Microbiology Commons^™

Identification And Characterization Of A Selective Inhibitor Of The Pim-1 Kinase, Sheldon Levon Holder

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The PIM-1 kinase is a serine/threonine kinase that has been implicated in the development of many human cancers, including leukemias, lymphomas, and prostate cancer. We have endeavored to identify and characterize a selective inhibitor of the PIM- 1 kinase. Such an inhibitor would have utility as a laboratory tool for the study of PIM-1 kinase function and as a template for the design of molecular therapeutics for diseases in which PIM-1 kinase activity is dysregulated.

Using phage display techniques we identified the peptide, HGVKKRPHNPYG, as a probable pseudosubstrate of the PIM-1 kinase with inhibitory activity in the low micromolar range …

Mechanisms Of Virulence Regulation In Porphyromonas Gingivalis W83, Elaine Ann-Marie Vanterpool

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The expression of extracellular proteolytic activities is highly regulated in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. This regulation can occur at multiple levels including expression of the protease genes, secretion, processing of an inactive secreted precursor to its active form and/or the posttranslational glycosylation of the proteins. These regulatory mechanisms are vital to ensure that expression is tightly controlled. Porphyromonas gingivalis has been associated with adult periodontitis and in the development of many systematic diseases. The major virulence factors of P. gingivalis, the gingipains, are responsible for pathogenesis including degradation of complement and immunoglobulin, inactivation of cytokines and their receptors, …

Oxygen Sensing By The Aer And Tsr Receptors Of Escherichia Coli, Jessica Claire Edwards

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Escherichia coli senses the oxygen concentration of its environment via the Aer and Tsr receptors, and swims to an oxygen concentration that provides optimal energy generation. Aer and Tsr do not sense oxygen per se but, sense the internal energy state via the electron transport system (ETS) in a previously unidentified mechanism. Proton motive force (PMF) and electron flow were proposed as possible sensory signals but, distinguishing between the two was not possible, previously, in live, motile cells. I differentiated PMF from electron flow by creating a series of ETS mutant strains that express ternary combinations of i) aerotaxis receptors, …