Why do pathogens infect only specific tissues, cell types, or species? This phenomenon, known as tropism, remains poorly understood for many human-specific bacteria. The project investigates this mechanism using the example of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), which can cause potentially life-threatening intestinal infections, particularly in young children. The aim is to identify both bacterial and human factors that enable the bacteria to infect the human gut. To achieve this, the team led by Sina Bartfeld, Professor at the Institute of Medical Biotechnology at TU Berlin, is combining human intestinal organoids with the expertise in bacterial genetics and virulence factors provided by Ilan Rosenshine, Professor of Bacteriology at the Faculty of Medicine at HUJI. Together, the researchers aim to unravel the complex interactions between bacterium and host. In the long term, the project seeks not only to provide a deeper understanding of EPEC infections, but also to develop new methods for studying other human gut bacteria—thus advancing the development of human infection models.
Funding period: 11/2025 - 11/2028
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Sina Bartfeld
Technische Universität Berlin
Head of the Biotechnology department
Email: sekretariat(at)medbt.tu-berlin.de
Applicant: Technische Universität Berlin
Partner: Hebrew University of Jerusalem