Description:

Department of Microbiology-Immunology Seminar Series

"Virulence factors are generally defined as pathogen-produced elements that contribute to in vivo survival or to promotion of disease via modification of host environment. The most important secreted virulence factor during gastrointestinal infection of the bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is the multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxins (MARTX) toxin. The MARTX toxin is produced as a single polypeptide that, following secretion from the bacterium, delivers multiple effector domains to the eukaryotic host cell cytosol. Genetic manipulation of V. vulnificus in combination with in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrates that effector domains both confer and modulate MARTX-associated V. vulnificus virulence. The continued study of V. vulnificus is key to the health of global populations exposed to contaminated seawater and seafood, as current mortality rates exceed 30 percent and infection prevalence is predicted to rise in conjunction with increasing global surface water temperatures. "

Hannah Gavin

Northwestern University Driskill Graduate Program

Host: Dr. Karla Satchell