Library Molecules as a Tool to Study Quorum Sensing in Lactobacillus sp.
Session Number
Project ID: MEDH 04
Advisor(s)
Dr. Perez Morales; Benedictine University
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
22-4-2020 8:50 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 9:05 AM
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a process for cell-to-cell communication where cells bacteria release signals that lead to a coordinated social response among a variety of bacteria. Most QS systems make use of a transcriptional regulator and a signal to modulate gene expression. The laboratory I shadowed over the summer focuses on the Rgg QS systems present in Gram-positive bacteria. This system is currently being studied in several pathogenic species of Streptococcus and the human commensal Lactobacillus. It is generally composed of a positive regulator, Rgg, and a small signal peptide, SHP. However, there are no predicted signal peptides for Lactobacillus. The laboratory uses small molecules to be able to study the Lactobacilli QS pathways in the absence of peptides. In the summer, I learned the process to create constructs (plasmids) that are used for bacterial transcriptional studies and how bioluminescence assays work. I was able to observe increase in gene expression when a small molecule was added to the target QS system. Lastly, I also participated alongside the undergraduate research students from their weekly presentations to learn how to present research work.
Library Molecules as a Tool to Study Quorum Sensing in Lactobacillus sp.
Quorum sensing (QS) is a process for cell-to-cell communication where cells bacteria release signals that lead to a coordinated social response among a variety of bacteria. Most QS systems make use of a transcriptional regulator and a signal to modulate gene expression. The laboratory I shadowed over the summer focuses on the Rgg QS systems present in Gram-positive bacteria. This system is currently being studied in several pathogenic species of Streptococcus and the human commensal Lactobacillus. It is generally composed of a positive regulator, Rgg, and a small signal peptide, SHP. However, there are no predicted signal peptides for Lactobacillus. The laboratory uses small molecules to be able to study the Lactobacilli QS pathways in the absence of peptides. In the summer, I learned the process to create constructs (plasmids) that are used for bacterial transcriptional studies and how bioluminescence assays work. I was able to observe increase in gene expression when a small molecule was added to the target QS system. Lastly, I also participated alongside the undergraduate research students from their weekly presentations to learn how to present research work.