Signal transduction in the pathogenesis of
gastrointestinal infections
Steffen Backert
University College Dublin
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences
Science Center North, Rm G09
Dublin-4
Ireland
My group is working in the field of Microbial Pathogenesis for more than 12 years. My major
research interest is the investigation of molecular signaling pathways during host-pathogen
interactions in enteric infections such as that of Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni,
enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and others. During recent years, my team made
significant progress in characterizing the genetics of the gastric pathogen and type-I
carcinogen Helicobacter pylori and analyzing its virulence mechanisms and host signal
transduction pathways using cell biology and biochemical approaches. One highlight of our
research was the discovery that the immuno-dominant Helicobacter pylori virulence factor
CagA is translocated by a sophisticated type IV secretion system into mammalian host cells
where CagA induces oncogenic signaling processes. In addition, we discovered the first host
cell receptor of a bacterial type IV secretion system which was a major new concept in the
field.
Steffen Backert
School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin
E-mail: steffen.backert@ucd.ie
EDUCATIONS/TRAINING
Humboldt University PhD
Auburn University
Postdoc
Max Planck Institute
Group leader
University Magdeburg C1 assistant professor
University Magdeburg Habilitation
Genetics
Genetics
Cellular Microbiology
Cellular Microbiology
Cellular Microbiology
1996
1996-1997
1997-2003
2003-2008
2007
POSITIONS AND HONORS
Max Planck Institute
Group leader in Cellular Microbiology
1997-2003
for Infection Biology
University Magdeburg C1 assistant professor for Cellular Microbiology 2003-2008
UCD Dublin
Full Professor for Cellular Microbiology
since 2008
2003
Robert Koch Postdoc Prize for Microbiology
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS
1. Tegtmeyer N, Zabler D, Schmidt D, Hartig R, Brandt S, Backert S. (2009) Importance of
EGF receptor, HER2/Neu and Erk1/2 kinase signalling for host cell elongation and
scattering induced by the Helicobacter pylori CagA protein: antagonistic effects of
the vacuolating cytotoxin VacA. Cellular Microbiology 11: 488-505.
2. Tegtmeyer N, Backert S. (2009) Bacterial type III effectors inhibit cell lifting by targeting
integrin-linked kinase. Cell Host Microbe 5: 514-516.
3. Selbach M, Paul FP, Brandt S, Guye P, Daumke O, Backert S, Dehio C, Mann M (2009)
Host cell interactome of tyrosine-phosphorylated bacterial proteins. Cell Host
Microbe 5: 397-403.
4.
Backert S, Fronzes R, Waksman G. (2008) VirB2 and VirB5 proteins: specialized
adhesins in bacterial type-IV secretion systems? Trends in Microbiology 16:409-413.
5.
Backert S, Selbach M. (2008) Role of type IV secretion in Helicobacter pylori
pathogenesis. Cellular Microbiology 10: 1573-1581.
6. Wessler S, Backert S. (2008) Molecular mechanisms of epithelial-barrier disruption by
Helicobacter pylori. Trends Microbiology 16: 397-405.
7. Kwok T, Zabler D, Urman S, Rohde M, Hartig R, Wessler S, Misselwitz R, Berger J,
Sewald N, König W, Backert S. (2007) Helicobacter exploits integrin for type IV
secretion and kinase activation. Nature 449:862-826.
8. Tammer I, Brandt S, Hartig R, König W, Backert S. (2007) Activation of Abl by
Helicobacter pylori: a novel kinase for CagA and crucial mediator of host cell
scattering. Gastroenterology 132:1309-1319.
9. Brandt S, Kwok T, Hartig R, König W, Backert S. (2005) NF-kappaB activation and
potentiation of proinflammatory responses by the Helicobacter pylori CagA protein.
Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102: 9300-9305.