Deutsch Intern
IMIB - INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR INFECTION BIOLOGY

Prof. Dr. Cynthia Sharma

 

              RESEARCH TOPICS

  • RNA-based regulation in bacterial pathogens
     
  • Identification and characterization of small proteins in bacteria
     
  • Biology and mechanisms of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas systems

Model organisms

Research

Research in our lab focuses on mechanisms of gene regulation in the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori and the related foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. We are especially interested in post-transcriptional regulation during stress response and virulence by small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) and associated RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). We have been employing diverse deep sequencing approaches for global transcriptome analyses and to study RNA-protein complexes as well as translatome analyses to identify small proteins. Using three-dimensional (3D) infection models based on tissue engineering, we are investigating the roles of sRNAs, small proteins, and RBPs in virulence of these widespread human pathogens.

Jiao C, Sharma S, Dugar G, Peeck NL, Bischler T, Wimmer F, Yu Y, Barquist L, Schoen C, Kurzai C, Sharma CM*, Beisel CL* (2021) * Corresponding authors
Non-canonical crRNAs derived from host transcripts enable multiplexable RNA detection by Cas9
Science 372(6545):941-948

Pernitzsch SR, Alzheimer M, Bremer BU, Robbe-Saule M, de Reuse H, Sharma CM (2021)
Small RNA mediated gradual control of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis control affects antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori
Nature Communications 12(1):4433

Eisenbart SK, Alzheimer M, Pernitzsch SR, Dietrich S, Stahl S, Sharma CM (2020)
A repeat-associated small RNA controls the major virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori
Molecular Cell 80(2):210-226

Alzheimer M, Svensson SL, König F, Schweinlin M, Metzger M, Walles H, Sharma CM (2020)
A three-dimensional intestinal tissue model reveals factors and small regulatory RNAs important for colonization with Campylobacter jejuni
PLoS Pathogens 16(2):e1008304

Dugar G, Leenay RT, Eisenbart SK, Bischler T, Aul BU, Beisel CL, Sharma CM (2018)
CRISPR RNA-Dependent Binding and Cleavage of Endogenous RNAs by the Campylobacter jejuni Cas9
Molecular Cell 69(5):893-905

Publications chronological (pdf)

Prof. Dr. Cynthia Sharma

Chair Molecular Infection Biology II
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.019
Phone: +49 931 31-82560

Dr. Mona Alzheimer

Scientific Coordinator
Institute for Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.015
Phone: +49 931 31-89819
[Translate to Englisch:]

Thea Bruchhardt

PhD Student
Institute for Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.021
Phone: +49 931 31-81911

Dr. Davide Figini

Postdoc
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.021
Phone: +49 931 31-89299

Dr. Elisabetta Fiore

Postdoc
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.021
Phone: +49 931 31-81832
[Translate to Englisch:]

Christine Hambrecht-Schleyer

Technician
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.241
Phone: +49 931 31-82132
[Translate to Englisch:]

Evelyne Hopp

Technician
Institute for Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.241
Phone: +49 931 31-89517

Philipp Kible

Technician
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.241
Phone: +49 931 31-88718
[Translate to Englisch:]

Dr. Salini Konikkat

Postdoc
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-89481
[Translate to Englisch:]

Johannes Kullmann

PhD Student
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-83262
[Translate to Englisch:]

Manasa Narayan

PhD Student
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-87900

Dr. Stefan Oberlin

Postdoc
Institute for Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.021
Phone: +49 931 31-87400

Shounok Panja

PhD Student
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-83563

Dr. Sahil Sharma

Postdoc
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-89580
[Translate to Englisch:]

Dr. Annamaria Zannoni

Postdoc
Institute of Molecular Infection Biology
Sharma Group
Building: D15
Room: 01.017
Phone: +49 931 31-89667
[Translate to Englisch:]