Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
12-2025
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Erik Petersen
Committee Members
Ranjan Chakraborty, Sean Fox
Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infects humans and animals via consumption of contaminated food or water. If Salmonella traverses the intestine and gets into the bloodstream, they can evade phagocytic killing within macrophages by adapting to this new environment. In an effort to identify the signals sensed by Salmonella within macrophages, the cyclic-di-GMP signaling system used by Salmonella to respond to its environment was investigated. Two previously identified cyclic-di-GMP sensory phosphodiesterases active during intracellular survival were tested against potential host signals to determine to which they might respond. Results from both a targeted set of macrophage-specific compounds and an unbiased nutrient library approach have identified a number of potential activating signals, including antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and sodium nitroprusside, for these cyclic-di-GMP phosphodiesterases. This provides new avenues to investigate regarding how an intracellular pathogen senses its host environment and adapts accordingly.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Ayers, Anna M., "Identification of Signals Influencing Salmonella Typhimurium Sensory Cyclic-di-GMP Phosphodiesterases" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4638. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4638
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
