ProjectTRR Skin Immunity – How skin inflammation is shaped by interaction of Staphylococcus aureus with skin cells and…
Basic data
Acronym:
TRR Skin Immunity
Title:
How skin inflammation is shaped by interaction of Staphylococcus aureus with skin cells and skin microbiota
Duration:
01/07/2015 to 30/06/2019
Abstract / short description:
While healthy human skin is hardly colonized by Staphylococcus aureus these bacteria are frequently found on the skin of atopic dermatitis patients and are thought to contribute actively to skin inflammation and eczema formation. However, it has remained unknown how immune-modulatory S. aureus molecules affect skin cell functions and S. aureus capacities to thrive on skin. Moreover, how S. aureus interacts with the skin microbiota to compete for nutrients and shape skin inflammation remains elusive. Our groups have collaboratively identified and characterized bacterial or host factors governing S. aureus colonization and immune-modulation such as staphylococcal adhesins and microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) or new human skin antimicrobial peptides (dermcidin) and MAMP receptors (FPR2). Based on evidence from our and other groups we will analyse if and how S. aureus requires and actively adjusts a favourable level of inflammation on the skin. Moreover, we will study how S. aureus interacts with skin microbiota via bacteriocins and metabolic competition or via modulation of skin cells as a prerequisite for skin colonization. Using our collections of defined S. aureus mutants, immune-modulatory molecules, and colonization models we will study the following aspects: The impact of S. aureus immunomodulatory factors such as lipopeptides, formylated peptides, or phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) and cognate skin receptors on bacterial colonization will be explored in vitro with cultivated keratinocytes and in vivo in our established skin infection model. The inhibitory and metabolic interference of S. aureus with skin microbiota along with capacities of skin commensals to interfere with S. aureus colonization will be analyzed by investigating the capacity of skin bacteria to produce bacteriocins or to withdraw essential nutrients. Our project should help to better understand skin inflammation with the ultimate goal to find new ways for treating bacteria-associated skin disorders.
Involved staff
Managers
Department of Dermatology
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Hospitals and clinical institutes, Faculty of Medicine
Cluster of Excellence: Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies (iFIT)
Centers or interfaculty scientific institutions
Centers or interfaculty scientific institutions
Research training group: Non-canonical G protein signaling pathways
Research training groups
Research training groups
Contact persons
Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT)
Interfaculty Institutes
Interfaculty Institutes
Cluster of Excellence: Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)
Centers or interfaculty scientific institutions
Centers or interfaculty scientific institutions
Local organizational units
Department of Dermatology
Hospitals and clinical institutes
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
Funders
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany