Title: The effect of acetone on acxA mRNA expression in H. pylori and acetone as a potential novel signal detected by the CrdRS two component system of H. pylori
Department: Biology
Description: Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that is the leading cause of gastric cancer and peptic ulcers. Acetone as well as other chemical molecules known as ketone bodies are present in the human body during starvation, a frequent condition during human evolution. Due to the ancient association between H. pylori and the human stomach, we therefore speculate that the ability of H. pylori to metabolize acetone as a source of carbon and energy provided an advantage to the survival of this bacterium. Acetone carboxylase is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of acetone in H. pylori and is encoded by the operon, a cluster of the genes, acxABC. The expression of this operon is regulated by each of the three of H. pylori's two component systems (TCSs) and both the known orphan response regulators. Two component systems are wide-spread bacterial sensing and response systems that control the expression of many genes as a function of varying environmental conditions. This project will investigate the effect of acetone on acxA mRNA expression in H. pylori and attempt to evaluate if acetone is a novel signal detected by the CrdRS two component system of H. pylori.
Hometown: Manchester, United Kingdom
Advisor: Mark Forsyth
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