Sellwood, Joshua E.

Terreri, Nicolas

English

Liberty University Digital Commons

Proposal Title – Identifying Phenotypes in Overexpression of Putative Kinases in  Cryptococcus neoformans.  Program of Study – Genetics  Presentation Type – Choose one of the following: Power Point  Mentor(s) and Mentor Email – Dr. Michael S. Price (msprice2@liberty.edu)  Student name(s) and email(s) – Joshua Sellwood (jsellwood@liberty.edu) & Nic Terreri (nterreri@liberty.edu)  Category – Choose one of the following: Experimental Basic.   Abstract:  Cryptococcus neoformans persists in the central nervous system via the utilization of carbon sources mainly from sugars like glucose. In a prior study assessing the role of pyruvate kinase in the central nervous system persistence by C. neoformans, we observed the delayed appearance of pyk1∆ colonies on glucose-containing medium.  When the C. neoformans grew on glucose containing media, another possible kinase which activates only when the pyk1∆ suppressor mutant was deleted, was brought into question as the possible substitute for the pyk1 gene. The colonies appeared as one of three different morphotypes: filamentous, pseudohyphal, or yeast. Increased filamentation and haploid fruiting has been observed with overexpression of STE12 in C. neoformans.2 This observation leads us to believe that this gene coding for the kinase is located in the MAT locus of chromosome 5 in the C. neoformans Serotype A strain, H99. Due to the filamentous nature of many of the pyk1∆ suppressor mutants, We hypothesize that a partial genome duplication may be responsible for suppression of the pyk1∆ mutant glucose utilization phenotype, and that the likely area of duplication centers around the MAT locus on Chromosome 5. A possible genetic basis for the expression of a different kinase’s growth phenotypes will be assessed using novel molecular approaches. Different putative genes, found using various microarray data, will be amplified and transformed into Cryptococcus neoformans pyk1Δ gene mutants. Overexpression of the putative rescue genes in C. neoformans may show the same phenotypes of the original pyk1Δ mutant phenotypes of delayed growth on glucose containing media and a complete loss of virulence in the host.   Christian worldview integration:  When working with a fungal pathogen like Cryptococcous neoformans, we need to be mindful of the effects on the world. When C. neoformans infects a host, the person goes through a very painful experience with the symptoms associated with the disease, Cryptococcosis. This is a disease that infects and claims the lives of over 750,000 people in the world per year. When performing our research, the foremost thought is that every step we get closer to figuring out how this fungal pathogen works, the closer we are to finding an effective way to treat individuals to which treatment is inaccessible or unavailable. Our Christian Worldview is used in our scientific method because of our motivation to not perform this research merely for the glory that may be associated with the possibly significant research but rather to bring the glory to God for the opportunity that he has given us to study this important fungal pathogen. It gives us an opportunity to serve those that may not be as fortunate and provide hope to them that we may find something to help them. This in following the way that Jesus helped those that were less fortunate because we need to love them and show them the love that Christ showed us first on the cross. This research will not only affect 3rd world countries but will have an effect on the people infected with the same disease here in the USA. We look forward to the day where patients presenting with this disease will not have to go through months of treatment that have terrible effects on the body not to mention how expensive the treatment is.    

Identifying Phenotypes in Overexpression of Putative Kinases in Cryptococcus neoformans.

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1096&amp;context=symp_undergrad

Identifying Phenotypes in Overexpression of Putative Kinases in Cryptococcus neoformans.

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