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Characterization Of Psychromonas Aquimarina, A New Model Organism For Climate Change, Carrie Carpenter Apr 2019

Characterization Of Psychromonas Aquimarina, A New Model Organism For Climate Change, Carrie Carpenter

Experiential Learning Projects

The current increase of average global temperature puts 25 to 35 percent of plant and animal species at an increased risk of extinction (Climate Change, 2018). Changing any environmental factor, such as increasing growth temperature, can significantly impact any organisms’ ability to survive. Because of the diversity of organisms on the planet, it is not feasible to study how each individually might adapt, but rather it is more efficient to study select organisms. This research focuses on a psychrophilic bacterium, Psychromonas aquimarina, which can survive in colder regions where most bacteria would not. This bacterium was chosen because climate change …


Structural Investigation Of Bcsc: Insight Into Periplasmic Transport During Cellulose Export, William Scott, Joel T. Weadge Jan 2019

Structural Investigation Of Bcsc: Insight Into Periplasmic Transport During Cellulose Export, William Scott, Joel T. Weadge

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

A biofilm can be defined by a community of microbes coexisting within a self-produced protective polymeric matrix. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) is a key component in biofilms and a contributor to their virulence and pathogenicity. The cellulose bacterial synthesis complex is one such EPS system that is found in many Enterobacteriaceae,including Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., and is responsible for the production and secretion of the EPS cellulose. BcsC is the periplasmic protein responsible for the export of the exopolysaccharide cellulose and was the focus of this research. Sequence homology comparisons and structural predictions between BcsC, and the previously characterized alginate …


Structural And Functional Analysis Of Three Upregulated Gene Products, Tde0626, Tde1701, And Tde2714 From Treponema Denticola During Biofilm Formation, Jonah Nechacov Jan 2019

Structural And Functional Analysis Of Three Upregulated Gene Products, Tde0626, Tde1701, And Tde2714 From Treponema Denticola During Biofilm Formation, Jonah Nechacov

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The progression of human chronic periodontitis within periodontal disease has been often linked to the presence of key pathogens, such as the presence of Treponema denticola, a late colonizer found in the deepening pockets of the gingival sulcus. This pathogen, as well as its associates Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia, are classified as the ‘red complex’ and exist in a mixed biofilm during infection. It is within this biofilm state that previous transcriptomic analysis revealed a total of 126 genes that had an increase in their expression by 1.5-fold or greater in T. denticola. Three of these …


Characterization Of The Red Complex Bacterial Biofilm, Alena Pratasouskaya Jan 2019

Characterization Of The Red Complex Bacterial Biofilm, Alena Pratasouskaya

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Commonly associated with severe inflammation and destruction of the tooth-supporting tissue is bacterial consortia Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, and Porphyromonas gingivalis, collectively referred to as the red complex. The red complex uses the common bacterial strategy of producing and embedding itself in extracellular polymeric substance, which contributes to the recalcitrance of periodontitis and was therefore of interest in this study. The red complex static cultures were grown in combination with different chemicals in order to establish what changes accompany these chemical challenges. This research established that extracellular polymeric substance carbohydrate yields increased with time. Interestingly, carbohydrate composition …