DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/1J7W-MX17
Defense Date
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Microbiology & Immunology
First Advisor
Kimberly Jefferson
Abstract
Sneathia vaginalis is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that is associated with bacterial vaginosis, urethritis, preterm birth, pregnancy complications, and amnionitis. The only toxin that has been identified in this species is the cytopathogenic toxin A or CptA. CptA is a 2,310 amino acid pore-forming toxin that is hemolytic and cytotoxic; however, little is known about what it binds to on the host cell surface or which parts of the toxin are responsible for activity. In this study, we cloned truncated versions of the cptA gene into an expression vector and examined binding and pore-formation. The results suggest that there is a binding region between amino acids 1221 and 1320 and a pore-forming region between amino acids 24 and 147. Furthermore, CptA was found to bind to collagen.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-9-2022
Included in
Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons