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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology
The Role Of Cerium(Iii) In Bacterial Growth And The Microbial Transformation Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Shruti Sathish
The Role Of Cerium(Iii) In Bacterial Growth And The Microbial Transformation Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Shruti Sathish
Honors Theses
Biofilms are communities of surface-attached bacterial cells encased in an exopolymeric matrix. In this state, they are more resistant to antimicrobial treatment and can have adverse effects in medical, agricultural, and industrial settings. Whereas, as biocatalysts, biofilms from nonpathogenic bacteria enhance their performance and stability in catalysis. Unfortunately, there are several challenges when using bacteria in organic transformations due to their complex cellular chemistry. Trivalent lanthanide metals were discovered to serve regulatory roles in some bacterial catalytic processes, including those of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (P. putida), a non-infectious Gram-negative bacterium. The main goal of our research is to use cerium(III) …
Characterization Of The Clostridioides Difficile Glycosyl Hydrolase Ccsz, Brian Lowrance
Characterization Of The Clostridioides Difficile Glycosyl Hydrolase Ccsz, Brian Lowrance
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Bacteria inhabit many of the harshest environments on Earth; persisting and thriving in conditions thought to be unsuitable for life. One common strategy to withstand these environments is the formation of a biofilm. Biofilm composition varies greatly, depending on the underlying community that produces it. Cellulose, a polymer consistently prevalent in biofilms, has been identified as a virulence factor in many pathogens and is suspected to be involved in pathogenesis by Clostridioides difficile. C. difficile is the #1 cause of hospital acquired diarrhea, which can range from mild to life-threatening infections. Biofilm formation is hypothesized to be involved in …
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
NAPDH oxidase enzymes (NOXes) reduce molecular oxygen to superoxide and other ROS. NOXes contain a catalytic core comprising a heme-containing transmembrane (TM) domain and a cytoplasmic dehydrogenase (DH) domain that binds the substrate NADPH and the cofactor. Previously, NOXes were only characterized in eukaryotes, but have recently been identified in prokaryotes, namely bacteria. Due to their constitutive activity and solubility in detergent, bacterial NOXes, such as Streptococcus Pneumoniae NOX, have emerged as a model for studying NOXes. Past research studies in NOXes have identified conserved, putative interacting regions at the interface of the TM and DH domains: the TM B-loop, …
Functional Similarity Of Prd-Containing Virulence Regulators In Bacillus Anthracis, Malik Raynor
Functional Similarity Of Prd-Containing Virulence Regulators In Bacillus Anthracis, Malik Raynor
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Bacillus anthracis produces three regulators, AtxA, AcpA, and AcpB, that control virulence gene expression and are members of an emerging class of regulators termed “PCVRs” (Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase regulation Domain-Containing Virulence Regulators). AtxA controls expression of the toxin genes; lef, cya, and pag, and is the master virulence regulator and archetype PCVR. AcpA and AcpB are less well studied. AcpA and AcpB independently positively control transcription of the capsule biosynthetic operon capBCADE, and culture conditions that enhance AtxA activity result in capBCADE transcription in strains lacking acpA and acpB. RNA-Seq was used to assess the regulons of the …
Pore Forming Protein Assembly And The Use In Nanopore Sensing: A Study On E. Coli Proteins Clya And Ompg, Monifa Fahie
Pore Forming Protein Assembly And The Use In Nanopore Sensing: A Study On E. Coli Proteins Clya And Ompg, Monifa Fahie
Doctoral Dissertations
Pore forming proteins are typically the proteins that form channels in membranes. They have several roles ranging from molecule transport to triggering the death of a cell. This work focuses on two E. coli pore forming proteins that have vastly differing roles in nature. Outer membrane protein G (OmpG) is an innocuous β-barrel porin while Cytolysin A (ClyA) is an α-helical pore forming toxin. For OmpG we probed its potential to be a nanopore sensor for protein detection and quantification. A small high affinity ligand, biotin, was covalently attached to loop 6 of OmpG and used to capture biotin-binding proteins. …
Purification And Characterization Of Bcsc; An Integral Component Of Bacterial Cellulose Export, Emily D. Wilson Ms
Purification And Characterization Of Bcsc; An Integral Component Of Bacterial Cellulose Export, Emily D. Wilson Ms
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
Biofilms are a growing concern in the medical field due to their increased resistance to antibiotics. When found in a biofilm, bacteria can have antibiotic resistance 10-1000 times that of their planktonic counterparts. Therefore, it is important to study the formation of biofilms. Cellulose biofilms are formed by Enterobacteriaceae, such as many Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. strains. Biofilms provide these species with benefits including antimicrobial protection, development of bacterial communities, promotion of DNA exchange, uptake of nutrients, and, in the case of cellulose biofilms, immune system evasion. Cellulose biofilms are controlled by the Bacterial cellulose synthesis (Bcs) complex located …