Mycobacteria represent a group of bacteria that include many important pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and our model organism, the fish pathogen Mycobacterium marinum.
These bacteria are very different from other bacteria in several aspects, particularly regarding the built-up of their exceptionally lipid-rich and impermeable cell envelope. In this research theme, we use state-of-the-art genetic, molecular and biochemical tools to understand the mechanism of transport of proteins, nutrients and DNA across this specific cell envelope. In addition, we study the roles of mycobacterial type VII secretion systems and the proteins these systems export in mycobacterial virulence using a range of infection models.