Abstract
The pathogenesis of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) are critically dependent on bacterial adhesion to host cells. Recent nanometrology advances by Bozec now allow the physical properties of bacterial / host cell interactions to be characterized in detail. In this project the student will use these novel nanometrology techniques to characterize the nanomechanical behaviour of different Sp strains, including mutants lacking specific adhesins, with epithelial cells from young (low susceptibility to Sp) and elderly volunteers (high susceptibility to Sp). The student will generate important insights into bacterial pathogenesis and training in both molecular microbiology and cutting edge nanotechnology techniques.
References
- Pneumococcal pili and adhesins, pages 309-346 in ‘Streptococcus pneumoniae: molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions’ Brown Hammerschmidt and Orihuela, Elsevier 2015
- Aguayo S, Marshall H, Pratten J, Bradshaw D, Brown JS, Porter SR, Spratt D, Bozec L. Early Adhesion of Candida albicans onto Dental Acrylic Surfaces. (2017) Journal of Dental Research (in press)
- Aguayo, S., Donos, N., Spratt, D., & Bozec, L. Probing the nanoadhesion of Streptococcus sanguinis to titanium implant surfaces by atomic force microscopy. (2016), International Journal of Nanomedicine, 11, 1443-1450
- Aguayo, S., Donos, N., Spratt, D., & Bozec, L. Nanoadhesion of Staphylococcus aureus onto titanium implant surfaces. Journal of Dental Research,(2015) 94 (8), 1078-1084. doi:10.1177/0022034515591485