Grant: Operating Grant

Our lab studies how cells are affected by bacteria infection. We are interested in the bacterium, Chlamydia, which is the most common cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Chlamydia usually infects the cells that line the human body, termed epithelial cells. We are interested in how this bacterium manipulates epithelial cells once it gets inside the cell. In order for Chlamydia to survive inside epithelial cells, it must obtain nutrients from the cell. We will study how Chlamydia manipulates cellular processes to acquire such nutrients, namely host cell amino acids and lipids. We believe that part of this pathogenic strategy involves blocking the process of cell division, resulting in host cells with more than one nucleus (multinucleated cells). Multinucleated cells are well linked to tumor formation and other studies have identified Chlamydia as a risk factor for human cervical cancer. In this proposal, we will determine the cellular targets of Chlamydia in epithelial cells and directly examine whether the Chlamydia-induced multinucleated cells can indeed lead to tumor formation. Chlamydia infections cause significant morbidity throughout the world and our studies may identify novel therapeutic targets for more effective intervention.