Digital Commons Network^™

Phenotypic And Transcriptomic Characterization Of Colonial Phase Variation In The Cholera Pathogen Reveals A Novel Smooth Biofilm-Defective Form, Bliss Nicole Lambert

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Biofilm formation, through the production of Vibrio polysaccharide (VPS), greatly enhances the environmental fitness and pathogenic success of Vibrio cholerae. As a result of phase variation, V. cholerae can switch from a smooth form to rugose, whose cells produce excess VPS, resulting in highly structured biofilms and greater resistance to stress. To further characterize the reversible process of phase variation, we isolated three colonial lineages. Each lineage began with a smooth parent, N16961, and contained a rugose variant derived from the parent, N16961R, as well as a smooth revertant of the rugose, N16961SD. We found clear phenotypic and transcriptomic …

Characterizing Multiple Spatial Waves Of The 1991-1997 Cholera Epidemic In Peru, Natalie Sterrett

Public Health Theses

Background

Due to a lack of sanitary infrastructure and a highly susceptible population, Peru experienced a historic outbreak of Vibrio cholerae O1 that began in 1991 and generated multiple waves of disease for several years. Though case-fatality was low, the epidemic put massive strain on healthcare and governmental resources. Here we explore the transmission dynamics and spatiotemporal variation of cholera in Peru using mathematical models and statistical analyses that account for environmental conditions favoring the persistence of bacteria in the environment.

Methods

The authors use dynamic transmission models that incorporate seasonal variation in temperature, concentration of vibrios in the environment, …

Satellite Based Predictability Of Water Sensitive Infectious Diseases, Md. Rakibul Hassan Khan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

No abstract provided.