Analysis of Phase-variable Genes in Human-adapted Bacterial Pathogens
File version
Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Atack, John M
Other Supervisors
Jennings, Michael P
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
This thesis contributes significantly to the understanding of phase-variable gene expression in Haemophilus influenzae and phasevarions in Streptococcus pneumoniae, and to the broader fields of bacterial genetics and epigenetics. This thesis has: (i) demonstrated that particular forms of lipooligosaccharide (LOS) are selected for during NTHi invasive infection; (ii) described the autotransporter Lav in NTHi, demonstrating that this protein is phase-variable, is an important virulence factor, and is a potential NTHi vaccine candidate; (iii) informed vaccine development by characterising the prevalence of Hgps across Haemophilus influenzae, while identifying expression in an invasive NTHi isolate collection; (iv) effectively doubled publicly available genomes for Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius isolates; and (v) carried out a detailed analysis of the pathobiology of the SpnIII system of S. pneumoniae. As the body of work that constitutes each Chapter of this thesis is in manuscript format, abstracts can be found in these Chapters.
Journal Title
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Institute for Glycomics
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Phase-variable Genes
Haemophilus influenzae
phasevarions in Streptococcus pneumoniae