne and waterborne diseases still constitute a global public health challenge.

The aim of this collection is to improve our understanding of bacterial infection biology, from both pathogenic and commensal bacteria that cause disease. We are interested in the mechanisms involved in pathogenesis, using a wide range of approaches, from microbiology and evolutionary perspectives to a more molecular biology-oriented approach, including single-cell sequencing, transcriptomics, and proteomics.

A non-exhaustive list of topics includes:

• Bacteria-host interaction.
• Pathogen-commensal bacteria interaction.
• Bacterial evolution.
• Microbial communities.
• Bacterial communication.
• Gastrointestinal microbiome.
• Role of bacterial infection in other pathologies (i.e. cancer).

Do you want to know about the work of our Guest Advisor, the challenges in his research area, and the role of open science in his field? Read our interview with Prof Kai Papenfort. 

Bacterial Pathogenesis: Collection of the month.