New findings on Pseudomonas aeruginosa: combat tumors in a targeted manner!

New findings on Pseudomonas aeruginosa: combat tumors in a targeted manner!

At the CIBSS Cluster of Excellence at the University of Freiburg, scientists are conducting intensive research into the interaction between the bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosaand human and plant cells. University of Freiburg reports that the bacterium can cause serious infections in humans. Prof. Dr. Winfried Römer leads a research group that studies how this pathogenic bacterium invades host cells. His research shows thatPseudomonas aeruginosauses certain lectins to specifically trigger invaginations in the plasma membrane of the cells.

This innovative finding also attracted the interest of Prof. Dr. Thomas Ott, who researches the symbiotic infections of plants by bacteria. Together with Römer, Ott is investigating comparable mechanisms that occur in root nodule symbiosis between plants and rhizobia. This interdisciplinary collaboration highlights the relevant biological overlaps and the potential benefits of this research for agricultural and biomedicine.

Innovative therapies using lectins

Another fascinating aspect of the research is the investigation of the role of lectins in tumor recognition. Römer and Prof. Dr. Susana Minguet are working on developing lectin-based chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that target immune cells to recognize and eliminate specific tumor cells. This work could potentially offer new therapeutic approaches in the fight against cancer.

Römer's study plays a central role in exploring how pathogens manipulate cell membranes to trigger infections. In this context, the lectin LecA is particularly importantPseudomonas aeruginosaconsidered. LecA functions as an invasion factor by binding to the glycolipid Gb3 on the cell membrane, leading to the reorganization and assembly of lipids in the membrane. This process, known as “lipid zipper,” activates cellular signaling pathways that make it easier for the bacterium to penetrate the host cell.

The first results of this research were published in 2014 and are now considered the basis for ongoing studies within the Cluster of Excellence. The meaning ofPseudomonas aeruginosais also recognized internationally in various journals dealing with the adaptability and virulent factors of the bacterium, such as the work of Rossi et al. and Jurado-Martin et al. show the adaptation ofPseudomonas aeruginosain patients with cystic fibrosis and analyze its role as an opportunistic pathogen Nature reports.

The findings from these research projects could not only lead to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms, but also to the development of more effective measures against themPseudomonas aeruginosacaused infections. These efforts are particularly relevant given increasing antibiotic resistance, which is increasingly being addressed in current medical research. Researchers worldwide are searching for new therapeutic approaches to address the threat posed by this adaptable and dangerous bacterium.