Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: STEM Research
Patrick Ymele-Leki - Howard University
Co-Author(s): The phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) is a multistep chemical process that regulates the intake and use of carbohydrates by bacteria. The PTS also regulates several cellular functions such as chemotaxis, catabolite repression and biofilm formation. A biofilm is occurs when bacteria form a layer of microbial cells that grow attached to one another and to a surface. Biofilm formation causes problems in many branches of industry, including the medical and food process industries, as well as industrial water systems. This research hypothesizes that given the established connection between PTS activity and biofilm formation in bacterial species, the identification of small-molecule that can interfere with PTS activity will suggest new tools and approaches for the control of microbial biofilms. Thus, a screening assay for bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates by Vibrio cholerae was developed to identify chemical compounds that will interfere with PTS transport. For the screen, a V. cholerae O139 strain, MO10, growing in the absence of chemical compounds served as a negative compound. An altered strain, which lacked PTS activity, served as a positive control. Chemical compounds were selected for their physiochemical properties, such as solubility, decreased toxicity, and increased stability. Data suggests that several compounds screened exhibit bactericidal activity while others interfere with the ability of Vibrio to ferment sugars. This interference may occur through direct interaction with the PTS and will be further investigated. Success of this project will result in the identification and characterization of antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the bacterial PTS system and regulate biofilm formation. This may lead to the development of novel microbial control strategies with applications in engineering, physical, biological, medical, and pharmaceutical sciences.
The phosphoenolpyruvate-carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS) is a multistep chemical process that regulates the intake and use of carbohydrates by bacteria. The PTS also regulates several cellular functions such as chemotaxis, catabolite repression and biofilm formation. A biofilm is occurs when bacteria form a layer of microbial cells that grow attached to one another and to a surface. Biofilm formation causes problems in many branches of industry, including the medical and food process industries, as well as industrial water systems.
This research hypothesizes that given the established connection between PTS activity and biofilm formation in bacterial species, the identification of small-molecule that can interfere with PTS activity will suggest new tools and approaches for the control of microbial biofilms. Thus, a screening assay for bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates by Vibrio cholerae was developed to identify chemical compounds that will interfere with PTS transport. For the screen, a V. cholerae O139 strain, MO10, growing in the absence of chemical compounds served as a negative compound. An altered strain, which lacked PTS activity, served as a positive control. Chemical compounds were selected for their physiochemical properties, such as solubility, decreased toxicity, and increased stability. Data suggests that several compounds screened exhibit bactericidal activity while others interfere with the ability of Vibrio to ferment sugars. This interference may occur through direct interaction with the PTS and will be further investigated. Success of this project will result in the identification and characterization of antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the bacterial PTS system and regulate biofilm formation. This may lead to the development of novel microbial control strategies with applications in engineering, physical, biological, medical, and pharmaceutical sciences.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This study is supported by a NSF grant (Research Initiation Award #1505301) awarded to Patrick Ymele-Leki PhD, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059.
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,