CLOSTNET PROJECTS

1. Determination of the role of the global regulators agr and/or csrA in non-pathogenic and/or pathogenic clostridia (NOTTINGHAM, UK).
2. Identification of the regulatory factors that control the production of toxins in type A strains of C. perfringens associated with calf enterotoxaemia (EXETER, UK)
3. Analysis of the regulation of oxidative stress response in C. acetobutylicum (ROSTOCK, Germany)
4. To identify the role of sigma factors and two-component systems in C. botulinum at low temperature (HELSINKI, Finland)
5. To determine the role of quorum sensing in clostridial spore formation (NOTTINGHAM, UK)
6. Analysis of granulose storage in C. acetobutylicum (and other clostridia, e.g.,C. difficile) and its role in sporulation (ROSTOCK, Germany)
7. The identification of the mechanisms of germination, and subsequent growth and toxinogenesis in Group II type E C. botulinum (HELSINKI, Finland)
8. To identify the regulatory factors that control germination and outgrowth of Group I C.botulinum starins exposed to different stresses used for their control in foods. (UNILEVER, Colworth park, UK)
9. To investigate the germination of bacteriophage interaction with C.difficile with respect to host spectrum, lysogeny/lysis and induction.
10. Determination of the mechanism of toxin secretion in C. difficile (MARIBOR, Slovenia)
11. Identification and characterization of surface-associated and secreted C.difficile proteins and their role in disease. (NOVARTIS, Sienna, Italy)
12. Molecular mechanisms responsible for cytotoxic potency of the secreted C.difficile toxins TcdA and B. (NOVARTIS, Sienna, Italy)
13. To identify the key chaperones involved in cellulosome component assembly and secretion. ( MARSEILLE, France)
14. The secretome of C. perfringens and C. difficile: identification of novel secreted toxins (EXETER, UK)
15. Alcohologenesis in C. acetobutylicum (TOULOUSE, France)
16. Physiological characterization of “metabolic mutants” of C. acetobutylicum (TOULOUSE, France)
17. Regulation of the composition of the cellulolytic/ hemicellulolytic system of C. cellulolyticum ( MARSEILLE, France)
18. Effects of inactivation of key regulators of sporulation on C. acetobutylicum solventogenesis (MUNICH, Germany)
19. Molecular mechanisms influencing the variability of C. difficile (MARIBOR, Slovenia)
20. Definition of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in C.difficile (ROME, Italy)
21. Comparative genomic analysis of solventogenic clostridia and their megaplasmids (MUNICH, Germany)
22. Influence of antibiotic resistance on fitness and virulence of C.difficile (ROME, Italy)