Dr. Camilla Godlee’s group studies the crucial interface between pathogenic bacteria and eukaryotic membrane interactions during infection, focusing on high-impact pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. Her research investigates how bacterial virulence proteins access and manipulate the host cell’s organized membrane systems. Specifically, the group explores how bacterial effectors hijack eukaryotic membrane trafficking pathways (such as AP1-mediated vesicular trafficking) for their own pathogenic ends, often leading to the degradation of key host immune molecules like MHC Class II. The work provides essential new understanding into the mechanisms of pathogenesis and offers fundamental insights into cellular membrane biology, seeking to define how membrane interactions provide bacteria with pathogenic advantages.
Dr Camilla Godlee: Group Leader | Investigating the Interactions of Pathogenic Bacteria with Eukaryotic Membranes
Introduction and Research Niche
Dr. Camilla Godlee is a leader in Cellular Microbiology, with a research program dedicated to Investigating the Interactions of Pathogenic Bacteria with Eukaryotic Membranes to understand and combat infectious disease. Her lab focuses on two medically critical pathogens, Salmonella and E. coli, which are responsible for immense global morbidity and mortality.
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Pathogenic bacteria rely on sophisticated molecular tools—virulence proteins—to successfully invade and survive within host cells. Dr. Godlee’s core research question is how these bacterial proteins overcome the host cell’s highly organized membrane systems. Her work reveals that bacteria are masters of cellular espionage, either by developing their own distinct membrane sorting mechanisms or by hijacking and manipulating existing eukaryotic membrane trafficking pathways to ensure their virulence proteins reach the specific host compartment required for disease progression. This research not only illuminates the essential elements of host-pathogen interactions but also provides fundamental knowledge of host cellular membrane biology itself.
Graduate Research Opportunities
The Godlee Group offers ambitious graduate students the chance to work at the cutting edge of host-pathogen interactions, combining advanced microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry. Research projects are organized around these core themes:
1. Research Stream: The Molecular Hijacking of Membrane Trafficking
This stream focuses on dissecting the specific host pathways that bacterial effectors exploit to establish infection. A key example is the Salmonella effector SteD, which is a primary focus.
- Topics: Defining the precise mechanism by which bacterial virulence proteins are delivered to specific host organelles. Current work involves elucidating how the Salmonella effector SteD hijacks AP1-mediated vesicular trafficking to reach and ultimately degrade MHC Class II compartments, thus suppressing the host immune response.
2. Research Stream: Virulence Protein-Membrane Interaction Dynamics
This research aims to answer the fundamental questions of how bacterial proteins achieve specificity when interacting with the vast diversity of eukaryotic membranes.
- Topics: Characterizing the interactions between bacterial virulence proteins and eukaryotic membranes, particularly those delivered via specialized systems like the Type Three Secretion System (T3SS) injectisome. This involves identifying host factors (like the tumour suppressor TMEM127, which acts as an E3 ligase adaptor) that are commandeered by bacterial proteins to promote their pathogenic functions.
3. Interdisciplinary Focus: Pathogenic Advantages Through Membrane Manipulation
This stream focuses on the functional consequences of membrane manipulation, analyzing how these molecular events translate into a survival and pathogenic advantage for the bacteria.
- Topics: Exploring how membrane interactions facilitate the degradation or stabilization of host factors vital for immune signaling (such as the degradation of CD97 during the immunological synapse). Investigating new virulence proteins and their corresponding host targets to uncover novel mechanisms of disease causation and reveal new strategies for antimicrobial or anti-virulence intervention.
Key Awards and Professional Roles
| Detail | Role / Status | Institution / Body |
|---|---|---|
| Research Focus | Cellular Microbiology and Pathogenesis | University of Cambridge |
| Methodological Expertise | Host-Pathogen Interaction Assays | Molecular and Cellular Biology |
| Key Contribution | Mechanism of Salmonella-mediated MHCII Degradation | Infectious Disease Research |
| Key Collaboration | Extended association with Holden Group research | Microbiology and Immunology |
Selected Publications
Journal Article (2022): “The Salmonella transmembrane effector SteD hijacks AP1-mediated vesicular trafficking for delivery to antigen-loading MHCII compartments.” PLoS Pathogens.
