Wed 19 May 16:00: Adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to growth as a biofilm
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), is a leading cause of death due to infectious disease. TB is not traditionally associated with biofilms, but M. tb biofilms are linked with drug and immune tolerance and there is increasing recognition of their potential role in the recalcitrance of TB infections. Here we used M. tb experimental evolution to investigate this complex phenotype and identify candidate loci controlling biofilm formation. We identified novel candidate loci, adding to our understanding of the genetic architecture underlying M. tb biofilm development. Under selective pressure to grow as a biofilm, regulatory mutations rapidly swept to fixation and were associated with changes in multiple traits including extracellular matrix production, cell size, and growth rate. Genetic and phenotypic paths to enhanced biofilm growth varied according to the genetic background of the parent strain, suggesting that epistatic interactions are important in M. tb adaptation to changing environments.
Chaired by Dr Lucy Weinert
- Speaker: Professor Caitlin Pepperell, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison
- Wednesday 19 May 2021, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/834693107?pwd=SzhzMXdPbmJJOHJubEFpZm8rVnRkZz09 Meeting ID: 834 693 107 - Passcode: 533456.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.
Wed 09 Jun 16:00: Investigating inherited diseases in the domestic dog - an introduction to the Canine Genetics Research Group
Abstract not available
- Speaker: Dr Cathryn Mellersh, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge
- Wednesday 09 June 2021, 16:00-17:00
- Venue: Venue to be confirmed.
- Series: Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine; organiser: Fiona Roby.