Chemical tools for targeting bacterial effector proteins

Many bacterial pathogens use a kind of microscopic syringe to inject specific proteins, known as effector proteins, into the cells of their host. These effector proteins then trigger infection- promoting processes that cause considerable disruption in the host cells: for example, they interfere with the degradation and renewal of defective cellular components or with cellular signaling pathways. The aim of this project is to develop specific and selective chemical tools for labeling effector proteins in living cells. These tools are intended to make it possible to study the activity and mode of action of bacterial effector proteins and to better understand their role in infection processes caused by pathogens. In the long term, this research may also help to identify natural inhibitors that could enable more targeted treatment of bacterial infections in the future.