Degree Name
MS (Master of Science)
Program
Biology
Date of Award
12-2025
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Erik Petersen
Committee Members
Sean Fox, Suman Dalal
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen with the ability to colonize dry or desiccated surfaces and survive long time periods, increasing the possibility for clinical outbreaks. One of the main mechanisms A. baumannii uses to interact and traverse these environments is twitching motility, a specific type of motility that utilizes a type IV pilus (T4P). Various bacterial species utilize cyclic-di-GMP (c-di-GMP) signaling to regulate T4P motility. Preliminary testing of c-di-GMP-related proteins within A. baumannii identified two proteins (1138 and 2255) that were required for twitching motility. Results of this study suggest that 2255 interacts with the T4P-associated ATPase PilB, while 1138 homodimerizes and potentially binds c-di-GMP within its active site. This suggests important roles for both 1138 and 2255 in T4P function and overall twitching ability for A. baumannii, with further investigation required to explore the potential mechanisms presented in these findings.
Document Type
Thesis - embargo
Recommended Citation
Williams, Thomas G., "Control of Pilus-Mediated Motility in Acinetobacter baumannii" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4639. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4639
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
Bacteria Commons, Bacteriology Commons, Microbial Physiology Commons, Organismal Biological Physiology Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons
