29th Annual Student Research Conference
Determining the role of the DNA binding domain of MgrA in Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm formation
Angela R. Bunning
Dr. Carolina Sempertegui, Faculty Mentor
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a human pathogen that causes infections associated with medical devices such as catheters and implants. S. epidermidis has the ability to form biofilms, and clinical isolates are frequently antibiotic resistant, which makes treatment of infections difficult. The accessory gene regulator (agr) system, or operon, is a key determinant of biofilm expression as well as virulence gene regulation. Products of this system in S. epidermidis are usually repressed during biofilm formation and are regulated by the sar gene family, particularly the sarX gene. Transcription of the sarX gene is promoted by MgrA, a transcription factor. Most of the studies conducted with staphylococcal biofilms have been conducted in S. aureus. These systems are present in S. epidermidis but their role is poorly understood. This study aims to study the role of MgrA by introducing a mutation in the MgrA DNA binding domain to determine its impact on the agr operon and biofilm formation ability of S. epidermidis.
Keywords: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Biofilm Formation, MgrA, agr operon
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -1
Location: MG 2001
Time: 8:00