SPP 2330:
New concepts in prokaryotic virus-host interactions - from single cells to microbial communities
Subject Area
Medicine
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Thermal Engineering/Process Engineering
Term
since 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441953848
Within the Priority Program SPP 2330, a consortium of about 25 groups together with associated members addresses current questions in the field of virus-host interactions in prokaryotes. The scientific goals of this consortium focus on understanding new mechanisms in prokaryotic virus-host interactions at the molecular level and in the context of microbial communities. This includes the identification and mechanistic understanding of new antiviral defense systems and the understanding of their function in the context of the prokaryotic immune system. To achieve this goal, the consortium has already successfully bundled their expertise in the fields of molecular microbiology, bioinformatics, mathematical modeling, imaging techniques, structural biology and biochemistry in the first funding period, thus forming an internationally unique consortium spearheading research in the emerging field of phage biology. The topic is currently particularly relevant as the potential of bacteriophages for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their application in agriculture and food safety is attracting increasing attention. However, a fundamental understanding of the interaction of phages with their host and the underlying mechanisms of their coexistence in microbial communities is of paramount importance for the development of efficient applications. The success of a priority program depends crucially on the creation of suitable framework conditions. Therefore, we are applying for funding for the organization of annual meetings and an international conference (in the third year), the organization of workshops and lectures, the exchange of PhD students, start-up funding for postdocs, gender equality measures and the development of a public relations module. The coordination resources are managed by the coordinator and the scientific committee, who are all supported by the coordination assistant of the priority program.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
International Connection
Belgium, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland
Projects
-
A dead end trap? - Functions of bacteriophages bound to outer membrane vesicles in host infection and defence
(Applicants
Barbirz, Stefanie
;
Bröker, Nina
)
-
A pseudogene affords quorum sensing-mediated phage defense in Vibrio cholerae
(Applicant
Papenfort, Kai
)
-
Bacterial gasdermin as a model system to study ancient immune mechanisms
(Applicant
Wein, Tanita
)
-
Characterization of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in the human nose
(Applicant
Gerlach, David
)
-
Coordination Funds
(Applicant
Frunzke, Julia
)
-
Dissecting the vast diversity of anti-retron mechanisms in phage genomes
(Applicant
Typas, Ph.D., Athanasios
)
-
“Dynamic and mechanisms of early life interactions between bacteriophage and its bacteria host in the skin”
(Applicant
Gomez de Agüero, Mercedes
)
-
Functional dissection of the Bacillus subtilis SPbeta prophage lysogeny-lysis decision system and characterization of a novel SPbeta defense system
(Applicant
Commichau, Fabian M.
)
-
Glycocode-guided bacteriophage-host interaction in the evolution of the genus Staphylococcus
(Applicant
Peschel, Andreas
)
-
Identity, infection strategy, and biogeochemical impact of nitrifier-infecting viruses
(Applicant
Pester, Michael
)
-
Impact of phage microdiversity on marine heterotrophic bacteria – a single cell perspective
(Applicants
Moraru, Ph.D., Cristina
;
Stryhanyuk, Ph.D., Hryhoriy
)
-
Integration of multicellular defense strategies in the context of the bacterial immune system
(Applicant
Frunzke, Julia
)
-
Interplay of the phages phi29 and SPP1 with the B. subtilis (p)ppGpp response
(Applicant
Bange, Gert
)
-
Interrogating DNA-centric bacterial defenses and phage counter-defenses
(Applicant
Beisel, Chase
)
-
It’s sweet to move on – bacteriophage infection and processing of glycan-based biofilms
(Applicant
Barbirz, Stefanie
)
-
Mechanisms of bacterial programmed cell death in phage defense: interplay of NAD+ depletion and the effector phospholipase PlaB
(Applicant
Flieger, Antje
)
-
Molecular cross-talk between Sa3int phages and their Stapylococcus aureus host
(Applicant
Wolz, Christiane
)
-
Molecular insight into viral infection of Methanoarchaea and their respective viruses
(Applicant
Schmitz-Streit, Ruth Anne
)
-
Molecular mechanisms of phage-antibiotic interactions and their interplay with phage defense systems
(Applicant
Gontao Brochado, Ph.D., Ana Rita
)
-
Molecular mechanisms of virus egress in haloarchaea
(Applicant
Quax, Tessa
)
-
Molecular sensing mechanisms of phage infection mediated through the Zorya anti-bacteriophage defense system
(Applicants
Erhardt, Marc
;
Popp, Philipp
)
-
Phage-host cross-talk in the human gut microbiome
(Applicant
Deng, Li
)
-
Photosynthesis genes in phage genomes-elucidation of their role in cyanobacteria-phage interaction
(Applicant
Frankenberg-Dinkel, Nicole
)
-
Regulation of host protein synthesis by jumbo phage proteins
(Applicant
Vogel, Jörg
)
-
Targeted RNAylation of Escherichia coli's Translational Machinery: A Hijacking Strategy Made by Bacteriophage T4
(Applicant
Höfer, Katharina
)
-
The role of m6A-RNA modification to control phage replication
(Applicants
Brameyer, Sophie
;
Jung, Kirsten
)
-
The role of membrane vesicles for archaeal virus-host interactions
(Applicant
Erdmann, Susanne
)
-
The role of phage Thanatos ADP-ribosyl-transferases Alt1 and Alt2 in disarming and preparing the host
(Applicant
Thormann, Kai
)
-
Understanding the nature of anti-phage defense islands in microbes
(Applicant
Sorek, Ph.D., Rotem
)
-
Unravelling the intricate regulation of the expression program of T4-like cyanophages
(Applicants
Lindell, Ph.D., Debbie
;
Steglich, Claudia
)
-
Z-Project - Bacteriophage Repository, Services and Database
(Applicant
Wittmann, Johannes
)