The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most common and important human bacterial pathogens. Streptococcal infections include throat and skin infections, which, although generally self-limiting, cause substantial morbidity and economic loss for society. 600 million people are estimated to suffer from streptococcal pharyngitis world wide. Invasive streptococcal infections are rare; however, about 3000 cases of severe cases are reported every year in Europe. Streptococcal infections are commonly localized to the mucosal epithelium of the respiratory tract or to epidermal skin layers. The establishment of these infections is characterized by an intense inflammatory state, a typical feature of streptococcal infections. Host-pathogen interactions of S. pyogenes in an inflammatory environment have so far only poorly been investigated, but are of great importance as uncontrolled inflammatory responses lead to serious life-threatening conditions such as the streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome. Our research aims to elucidate the role of streptococcal proteases in controlling inflammatory processes. These mechanisms are involved in severe clinical conditions, as well as in autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis; and in dermatoses like psoriasis. Since S. pyogenes infections are clinically highly significant, studies on the molecular interaction between S. pyogenes and proteins controlling inflammatory processes are of significant importance and essential to our understanding on the impact of bacterial infections on human physiology. Importantly, these findings connect underlying molecular mechanisms of significant inflammatory diseases with microbial pathogenesis. . Read More Ulrich von Pawel-Rammingen's group at Molecular Biology)

PI: Ulrich von Pawel-Rammingen