Membrane Trafficking and Signaling in Bacteria

All up-to-date information on the team is available on the team website: https://sites.google.com/view/mtsb/  

The MTSB team focuses on understanding the virulence mechanisms and genomic diversity in plant pathogens, particularly within the Pectobacteriaceae family. We investigate how bacteria like Dickeya sp. utilize virulence factors and secretion systems to deploy proteins critical for pathogenicity. Additionally, we explore the production and regulation of secondary metabolites by Dickeya and Pectobacterium, which serve diverse roles from virulence to environmental adaptation. These metabolites, including antibiotics and siderophores, are essential for bacterial survival and competition. Finally, we examine genomic and phenotypic variability among Pectobacteriaceae, identifying new species and comparing genomes to understand evolutionary relationships. This work provides insights into both bacterial pathogenicity and adaptation.