Contribution of Secretion Systems to Macrophage Polarization and Cell Death During Burkholderia pseudomallei Infection

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a Gram-negative environmental saprophyte and causative agent of melioidosis. As a facultative intracellular pathogen, B. pseudomallei uses secretion systems as primary virulence factors. The type 3 secretion system (T3SS) is used to escape the phagosome while the type 6 secretion system is responsible for cell-to-cell fusion and multinucleated giant cell (MNGC) formation. Both secretion systems are critical for virulence but the impact they have on the host response is uncharacterized. In this dissertation, we demonstrate the effect these secretion systems have on the immune response by evaluating macrophage polarization and cell death. Using two mutant strains, ∆bicA and ∆hcp1, as case studies, we demonstrate that there is a differential macrophage polarization and apoptosis response. Together, they represent host response elements that are manipulated by the bacteria in a secretion system dependent manner to promote replication within the host.

Name thesis:degree_name

Microbiology and Immunology (Doctoral)

Grantor

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Stockton, Jacob Lee 1996-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Torres, Alfredo altorres@utmb.edu

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2152.3/12669

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utmb-ir.tdl.org:2152.3/12669