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Martin Aepfelbacher's research group works in the field of Cellular Microbiology which has evolved at the interface of Cell Biology and Microbiology. We currently investigate the role of actin cytoskeleton and Rho GTP-binding proteins in Yersinia and Staphylococcus aureus target cell interaction. Related projects concern the regulation of podosomal adhesion structures in macrophages and control of endothelial permeability in vitro.
Cellular Microbiology focuses on the crosstalk between microbial virulence mechanisms and eukaryotic target cells. Cell biological, biochemical, biophysical and molecular genetic methods are being employed to characterize diverse aspects of cell regulation such as receptor ligand interaction, signal transduction, cytoskeletal regulation, vesicle transport, cell survival/apoptosis, which are all known to be affected by pathogen products. In many instances pathogens exploit the elaborate system of cell regulation for their advantage, i.e. to impede the immune system, grow in an intracellular niche, spread to another tissue or individuum etc. The molecular tools that pathogens instrumentalize are a remarkable example of the power of coevolution and often are by far more specific and effective than the man-made pharmacological products known so far. Thus Cellular Microbiology does not only contribute to the understanding of the molecular principles of pathogenicity but will also produce valuable tools for basic cell research and eventually for clinical applications.
Specific research topics include:
We are part of and contribute to following research programs funded by the German Research Council (DFG):
