Association of <i>glpQ</i> with serum-resistance in <i>salmonella typhimurium</i>

<p><em>Salmonella typhimurium</em> is a leading cause of infectious human gastroenteritis and systemic disease when it escapes into the bloodstream. The human serum complement system is central in fighting systemic bacterial infections. <em>S. typhimurium</em> exhibits resistance to killing by complement (serum-resistance), a trait conferred by several known virulence genes. This study investigates a potential chromosomal complement-resistance gene in <em>S. typhimurium</em> tagged by Tn<em>phoA</em> insertional transposon mutagenesis. <em>S. typhimurium</em> strain EM876 has a chromosomal Tn<em>phoA</em> insertion and reduced serum-resistance. Inverse PCR and subsequent DNA sequence analysis reveal the insertion to be in the gene <em>glpQ</em>. <em>glpQ</em> codes for a periplasmic glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase involved in glycerol degradation. Complementation assays using a clone of <em>glpQ</em> on a multicopy plasmid are consistent with a role for <em>glpQ</em> in serum-resistance. <em>glpQ</em> is preferentially expressed at 37°C versus 30°C. This is similar to <em>traT</em> and suggests that multiple temperature-regulated genes may contribute to serum-resistance in <em>S. typhimurium</em>.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Mitchell, Kristie Carlotta

Contributors dc:contributor

• James L. VandenBosch, Phd, Chair
• Daniel Clemans, Phd
• David Kass, Phd

• salmonella
• gastroenteristis
• serum
• qlpQ
• Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/427

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1796