The aim of the course is to introduce students to Type IV Secretion Systems (T4SS) from a multidisciplinary point of view.
Cellular, genetic, biochemical, structural, and functional approaches to the study of T4SS will be presented.
The course is mainly addressed to PhD students and PostDocs in the field of T4SS.
Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) represent a group of macromolecular machines used to translocate proteins or protein-DNA complexes across the cell envelope. They are extremely versatile and medically important because they contribute to virulence-gene spread, genome plasticity and the alteration of host cellular processes during infection. How these machines induce the formation of the transport channel and mediate translocation across intercellular junctions is an intriguing area of investigation, especially in view of the striking diversity of prokaryotic cell envelopes. Genetic, biochemical, biophysical, structural and cellular approaches are needed to i) understand the full biological complexity of T4SS and ii) to unravel common molecular features of different prokaryotic T4SS.
In order to introduce students to the topic of T4SS, the course will include lectures and practical