Stress response and biofilm formation in E. coli

Stéphan Lacour

We are investigating the genetic determinants of curli expression and secretion.  Curli are fine aggregated fimbriae present on the cell surface of enterobacteria and responsible for substrate colonization, the first step in biofilm formation. We are completing the regulatory network controlling the transcription and translation of csg operons. In particular, we are studying the expression of the regulator CsgD, which is essential for the expression of curli structural genes (csgBA), but also for cellulose production and the repression of class 2 and 3 flagellar genes. Most importantly, we want to identify the RNA-RNA interaction that controls CsgD translation and explain temperature-dependent curli expression.

Collaborations

Corinne Dorel (Université de Lyon), Akira Ishihama (Hosei University, Tokyo, Japan)

Stéphan Lacour

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