Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a versatile Gram-negative pathogen that can infect a diversity of immunocompromised patients. Interest in alternatives to traditional antibiotics has inspired our investigation of R- and F-type pyocins as novel therapeutics. These phage tail-like bacteriocins are produced by P. aeruginosa to kill competing strains via pore formation in target cells. We aimed to characterize the diversity of pyocins and bacteriophages generated by diverse P. aeruginosa strains so as to identify pyocins of therapeutic value. Strategies to delineate pyocin and phage activities included physical methods, the modulation of pyocin regulation, and antibody-based detection of tail-like pyocins. We have identified the dominance of R- and F-type pyocins in impacting P. aeruginosa populations and revealed a small number of strains producing particularly potent pyocins. In addition, the co-regulation of phages and pyocins, the dependence of pyocins on pili for activity, and the striking diversity of pyocin susceptibility have all been recognized.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/29525 |
| Date | 23 August 2011 |
| Creators | MacKinnon, Erik Michael |
| Contributors | Davidson, Alan R. |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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