Project

Veillonella parvula is an anaerobic bacterium and a common inhabitant of different human microflora (mouth, gut, lung, vagina) that can behave both as a commensal or as an opportunistic pathogen. It has been well-described as an important early colonizer of teeth that contributes to the formation of the biofilm composing the dental plaque. Importantly, it is also present in the gut of infants where it is proposed to participate to the education of the immune system. The physiology of this bacterium remains understudied as well as the implication of its interaction with other bacterial members of the flora it belongs. Beyond its potential interest in human biology, this bacterium has also an evolution interest. While it belongs to Firmicutes, text-book examples of monoderm bacteria, it actually displays an outer membrane with LPS, and thus is a diderm. Its study could then reveal important information on the transition between monoderm and diderm microorganisms. The understanding of the mechanisms at play to produce and maintain the integrity of its outer membrane is of outmost importance to obtain information on the transition between diderm and monoderm bacteria. The project aims to analyze the impact of deletion of systems necessary to respond to extra-cytoplasmic stress.