Function of bacterial genes associated with disease

Two approaches are planned to uncover the function of bacterial genes associated with disease.  One addresses the role of genes in bacteria while the other focuses on the effect of gene products on the host. The former involves inactivation of the genes in appropriate model bacteria and studying the effects of inactivation on the bacterial phenotypes. The latter is centered on over-expression of proteins in standard bacterial hosts and determining the effects of the proteins on appropriate human cell lines. The focus will be on two types of effects, cell proliferation and activation of inflammatory pathways. Twelve different screening procedures have been established for this purpose.

As the genes associated with disease are not yet known, the project will focus initially on the identification of genes involved in the interaction of the microbiota  with their human host. These genes will be identified using the screening methods already developed by the MetaHIT project and will incorporate the bioinformatic analysis of metagenome and genome sequence data. This analysis will make use of previously published data as well as the greater body of data generated by the MetaHIT project.