Management of protein quality control in stressed bacterial populations

Within the Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M²S) of the KU Leuven, the Aertsen-group is looking for a motivated pre-doctoral or postdoctoral researcher to take part in a research program concerning the impact of heat shock proteins and protein aggregates on bacterial physiology.

Project

Given the importance of protein quality control in cellular physiology and of proteotoxic stresses in the battle against bacterial pathogens, there is an urgent need for a more in depth understanding of the intracellullar functionality and management of heat shock proteins and protein aggregates. Using Escherichia coli as a highly tractable and relevant model system, this project will combine advanced genetics, live cell biology and evolutionary approaches to understand and shape the molecular causes and phenotypical consequences of protein quality control, thereby integrating insights from single-cell resolution to population-level dynamics.

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