Miniature killers: Our Body and the pathogens inside it

How is it possible that the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is simultaneously a harmless inhabitant of the nose of a third of the population AND one of the biggest infectious killers worldwide?

Delve into this still unresolved question in a captivating journey unravelling the warfare between bacterial pathogens and humans and the endless molecular weapons that bacteria use to establish infections and thwart immune responses. Join us as we explore the world of bacterial pathogenesis, where understanding the enemy at the molecular level is crucial in the ongoing battle to safeguard human health.

COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), represents an ongoing global threat. During the pandemic we discovered a druggable pocket in the protein on the viral surface. We found that a fatty acid, named linoleic acid, binds to this pocket. We showed that linoleic acid tightly binds and locks the protein in a non-infective state. Based on these findings, we started developing an urgently needed antiviral drug to inhibit infection and transmission of coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

What can frogs teach us about our immune system?

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is an invasive fungal pathogen that’s devastating amphibian populations worldwide. Little is known about how to combat its spread, however a solution might already be living on the frogs themselves. The microbiome (the collection of microorganisms that live on and inside a host) plays a huge roll in many animals’ basic functions, including humans, such as digestion and the immune system. In the case of the frogs, the microbiome may be adapting to combat pathogens before they can even establish by selecting for a protective bacterial community. If we can understand the role of the microbiome in defending against pathogen invasion, can we create a prophylactic to help save the frogs? And how can this help us understand the defensive capabilities of the microbiome against other pathogens?