Document Type

Restricted

Advisor

Tanya Schneider

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

Novel routes to combat pathogenic bacteria are necessary due to the pressing public health threat of antibiotic resistance. Inhibition of bacterial quorum sensing is of interest as a potential route to reducing biofilm formation and virulence of multi-drug resistant pathogens. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a widespread, opportunistic pathogen, there are three quorum sensing pathways, including the LasR/LasI pathway. LasR is a transcription regulator protein, important in initiating gene expression in response to the native signaling molecules. This thesis discusses three routes to potentially inactivating the LasR protein. These routes include the investigation of LasR function through redox sensing, the inhibition of LasR through small molecule antagonists, and the inhibition of the protein dimerization interface.

Share

COinS
 

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.