Responses of Escherichia Coli to Nitrosative and Oxidative Stresses In Vitro and in Macrophage: A Post-Genomic Approach

Bacteria are exposed to toxic oxygen-derived species, NO and its congeners in a variety of environments, including with phagolysosomes. This study aims to: <OL> <LI> Exploit post- genomic approaches (gene arrays, proteomics) to understand the breadth of genetic responses mounted by Escherichia coli to nitrosative and oxidative stresses and combinations of these in vitro;<LI> Mutate genes selected from these studies to describe mutant phenotypes in vitro and the requirements for these genes in resisting macrophage killing; <LI> Probe mechanisms of gene regulation.