Envelope biogenesis and homeostasis in Bacteroidota
Our group is unraveling the basic mechanisms by which Bacteroidota build their cell envelope and maintain its homeostasis. Our main model organisms are Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a commensal of the dog’s mouth that can cause severe systemic infections with a high mortality rate in humans following dog bites, scratches, or licking, and Flavobacterium johnsoniae, an environmental bacterium. With respect to C. canimorsus, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenicity and commensalism, with a particular focus on the surface structures that may interact with the host.