Project
The POPS work plan is organized around four work packages that connect bacterial physiology, Pa-Sa interactions, metabolomics network modeling, and evolutionary pathway analysis.Polyamine metabolism and P. aeruginosa virulence
Generate and characterize isogenic P. aeruginosa mutants, quantify polyamines by targeted LC-MS, and test how polyamines affect virulence-associated phenotypes. This work package anchors the project in controlled bacterial models where causal links can be tested directly.
Polyamines in P. aeruginosa and S. aureus interactions
Assess how polyamine levels shift the competitive balance between Pa and Sa, from paired-strain interaction assays to physiological responses in Sa. The goal is to understand whether polyamines help structure mixed-species infection contexts.
Metabolomics and pathway interpretation
Use mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, annotation workflows, and pathway analysis to connect polyamine exposure with measurable metabolic changes. These datasets will help prioritize mechanisms that are robust across strains and experimental settings.
Comparative genomics and phylogenomics
Develop annotation resources and compare polyamine biosynthetic and regulatory pathways across bacterial genomes to identify conserved and emerging candidates. This comparative layer places POPS findings in a broader evolutionary and functional context.
WP0 covers coordination, reporting, and consortium management throughout the project.