Deciphering the second messenger regulatory network(s) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa that control persistent infection

Francesca is a microbiologist with a specific interest in the processes that govern chronic bacterial infections. She will use her Fellowship to explore how the nucleotide messenger cyclic-di-GMP controls development of persistent infections in the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, specifically focusing on the HD-GYP family proteins involved in the nucleotide’s turnover. To investigate this Francesca will work with Professor Julia Parkhill at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Professor Tim Tolker-Nielsen at the University of Copenhagen.