A Study of the Genes Required for Bordetella Transmission and Bordetella's Interaction with Dictyostellium discoideum
Open Access
- Author:
- Hilburger, Lindsay Jennifer
- Area of Honors:
- Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Eric Thomas Harvill, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Lester C Griel Jr., Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Bordetella
transmission
virulence factors
mouse model
amoeba - Abstract:
- Bordetella species are respiratory pathogens that are important in both human and veterinary medicine, with the ability to infect and transmit amongst and between multiple mammalian hosts. Causing millions of infections worldwide each year, current Bordetella research is focused on understanding and preventing transmission between susceptible individuals. It has long been thought that Bordetella species are only capable of transmitting from host to host via the direct transmission of aerosol droplets. However, recent studies have shown the capability of Bordetella bronchiseptica to survive intracellularly within the amoeba species Dictyostellium discoideum. These studies indicate that amoeba may represent an environmental reservoir for Bordetella, as a mode of extracellular survival permitting transmission. In the first chapter of this thesis, we show that not just B. bronchiseptica, but other species of Bordetella, including both classical and non-classical species, are also capable of this complex interaction with amoeba. Additionally, to better understand the classical direct process of transmission between live hosts, we developed conditions to study B. bronchispetica transmission between mice. The second chapter of this thesis aims to determine the virulence factors necessary for colonization, shedding, and transmission of B. bronchiseptica from infected hosts to exposed mice. In this chapter, we show that capsule gene is required for the transmission of B.bronchiseptica in mice. From this study, we can highlight more effective vaccine targets for both humans and animals, and overall shed light on ways to help limit the spread of Bordetella from host to host.