The biofilm matrix of P. aeruginosa

项目摘要 生物膜的形成与许多慢性细菌感染有关。因此，重要的研究已经 旨在了解生物膜形成背后的基本生物学。生物膜产生细胞外 矩阵的功能，在一定程度上，把社区团结在一起。铜绿假单胞菌代表一种 实验室生物膜研究的典范物种。基质产生的调节和 基质的碳水化合物组分都已被检查。然而， 生物膜基质的研究相对不足。我们的研究小组鉴定了一种P. 铜绿假单胞菌、CdrA. CdrA通过与基质的细胞外相互作用提供结构完整性 多糖Psl.除了提供结构功能的基质蛋白外，我们预测基质 相关蛋白质可以为社区发挥营养和保护作用。该项目最初将 重点关注CDRA及其在矩阵中的作用。然后，我们将描述ecotin一种基质结合蛋白酶抑制剂， 三种基质相关蛋白酶最后，我们将确定新的基质蛋白质与eps 生物膜基质的组分。

Project Summary Biofilm formation has been linked to many chronic bacterial infections. Thus, significant research has been directed towards understanding the basic biology behind biofilm formation. Biofilms produce an extracellular matrix that functions, in part, to hold the community together. Pseudomonas aeruginosa represents a paradigm species for the study of biofilms in the laboratory. The regulation of matrix production and the carbohydrate component of the matrix have both been examined. However, the protein component of the biofilm matrix has been relatively understudied. Our groups identified a biofilm matrix protein for P. aeruginosa, CdrA. CdrA provides structural integrity through extracellular interactions with the matrix polysaccharide Psl. Outside of matrix proteins that provide structural functions, we predict that matrix associated proteins can play both nutritional and protective roles for the community. This project will initially focus on CdrA and its role in the matrix. We will then characterize ecotin a matrix bound protease inhibitor and three matrix-associated proteases. Finally, we will identify new matrix proteins that associate with eps component of the biofilm matrix.