Role of a cell signalling system in the adaptation of Yersinia pestis to its vector – RESISTANT

Plague is a deadly zoonosis caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and transmitted by fleas. This re-emerging disease is a global public health threat. The emergence of strains that are multi-resistant to the antibiotics used against the disease and the absence of a vaccine force us to think about new control strategies. However, our knowledge of the flea environment in which the bacterium evolves and multiplies in order to spread is fragmentary and hinders our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of propagation of Y. pestis. This project therefore proposes to characterize the environment of the flea's digestive tract in which the bacterium evolves by determining the spatiotemporality and intensity of the stresses perceived by the bacterium. We will then focus on a cellular signalling system essential for the bacteria to adapt to its vector. Finally, we will seek for new molecules against Y. pestis.