We aim to understand the roles played by regulatory RNAs during infection and in the responses to the environment, the host, bacteriophage (phage) and other bacteria. Understanding these mechanisms will help us develop different approaches such as phage therapy to cope with different pathogens. We focus on:
1. Bacteria - Phage interactions: We study the RNA-RNA network during phage infection and decode how bacteria- and phage-encoded regulatory RNAs participate in and control the interactions of bacteria with the phages.
2. Bacteria - Bacteria interactions: We investigate the RNA-RNA interaction network in different bacterial species in a community and study the role regulatory RNAs play in these relationships.
3. Bacteria - Host interactions: We decipher the mode of action of the flagella sigma factor-dependent small RNAs and uncover their effect on flagella synthesis, bacterial physiology and pathogenicity.