Molecular basis of niche adaptation and competition by Streptococcus pyogenes

化脓链球菌生态位适应和竞争的分子基础

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-03902
• 负责人: McCormick, John
• 金额: $ 2.79万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=610714
• 关键词: Molecular; basis; niche; adaptation; competition

This NSERC Discovery grant is designed to understand how different genetic systems contribute to the ability of the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes to survive within the nasopharynx. This bacterium is only known to live naturally in humans, and although it can cause a range of important human diseases, the 'natural' lifecycle of S. pyogenes is a state of colonization where the organism does not cause active disease. Thus, because S. pyogenes only has one natural host, it must have evolved very efficient ways to allow it to survive in this environment. The work is designed to understand how two genetic systems have evolved to contribute to the survival of S. pyogenes. The first system consists of viruses that infect bacteria (called bacteriophages) and have added their viral DNA to the DNA of S. pyogenes, and how these bacteriophages can make S. pyogenes more efficient at colonizing. The second system consists of small, anti-bacterial molecules that likely function to allow S. pyogenes to compete with other microorganisms. The application will utilize a number of genetic approaches to alter S. pyogenes and then assess the ability of these genetic systems to mobilize between bacteria or contribute to the ability of S. pyogenes to persist.

这项NSERC发现资助旨在了解不同的遗传系统如何有助于化脓性链球菌在鼻咽内生存的能力。这种细菌只知道在人类中自然生存，虽然它可以引起一系列重要的人类疾病，但S。化脓是一种定植状态，其中生物体不引起活动性疾病。因为S。化脓菌只有一个天然宿主，它必须进化出非常有效的方式，使其能够在这种环境中生存。这项工作旨在了解两个遗传系统是如何进化到有助于S的生存。化脓第一个系统由感染细菌的病毒（称为噬菌体）组成，并将其病毒DNA添加到S。化脓性链球菌，以及这些噬菌体如何使S.化脓菌更容易定植第二个系统由小的抗菌分子组成，它们的功能可能是让S。与其他微生物竞争。该申请将利用一些遗传方法来改变S。化脓性链球菌，然后评估这些遗传系统在细菌之间动员或促进化脓性链球菌能力的能力。化脓性化脓持续存在。