Studying the Opc protein and its importance in disease
PhD Studentship, University of Bristol
This PhD studentship was designed to investigate the importance of a specific molecule on the surface of bacteria in determining whether the bacteria are harmless or dangerous.
Although the meningococcal bacteria live harmlessly in most people's nose and throat cavities, in some people they can invade the body and spread into the blood stream and into other tissues, giving rise to life-threatening infections.
A molecule called Opc has been identified on the surface of these bacteria, which can act as an anchor and bind to human cells, thus helping the bacterium invade the blood stream. It is not fully understood how Opc binds to human cells and further research is needed to shed light on this molecule and its role in invasion.
The aim of this study was to understand the importance of Opc and its role in invasion.
Determining the exact mechanisms by which Opc helps bacteria to invade the blood stream will further our understanding of this bacterium and its pathogenesis and may enable us to develop a vaccine tailored to prevent invasion by blocking this molecule.
This project is now complete - see the outcomes tab for more information.
Two new mechanisms of Opc binding and entry into human cells were identified in this study and significantly improved scientists’ understanding of how this molecule aids invasion and how the bacterium causes disease.
Furthermore, the project enabled a young scientist to learn and apply a range of molecular research methods and obtain a doctorate.
Functional Analysis of the Meningococcal Opc Protein
PhD Studentship, University of Bristol
This PhD studentship was designed to investigate the importance of a specific molecule on the surface of bacteria in determining whether the bacteria are harmless or dangerous.
The Opc molecule is present on many meningococcal bacteria that cause serious infections and binds to particular human molecules. When bacteria bind to such molecules, for instance phosphorlycholine on red blood cells, they can make the cells engulf the bacteria from one side of the blood vessel and release them on the other side enabling the bacteria to enter the blood system or the brain.
It is not fully understood how Opc facilitates entry of Neisseria meningitidis into human cells and further research is needed to examine mechanisms of binding and entry and to identify potential receptors for Opc.
This study aimed to investigate precisely which molecules the Opc protein binds to and how this leads to bacterial entry into cultured human cells.
This project is now complete - see the outcomes tab for more information.
The study identified two novel methods by which Opc protein can increase bacterial binding to and entry into human target cells. New advances that have been made in understanding the roles of meningococcal Opc protein will contribute to current knowledge of Neisseria meningitidis and its pathogenesis.
In addition the student on this project has been awarded a PhD.
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