Zishuo I. Hu

2nd Year Medical Student

Department: School of Medicine

Graduate Program: TBD

Advisor: Dr. Wali Karzai (rotating)

Abstract (rotation):

Title:  Characterization of TolC orthologs in Francisella Novicida

Advisor: Dr. David G. Thanassi, Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, SBU

Zishuo I. Hu, Gabrielle J. Platz, David G. Thanassi

The facultative intracellular bacterium Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of tularemia, a highly infectious disease with rapid onset of symptoms. The lack of a public vaccine and Francisella tularensis’ ease of aerosolization make it a potential bioterrorism agent. Recent experiments have demonstrated that TolC homologs in Francisella tularensis may play a role in its virulence. TolC is an outer membrane protein involved in drug efflux and Type I secretion. When mice were infected with TolC mutants in Francisella tularensis, they displayed virulence attenuation and reduced mortality.

Our current venue of research is on characterizing the TolC homologs in subspecies Francisella novicida. Results from multidrug sensitivity assays, macrophage infection assays, and infection assays were consistent with those of the live vaccine strain (LVS). Two TolC-like proteins were identified that may be involved in the secretion of Francisella tularensis’ virulence factors.