Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biology
Abstract
Community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a notable human pathogen that is proficient in performing biofilms within the mammalian host. Biofilms are produced in order to protect the organism from extracellular threats such as the hosts immune response. Fibronectin binding protein A (FnBPA) and fibronectin binding protein B (FnBPB) are membrane bound domains noted to be key players in the formation and overall maturation of CA-MRSA biofilms. SAUSA300_2441 (mutant for FnBPA), SAUSA300_2440 (mutant for FnBPB) and USA300 (wild-type) were grown without and with human fibronectin at decreasing percentages. The same procedure was conducted for pooled normal human serum. Congo red agar plates supplemented with various sugars were cultured with the mutants and the WT to discern biofilm colony phenotype. Both mutants displayed reduced biofilm capabilities when compared to the WT in all adherence assays. Post allelic exchange SAUSA300_2441 illustrated an unexpected colony phenotype when compared to pre-treated SAUSA300_2441 and the WT on the Congo red agar plates. We show here that FnBPA and FnBPB disrupted mutants have decreased biofilm capabilities when compared to the WT and a possible shift in gene expression when induced in a novel manner.
Recommended Citation
Gallina, Nicholas, "Biofilm Associated Proteins In Community Associated MRSA USA300 JE2: A Study Of FNBPA And FNBPB" (2018). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1872.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1872