Interaction of uropathogenic Escheria coli (red) with human kidney epithelial cells
© U. Dobrindt

    Genetic basis involved in host interaction and adaptation of Escherichia coli: Impact on crosstalk with cellular barriers

    We will characterize E. coli genome plasticity and genes under selection during extraintestinal infection. To correlate genetic flexibility and bacterial fitness or virulence potential in response to in vivo growth, we will investigate the (i) bacterium-host interaction at cellular barriers, (ii) genome-scale evolution and adaptation of E. coli in individual human hosts at different niches, i.e. intestinal tract vs. urinary tract or blood stream, and (iii) E. coli factors involved in metabolic adaptation to different host niches.

    Research area: Bacterial genetics, infection biology

    Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ulrich Dobrindt

    Funding period: July 2012 - June 2020

    • Publications

      Original articles

      • Legros N, Ptaschek S, Pohlentz G, Karch H, Dobrindt U, Müthing J (2019) PapG Subtype-Specific Binding Characteristics of Escherichia coli Towards Globo-Series Glycosphingolipids of Human Kidney and Bladder Uroepithelial Cells. Glycobiology pii:cwz059.
      • Stork C, Kovács B, Rózsai B, Putze J, Kiel M, Dorn A, Kovács J, Melegh S, Leimbach A, Kovács T, Schneider G, Kerényi M, Emödy L, Dobrindt U (2018b) Characterization of asymptomatic E. coli bacteriuria isolates in search of alternative strains for efficient bacterial interference against uropathogens. Frontiers Microbiol 9:214.
      • Bielaszewska M, Rüter C, Bauwens A, Greune L, Jarosch AK, Steil D, Zhang W, He X, Lloubes R, Fruth A, Kim KS, Schmidt MA, Dobrindt U, Mellmann A, Karch H (2017) Host cell interactions of outer membrane vesicle-associated virulence factors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: Intracellular delivery, trafficking and mechanisms of cell injury. PLoS Pathogens 13:e1006159.
      • Galstyan A, Schiller R, Dobrindt U (2017b) Boronic Acid-Functionalized Photosensitizers: a Strategy to Target the Surface of Bacteria and Implement Active Agents in Polymer Coatings. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 56:10362-10366.
      • Münzner P, Kengmo Tchoupa A, Klauser B, Putze J, Brunner T, Dobrindt U, Hauck CR (2016) Uropathogenic E. coli exploit CEA to promote colonization of the urogenital tract mucosa. PLoS Pathogens 12:e1005608.
      • Heitmueller M, Billion A, Dobrindt U, Vilcinskas A, Mukherjee K. (2017) Epigenetic Mechanisms Regulate Innate Immunity against Uropathogenic and Commensal-Like Escherichia coli in the Surrogate Insect Model Galleria mellonella. Infect Immun. 85(10). pii: e00336-17. (doi: 10.1128/IAI.00336-17)
      • Galstyan A, Putze J, Dobrindt U (2017) Striking an access to the bacteria via (reversible) control of lipophilicity.Chemistry. doi: 10.1002/chem.201704562.
      • Galstyan A, Schiller R, Dobrindt U. (2017) Boronic Acid Functionalized Photosensitizers: A Strategy to Target the Surface of Bacteria and Implement Active Agents in Polymer Coatings. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 56(35):10362-10366. (doi: 10.1002/anie.201703398)
      • Thölking G, Schuette-Nuetgen K, Vogl T, Dobrindt U, Kahl BC, Brand M, Pavenstädt H, Suwelack B, Koch R, Reuter S. (2017) Male kidney allograft recipients at risk for urinary tract infection? PLoS One 12(11):e0188262. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188262.
      • Wiegand S, Zakrzewski SS, Eichner M, Schulz E, Günzel D, Pieper R, Rosenthal R, Barmeyer C, Bleich A, Dobrindt U, Schulzke JD, Bücker R. (2017) Zinc treatment is efficient against Escherichia coli α-haemolysin-induced intestinal leakage in mice. Sci Rep. 7:45649. (doi: 10.1038/srep45649)
      • Ambite I, Lutay N, Stork C, Dobrindt U, Wollt B, Svanborg C (2016) Bacterial suppression of RNA polymerase II-dependent host gene expression. Pathogens 5: 49. (doi:10.3390/pathogens5030049) 
      • Dobrindt U, Wullt B, Svanborg C (2016) Asymtomatic Bacteriuria as a Model to Study the Coevolution of Hosts and Bacteria. Pathogens 5:21.
      • Muenzner P, Kengmo Tchoupa A, Klauser B, Brunner T, Putze J, Dobrindt U, Hauck CR (2016) Uropathogenic E. coli exploit CEA to promote colonization of the urogenital tract mucosa. PLoS Pathog 12(5): e1005608. (doi:10.1371/journal. ppat.1005608) 
      • Starost LJ, Karassek S, Sano Y, Kanda T, Kim KS, Dobrindt U, Rüter C, Schmidt MA (2016) Pertussis Toxin Exploits Host Cell Signaling Pathways Induced by Meningitis-Causing E. coli K1-RS218 and Enhances Adherence of Monocytic THP-1 Cells to Human Cerebral Endothelial Cells. Toxins 8:E291.
      • Kunsmann L, Rüter C, Bauwens A, Greune L, Glüder M, Kemper B, Fruth A, Wai SN, He X, Lloubes R, Schmidt MA, Dobrindt U, Mellmann A, Karch H, Bielaszewska M (2015) Virulence from vesicles: Novel mechanisms of host cell injury by Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak strain. Sci Rep, 5:13252.
      • Bielaszewska M, Schiller R, Lammers L, Bauwens A, Fruth A, Middendorf B, Schmidt MA, Tarr PIT, Dobrindt U, Karch H, Mellmann M (2014) Heteropathogenic virulence and phylogeny reveal phased pathogenic metamorphosis in Escherichia coli O2:H6. EMBO Mol Med 6(3): 347-357.
      • Köves B, Salvador E, Grönberg-Hernandez J, Zdziarski J, Wullt B, Svanborg C, Dobrindt U (2014) Rare emergence of symptoms during long-term asymptomatic E. coli 83972 carriage, without altered virulence factor repertoire. J Urol 191: 519-528. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2013.07.060.
      • Revelles O, Millard P, Nougayrède J-P, Dobrindt U, Oswald E, Létisse F, Portais J-C (2013) The Carbon storage regulator (Csr) system exerts a nutrient-specific control over central metabolism in Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917. PLoS One 8: e66386
      • Sváb D, Horváth B, Maróti G, Dobrindt U, Tóth I (2013) Sequence variability of P2-like prophage genomes carrying the cytolethal distending toxin V operon in Escherichia coli O157. Appl Environ Microbiol 79: 4958-4964.
      Book articles
      • Rehm N, Berger M, Dobrindt U (2016) Bacterial Genome Plasticity. In: Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology (R.M. Kliman, ed.) Elsevier Amsterdam, in press.
      • Dobrindt U, Tjaden S, Shah S, Hacker J (2015b) Mobile genetic elements and pathogenicity islands encoding bacterial toxins. In: The Comprehensive Sourcebook of Bacterial Protein Toxins (Alouf, J., Ladant, D., Popoff, M. eds.) Elsevier Amsterdam, 40-76.