Impact of varying metal ion- and carbohydrate concentrations on gene expression in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae

PhD ceremony: Mr. S. Shafeeq, 14.30 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: Impact of varying metal ion- and carbohydrate concentrations on gene expression in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae

Promotor(s): prof. O.P. Kuipers

Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences

The research of Sulman Shafeeq describes the impact of varying metal ions- and carbohydrate concentrations on gene expression of human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. The most important conclusion of his research is varying concentration of metal ions especially Zinc has huge impact on the virulence gene expression of S. pneumoniae. Therefore Shafeeq thinks that metal ions, especially zinc, can be used for therapy, when given in appropriate concentrations.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive human pathogen that is responsible for millions of deaths each year especially in children and the elderly, due to causing infections like pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media and sepsis. Little is known about the interaction of this human pathogen with and its behavior in the fluctuating nutritional environment inside the human body. The thesis of Shafeeq describes several gene regulatory responses of S. pneumoniae to varying metal ion- and carbohydrate availability, which it is likely to encounter in different niches inside the human body during the infection process. Several transcriptional regulators responsive to various metals (e.g. zinc and copper) and carbohydrate sources (e.g. cellobiose) are characterized by him and their regulons are studied in detail. The results described in his thesis will help to better understand the molecular biology of S. pneumoniae by providing new insights into the responses of S. pneumoniae to changing environmental conditions.