Structural and Functional characterisation of chlamydial inclusion proteins. (360G-Wellcome-099768_Z_12_Z)

The project aims to study the structure and function of two chlamydial inclusion proteins. Chlamydia is a major human pathogen, causing sexually transmitted disease and trachoma (a form of blindness). To replicate inside host cells, chlamydia build a specialised intracellular compartment called an inclusion, which is segregated from the host endocytic system but selectively engages key host organelles and secretory traffic. To achieve this, Chlamydiae deliver a family of hydrophobic inclusion proteins (Incs) into the inclusion membrane, but very little is kown about their structure and function. Exploiting our ability to purify these membrane proteins, the project aims to fully understand i0 the bases of membrane tubulation by IncC, ii) the nature of the novel endoplasmic reticulum retention signal within IncB, iii) the host targets if IncC and IncB and their roles during bacterial infection. the arising data will allow new insights into the molecular mechanism of this medicallu important pathogen.