Unmasking the Interplay between Pathogenic Neisseria Species and Host Cells by Quantitative Proteomic Analysis

This proposal aims to investigate the interaction between pathogenic Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitides with host cells during infection using in vitro and in vivo models (cell culture and mouse model). A quantitative proteomic approach usin g in vitro and in vivo metabolic labeling techniques (using stable isotopic variant of an amino acid) will allow us a comprehensive analysis of dynamic protein expression changes over time including protein glycosylation of the bacteria upon host cell con tact. Furthermore the knowledge of up-regulated Neisserial surface proteins would be a knowledge base which would allow reviewing already suggested vaccine candidates and to propose new candidates for future evaluation.