Role of antimicrobial peptides in Salmonella Typhi killing

Salmonella Typhi is a intracellular bacterium causing typhoid fever, a life-threatening bacterial infection. We recently identified a novel host defence pathway preventing Salmonella Typhi infection. The antimicrobial molecules used by this pathway to kill bacteria are unknown. Antimicrobial peptides are among the molecules used by the animal species to kill bacteria. This project aims at understanding if antimicrobial peptides are employed by this novel antimicrobial pathway to kill Salmonella Typhi. The results will contribute to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to bacterial infections and will help develop new strategies to treat bacterial infections.