Journal Article (2021): “CD97 stabilises the immunological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells and is targeted for degradation by the Salmonella effector SteD.” PLoS Pathogens.
Journal Article (2020): “The Tumour Suppressor TMEM127 Is a Nedd4-Family E3 Ligase Adaptor Required by Salmonella SteD to Ubiquitinate and Degrade MHC Class II Molecules.” Cell Host & Microbe.
Review Article (2013): “From uncertain beginnings: Initiation mechanisms of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.” The Journal of Cell Biology.
Contact Information
Prospective students interested in supervision should reach out via the following channels:
| Detail | Content |
|---|---|
| Email Address | cbjg2@cam.ac.uk |
| University Profile Page
Research Group Website |
Link to official University faculty page |
Supervisory Ethos
Dr. Godlee fosters a supportive, inclusive, and scientifically rigorous laboratory environment. She is dedicated to training students who are passionate about unravelling the molecular mechanisms of disease. Mentorship emphasizes the development of critical thinking, experimental design, and mastering a diverse set of techniques ranging from advanced cell culture and microscopy to molecular genetics and protein analysis. Dr. Godlee seeks highly motivated, curious candidates with strong foundational knowledge in microbiology, cell biology, or biochemistry. The lab encourages independence and collaborative work, preparing students to become leaders in the field of Pathogenic Bacteria and Eukaryotic Membrane Interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the main focus of the Godlee Group’s research?
We focus on how bacterial virulence proteins, specifically from pathogenic bacteria and eukaryotic membrane interactions during infection. We want to know how the bacteria manipulate host cell membranes to cause disease.
2. Why is membrane trafficking so important in this research?
Membrane trafficking is how host cells sort and move proteins to their correct location. By hijacking membrane trafficking pathways, bacteria can deliver their effectors to specific, vulnerable host compartments, allowing them to evade the immune system or access nutrients.
3. Which bacterial pathogens are the primary focus?
Our main focus is on high-impact pathogens, specifically Salmonella (which causes gastroenteritis and typhoid fever) and enteropathogenic E. coli.
4. What techniques would a PhD student learn in this lab?
Students gain expertise in a wide range of techniques, including advanced fluorescence microscopy, live-cell imaging, molecular cloning, protein-protein interaction assays, biochemical fractionation, and working with bacterial virulence systems like the Type Three Secretion System (T3SS).
5. What is the significance of the Salmonella effector SteD?
SteD is a crucial Salmonella virulence protein that acts inside the host cell. We’ve shown it targets host MHC Class II molecules (which are essential for antigen presentation) for degradation, effectively masking the infection from the immune system.
6. What is the T3SS injectisome?
The T3SS (Type Three Secretion System) is a needle-like apparatus used by many gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella, to inject their virulence proteins (effectors) directly into the cytoplasm of the host cell across the cell membrane.
7. Is prior experience with Salmonella required?
No, while prior lab experience in microbiology or cell culture is beneficial, specific experience with Salmonella is not required. We prioritize candidates with a strong foundational knowledge in cell biology or biochemistry and a passion for infectious disease research.
8. Does the research have a therapeutic angle?
Yes. By deeply understanding the molecular interactions between bacterial proteins and host membranes, we reveal novel host or bacterial targets that could be exploited for anti-virulence therapies, aiming to disarm the pathogen rather than kill it outright.
9. What kind of academic background is best suited for this work?
Candidates from Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Immunology backgrounds are all well-suited. The research is highly interdisciplinary, blending the rigor of molecular biology with the context of infectious disease.
10. How long does the lab spend on foundational cell biology?
A significant portion of the lab’s work provides fundamental insights into basic cellular processes, such as membrane recruitment and the initiation of processes like clathrin-mediated endocytosis, showing a commitment to both applied and basic science.
