Lipstaph – Role of lipid transfer from host cells to S. aureus during chronic infection and consequences for host immune response

The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus causes serious invasive infections and may persist as small colony variants in host cells. The incorporation of host fatty acids into the cellular membranes may allow the pathogen to evade the host immune defense during chronic infection. The project Lipstaph will investigate the transfer and potential immunomodulatory function of fatty acids in S. aureus and host cells. Understanding the mechanisms may open up new treatment opportunities for staphylococcal chronic infections in the future.