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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Introduction Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans Mycolactone Genes Into A Heterologous Host, Samantha Elizabeth Wirth
Introduction Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans Mycolactone Genes Into A Heterologous Host, Samantha Elizabeth Wirth
Masters Theses
Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer (BU), a necrotizing skin disease endemic to West Africa and Australia. The cytopathicity, cell cycle arrest and immunosuppression characteristic of BU are attributed to the production of a plasmid-encoded, macrolide toxin, mycolactone. The core of mycolactone is a product of two large polyketide synthases (PKS) and is conserved among all mycolactone congeners. Heterogeneity of the toxin is a result of differences in the polyketide side chain, the product of a third PKS. The mycolactone plasmid (MP) was initially thought to be restricted to M. ulcerans. However, other mycolactone producing mycobacteria …
Development Of A Bacteriophage Based Bioluminescent Bioreporter System For The Detection Of Escherichia Coli K12 And O157:H7, Courtney M. Johnson
Development Of A Bacteriophage Based Bioluminescent Bioreporter System For The Detection Of Escherichia Coli K12 And O157:H7, Courtney M. Johnson
Masters Theses
Detection of pathogenic bacteria in the environment and food products is of increasing importance especially in light of recent outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7. I describe here a bacteriophage based bioluminescent bioreporter method for E. coli O157:H7 detection that combines the specificity bacteriophage have for their host, quorum sensing, and lux based bioluminescence from Vibrio fischeri. This new method for detection of E. coli utilizes the luxI/luxR quorum sensing present in V. fischeri which uses N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OHHL) as an autoinducer (Miller & Bassler 2001). Once the concentration of OHHL is high enough it binds the LuxR protein …
Characterization Of Motility And Surface Attachment In Thirteen Members Of The Roseobacter Clade, Rachael N. Slightom
Characterization Of Motility And Surface Attachment In Thirteen Members Of The Roseobacter Clade, Rachael N. Slightom
Masters Theses
The Roseobacter clade is an abundant and biogeochemically relevant group of marine bacteria. Physiological and ecological traits identified in specific representatives of the clade are often universally attributed to all Roseobacter group members, however, culture-dependent studies utilizing phylogenetically distinct members are rare. Other attributes often associated with this clade include motility, biofilm formation and surface attachment, chemotaxis and quorum sensing. This study compared a collection of 13 diverse Roseobacter strains both pheno- and genotypically on the basis of these traits. Motility was determined for seven previously uncharacterized strains, with five of the strains demonstrating motility. Microscopic analysis using both phase …