Location
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Start Date
16-4-2011 10:00 AM
End Date
16-4-2011 11:30 AM
Description
Anthrax infection starts with germination of Bacillus anthracis spores in macrophages. Some bacteria, including B. anthracis, can sporulate in response to environmental stress, such as starvation. During germination, large concentrations of calcium ions are released from the B. anthracis spore. Calcium ions are hydrophilic secondary messengers, and may therefore interfere with detection of the spore by confusing the cell signaling pathways. We investigated calcium release on infected macrophage viability by replacing the calcium stored in B. anthracis spores for other cations via demineralization/remineralization. It was discovered that calcium ions typically out-performed other cations in germination of B. anthracis.
Keywords
Anthrax; Bacillus anthracis; Calcium
Disciplines
Biochemistry | Cell Biology | Immunology and Infectious Disease | Molecular Biology
Language
English
Included in
Biochemistry Commons, Cell Biology Commons, Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons, Molecular Biology Commons
The Release of calcium in Bacillus anthracis pathogenicity methods
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Anthrax infection starts with germination of Bacillus anthracis spores in macrophages. Some bacteria, including B. anthracis, can sporulate in response to environmental stress, such as starvation. During germination, large concentrations of calcium ions are released from the B. anthracis spore. Calcium ions are hydrophilic secondary messengers, and may therefore interfere with detection of the spore by confusing the cell signaling pathways. We investigated calcium release on infected macrophage viability by replacing the calcium stored in B. anthracis spores for other cations via demineralization/remineralization. It was discovered that calcium ions typically out-performed other cations in germination of B. anthracis.
Comments
Research funded by NSF grant # EPS081432