Teresa Frisan

Chasing unusual bacterial toxins

I am professor of Cell and Molecular biology at Umeå University. My research area is in infection biology, specifically bacterial toxins, which are powerful effectors. They can target all the key functions within eukaryotic cells, but until recently, the cellular DNA was spared from the bacterial attack. This view has changed with the discovery of bacterial genotoxins: effectors that cause DNA damage.

I have contributed to characterize the effects of these toxins on mammalian cells. Intoxicated cells stop dividing and eventually die, if the DNA is not properly repaired. Occasionally, intoxicated cells survive and acquire carcinogenic features, highlighting the toxins’ tumorigenic potential.

I am interested in understanding why bacteria have acquired these unusual effectors, which do not cause an immediate cell death. Why intestinal commensal bacteria also produce these toxins? Are the effects of intoxication different in healthy individuals compared to patients susceptible to intestinal pathologies?

---

Praktisk information

I can also hold discussions on vaccination, zoonosis, and cancer biology if there is any interest.

Om besöket är på plats kan jag komma till

Umeå

---

Umeå University

Dept. Molecular Biology

Läs mer om min forskning

---

Bokningen har stängt

Nu har bokningen för vårens omgång av Låna en forskare stängt. Skriv upp dig på ForskarFredags mejllista om du vill ha få en påminnelse när bokningen till höstens omgång öppnar (lånen sker den 22-25 september) samt information om andra aktiviteter inom ForskarFredag.

---