Location

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Start Date

3-8-2010 9:00 AM

End Date

3-8-2010 12:00 PM

Description

Shigella flexneri is a gram negative non-motile, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacterium responsible for bacillary dysentery in humans. The master regulator, VirF, initiates a cascade of virulence gene activation by acting as a transcription factor for the gene encoding the global regulator, VirB (1). Production of VirB is also negatively regulated by the regulatory small RNA (sRNA), RyhB 2). Regulatory sRNAs are untranslated RNA molecules involved in the regulation of both transcription and translation. RyhB, a 90 nt sRNA, was first identified in E. coli and subsequently found in all Shigella species. In Shigella this sRNA is maximally expressed in response to iron depletion and is responsible for the reduced expression of many virulence genes in Shigella flexneri by downregulating virB (2).

Keywords

Genetic regulation; Non-coding RNA; Shigella flexneri; Virulence (Microbiology)—Genetic aspects

Disciplines

Bacteriology | Genetics and Genomics | Life Sciences | Microbiology

Language

English

Comments

Poster research sponsored by Department and Grant Supported Students


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Aug 3rd, 9:00 AM Aug 3rd, 12:00 PM

The Small regulatory RNA RyhB regulates icsA expression in Shigella flexneri

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Shigella flexneri is a gram negative non-motile, non-spore forming, rod-shaped bacterium responsible for bacillary dysentery in humans. The master regulator, VirF, initiates a cascade of virulence gene activation by acting as a transcription factor for the gene encoding the global regulator, VirB (1). Production of VirB is also negatively regulated by the regulatory small RNA (sRNA), RyhB 2). Regulatory sRNAs are untranslated RNA molecules involved in the regulation of both transcription and translation. RyhB, a 90 nt sRNA, was first identified in E. coli and subsequently found in all Shigella species. In Shigella this sRNA is maximally expressed in response to iron depletion and is responsible for the reduced expression of many virulence genes in Shigella flexneri by downregulating virB (2).