Chlamydia and Legionella are intracellular bacterial pathogens that reside and multiply within eukaryotic host cells in a membranous vacuole. These bacteria share a general virulence mechanism, consisting in the injection of effector proteins into host cells through specialized type III or type IV secretion systems.
Most of our research has been focused in studying how the molecular and cellular mode of action of Chlamydia and Legionella effector proteins contributes to bacterial intracellular growth and virulence. We expect that this basic knowledge might help to develop new strategies to combat infectious diseases.
Contact:
Jaime Mota
Lab 349, Department of Life Sciences
NOVA School of Science and Technology (FCT NOVA)
Campus de Caparica
2829-516 Caparica
Portugal
E-mail: ljmota@fct.unl.pt
Phone: (+351) 21 294 8530 (ext. 11118)