The threat of antibiotic resistance and the global rise of pan-resistant bacteria is a serious concern at present. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen is frequently associated with multi and pan-drug resistant infections. This research delves into the mechanism of resistance to a class of drugs known as the β-lactams. AmpC β-lactamase encoded chromosomally in P. aeruginosa is one of the predominant causes of resistance to many β-lactams. Previous research on this pathway identified the AmpC regulatory protein - AmpR and elaborated on its regulon in P. aeruginosa. In this dissertation, further investigation in the mechanisms associated with AmpR regulation of AmpC and its connection with the cell-wall recycling pathway is explored. Cell-wall recycling, a common phenomenon in both Gram-positive and negative bacteria is investigated in some detail in P. aeruginosa for the first time. The identity of the cell-wall recycling products or muropeptides in P. aeruginosa is elucidated. Around 20 distinct muropeptides were identified through liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses of bacterial extracts. Furthermore, iv the muropeptide effector of AmpR that is instrumental in the activation of this transcription factor is identified. The role of two permeases AmpG and AmpP in antibiotic resistance and cell-wall recycling are also investigated by comparing antibiotic susceptibility and muropeptide profile of the isogenic mutants of ampG and ampP with the wild-type PAO1. Along with investigating permeases, the role of a putative N-acetylglucosaminidase FlgJ is also investigated. Finally, keeping in mind the broad role of AmpR in regulating P. aeruginosa virulence and antibiotic resistance, we try to identify small -molecule inhibitors for AmpR. In our effort to identify inhibitors, a novel reporter-based screening assay is developed. In summary, this dissertation increases our understanding of cell-wall recycling and mechanisms of β-lactam resistance and attempts at establishing novel-antibacterial targets and inhibitors.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fiu.edu/oai:digitalcommons.fiu.edu:etd-4911 |
| Date | 25 May 2018 |
| Creators | Dhar, Supurna |
| Publisher | FIU Digital Commons |
| Source Sets | Florida International University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
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