RUI: The Role of Outer Membrane Agglutinins In Bacterial Colonization

RUI：外膜凝集素在细菌定植中的作用

• 批准号: 0948460
• 负责人: Iruka Okeke
• 金额: $ 45.36万
• 依托单位: Haverford College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-02-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0948460&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Role; Outer; Membrane; Agglutinins

Intellectual MeritCertain bacteria can colonize external, mucosal and intracellular sites of eukaryotes. Colonization is promoted by proteins on the outer surface of bacteria that mediate interactions with eukaryotic cells, solid surfaces, or other bacteria. This project focuses on the agglutinins, a family of outer membrane proteins expressed by a broad repertoire of Gram-negative bacteria ranging from human intestinal colonizers to intracellular colonizers of insects. Our laboratory has shown that the Heat Resistant Agglutinin 1 (Hra1) is an accessory colonization factor in Escherichia coli strains with exceptional colonization abilities. This project will examine interplay of this protein with other surface factors, such as fimbriae, using cultured epithelial cells and the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans as model systems. The research will additionally identify and validate colonization-associated motifs within Hra1 and related proteins from other intestinal colonizers. The investigations will be extended to Wolbachia Surface Proteins (Wsps). Wsps are agglutinins hypothesized to contribute to localization and interbacterial interactions of bacteria that reside inside the cells of insects and nematodes. To get around difficulties with culturing and manipulating Wolbachia, we propose to study the Wsps by expressing them in E. coli and to apply the methods we are using to examine E. coli surface proteins towards elucidating Wsp function. This work will advance the understanding of interactions among bacteria as well between bacteria and their eukaryotic hosts.Broader impact: Knowledge gained from this project will increase understanding of specific molecular interactions that allow bacteria to live on or in other organisms. The research will be conducted at Haverford College, a small liberal arts institution and will largely be performed by mentored undergraduate researchers. The PI teaches microbiology and introductory genetics, stimulating interest in bacteriology in a number of undergraduates and will offer 3-8 students each year, including women and other groups underrepresented in the sciences, research opportunities associated with the project. Additionally, approximately 30 students a year will be taught in inquiry-based lab classes that test some hypotheses associated with the project. As in the past, some students so trained will work with the PI in microbiology workshops for K-12 students in the US or for students and Faculty in West Africa.

智力优势某些细菌可以在真核生物的外部、粘膜和细胞内部位定植。 细菌外表面上的蛋白质介导与真核细胞、固体表面或其他细菌的相互作用，从而促进定殖。 该项目的重点是凝集素，一个家庭的外膜蛋白表达的广泛的剧目革兰氏阴性细菌，从人类肠道殖民者到昆虫的细胞内殖民者。 我们的实验室已经表明，耐热凝集素1（Hra 1）是一个辅助定植因子在大肠杆菌菌株具有特殊的殖民能力。 该项目将使用培养的上皮细胞和线虫线虫作为模型系统，研究这种蛋白质与其他表面因子（如菌毛）的相互作用。 该研究还将识别和验证Hra 1和其他肠道殖民者相关蛋白中的殖民相关基序。 研究将扩展到Wolbachia表面蛋白（Wsps）。 Wsps是一种凝集素，被认为有助于昆虫和线虫细胞内细菌的定位和细菌间的相互作用。 为了克服培养和操纵沃尔巴克氏体的困难，我们建议通过在大肠杆菌中表达Wsps来研究它们。大肠杆菌的检测方法，并应用于大肠杆菌的检测。大肠杆菌表面蛋白的功能。 更广泛的影响：从该项目中获得的知识将增加对允许细菌在其他生物体上或体内生存的特定分子相互作用的理解。 这项研究将在哈弗福德学院（Haverford College）进行，这是一所小型的文科院校，主要由受过指导的本科研究人员进行。PI教授微生物学和遗传学导论，激发了许多本科生对细菌学的兴趣，每年将为3-8名学生提供与该项目相关的研究机会，其中包括妇女和其他在科学领域代表性不足的群体。此外，每年约有30名学生将在基于探究的实验室课程中学习，这些课程将测试与该项目相关的一些假设。与过去一样，一些受过培训的学生将与PI一起为美国的K-12学生或西非的学生和教师举办微生物学研讨会。