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SUMMARY:Phasevarions of bacterial pathogens: shedding new light on old ene
 mies - Dr John M. Atack\, Research Fellow\, Institute for Glycomics\, Grif
 fith University 
DTSTART:20181212T160000Z
DTEND:20181212T170000Z
UID:TALK114085@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:Many bacterial pathogens contain phase-variable methyltransfer
 ases\, that control expression of multiple genes. These phase-variable reg
 ulons – phasevarions – regulate genes involved in pathogenesis\, host-
 adaptation\, and many lead to alteration of antibiotic resistance. Many ph
 asevarions also differentially regulate putative and current vaccine candi
 dates. For vaccines to be effective\, they require that their targets are 
 stably expressed. Individual phase-variable genes are able to be identifie
 d in silico as they contain easily recognised features. Phasevarions compl
 icate the rational design of vaccines as the genes they regulate do not co
 ntain any identifiable features. We have studied a number of systems prese
 nt in a variety of human and animal pathogens using a number of approaches
 : PacBio SMRT sequencing and methylome analysis deciphers the methyltransf
 erase specificity of these systems\; phenotypic analysis demonstrates glob
 al gene expression differences commensurate with methyltransferase switchi
 ng\; a variety of in vivo models shows host niche selection. Our analysis 
 shows that phasevarions are much more widespread than previously thought\,
  and identifies the stably expressed protein repertoire of these bacteria.
  Our work provides a framework for the rational design of vaccines and tre
 atments against bacterial pathogens containing phasevarions\, with this ta
 lk summarizing our findings to date.
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 2\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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