Project Number: 1265-42000-004-03
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 12, 2008
End Date: Jul 25, 2011

Objective:
To determine the role of periplasmic glucans from Salmonella and Shigella isolates in survival, biofilm formation and virulence.

Approach:
Glucans purified from food borne pathogens (i.e., Salmonella and Shigella isolates) will be analyzed for structure and chemical composition at UMBC. Gene specific mutants will be generated at PQSL (PSI, ARS-USDA) and will be examined for glucan synthesis, growth in low osmolarity conditions such as vegetable wash waters, biofilm formation, survival and stress tolerance as well as for mouse virulence (in collaboration with BHNRC). A structure-function analysis is expected to provide insights for the biological role this molecule plays in various plant and animal pathogens.