Characterisation of a novel type of promoter controlling expression of virulence genes in Neisseria.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/194313

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

This project will investigate how two different types of bacteria control genes that are involved in determining their disease-causing ability. The expression of many bacterial genes is controlled by a sophisticated battery of regulatory systems that respond to individual, very specific, environmental signals. Such regulatory systems are capable of exerting very precise control over the level of gene expression, in response to the concentration of specific molecules in the immediate environment. However, there is evidence to suggest that many important disease-causing bacteria are much less reliant on specific regulatory systems. Instead, these bacteria rely more heavily what have been termed global systems for the regulation of gene expression. Such systems typically respond to less specific signals, such as the growth rate of the bacterial cell, but nevertheless appear capable of very precise control. We have evidence for a previously uncharacterised type of global control system that appears to be widespread amongst bacteria. It is likely that many virulence genes in a variety of disease-causing bacteria will prove to be controlled by similar means. Therefore this project will not only provide an insight into how expression of these particular virulence determinants is regulated, but will yield data that may help in our understanding of precise global regulatory processes in other bacterial species of medical importance.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2002

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $200,880.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Allergy

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

bacterial infections | bacterial pathogens | gene expression | genetic regulation | gonorrhoea | infectious diseases | meningococcal disease | promoter | transcription

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