Defining the mechanisms of Pasteurella multocida pathogenesis and identifying novel virulence regulators

Pasteurella multocida is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes a number of different diseases in cattle, pigs and poultry, resulting in serious economic losses worldwide in food production industries. We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in this bacterium with an aim to developing new, more effective and widely applicable vaccines or antimicrobial drugs. The mechanism by which P. multocida controls the expression of virulence genes is poorly understood. Indeed, we are the only group worldwide to have characterized virulence regulators in this important pathogen. In this project we will mutate predicted virulence regulators (alternative sigma factors, two component signal transduction system components or small RNAs) and assess their effect on P. multocida gene expression and virulence. We will analyse the changes in virulence gene/protein expression using both whole transcriptomic and proteomic techniques and assess the phenotype of the mutants both in vitro and in vivo using established assays.