Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology
Ezekiel Wamble - Norfolk State University
Co-Author(s): *Ezekiel Wamble, Lauren Karr, Dr. Ashley Haines. Norfolk State University, Department of Biology, Norfolk, VA
Streptococcus parauberis is a gram positive, facultative anaerobe that occurs in pairs or chains of cocci. This bacterium is capable of adapting to life in homoeothermic and poikilothermic animal hosts, soil, water, and other environments. As such, it is known as an environmental generalist. S. parauberis is able to adapt due to mutations, acquisition of new genes, and regulation of gene expression. The purpose of this study is to understand the effects that temperature and host serum have on gene expression in S. parauberis. We hypothesize that cultures of S. parauberis grown in the presence of Fetal Bovine Serum will increase expression of specific stress response and virulence genes. Using RNA seq data, we have analyzed gene expression by aligning reads to a reference genome. For each sample comparison, the range of differentially expressed genes is from 50 to 1000 genes. Once differentially expressed gene have been identified, their functions are determined. As hypothesized, we have identified different metabolic and virulence genes within the comparisons. This information will improve our understanding of how Streptococcal bacteria adapt to different host environments. It will also build our knowledge base of basic cellular processes, and help identify new avenues for controlling microbial growth.
Not SubmittedFunder Acknowledgement(s): Supported by Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) grant #325005 and National Science Foundation (NSF) grant #1505348.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ashley Haines, anhaines@nsu.edu
Role: Cultured S. Parauberis in different conditions to understand the effects that temperature and host serum have on gene expression in S. parauberis. Using RNA seq data, we have analyzed gene expression by aligning reads to a reference genome. For each sample comparison, the range of differentially expressed genes is from 50 to 1000 genes. Once differentially expressed gene have been identified, their functions are determined.