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Uncovering Coxiella Burnetii'S Pathogenicity By Elucidating Its Metabolism And Host Interactions, Jess Annai Millar

Dissertations and Theses

Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of acute Q fever and chronic endocarditis, has a unique biphasic life cycle, which includes a metabolically active intracellular form that occupies a large lysosome-derived acidic vacuole. C. burnetii is the only bacterium known to thrive within such a hostile intracellular niche, and this ability is fundamental to its pathogenicity; however, very little is known about genes that facilitate Coxiella's intracellular growth. This lack of knowledge of Coxiella's basic biology and molecular pathogenesis is a critical barrier to developing more effective therapies.

In this study, we aimed to understand both bacterial and …