A Multifaceted Approach to Study Salmonella Typhimurium Pathogenesis

To study Salmonella pathogenesis we used the IVET ( in vivo expression technology) system to select S. typhimurium genes that are specifically induced in the host during infection. This unique IVET selection was done in hopes of finding genes specifically induced in the aorta of BALB/c mice. In this selection, several genes important for the infection process were identified, as well as several other interesting genes that have no known function. One of which is defined as Salmonella -specific. The reason for using the aorta is based on the fact that in humans Salmonella species can infect healthy aortic endothelial tissue causing possible aneurysm formation. We can culture S. typhimurium from aortas of mice after an intracardiac inoculation. Histologic examination of infected tissues suggests that initially the infection starts in the periaortic adipose tissue and then proceeds towards the muscle layer. We can also directly visualize the presence of S. typhimurium in the aorta by using an indirect immunohistochemical staining procedure which shows a direct correlation between the presence of bacteria and neutrophils in the infected tissue.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Mann, Brandon Alexander

Contributors dc:contributor

• Slauch, James M.

• Health Sciences, Pathology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9944933

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/86747