Research at Henrichfreise lab
Henrichfreise lab - Research focus
Peptidoglycan biosynthesis in cell wall-lacking bacteria: For the obligate intracellular Chlamydiaceae, there is no need to resist osmotic challenges. Thus the genomically-reduced pathogens lack a cell wall. Nevertheless, Chlamydiaceae synthesize peptidoglycan at certain locations and times during their biphasic life cycle to control immune modulation and to support cell division. During the unusual process of chlamydial cell division asymmetric cell poles mature into two equally sized daughter cells separated by a septum which contains a short-lived peptidoglycan ring. Moreover, the cell wall-targeting penicillin does not kill Chlamydiaceae but blocks cell division and induces reversible persistence. The underlying mechanisms of these phenomena are not fully understood.