A broadly implementable research course in phage discovery and genomics for first-year undergraduate students.

Unlabelled: Engaging large numbers of undergraduates in authentic scientific discovery is desirable but difficult to achieve. We have developed a general model in which faculty and teaching assistants from diverse academic institutions are trained to teach a research course for first-year undergraduate students focused on bacteriophage discovery and genomics. The course is situated within a broader scientific context aimed at understanding viral diversity, such that faculty and students are collaborators with established researchers in the field.

A Mycobacterium marinum zone of inhibition assay as a method for screening potential antimycobacterial compounds from marine extracts.

A novel screening method for antimycobacterial agents using Mycobacterium marinum was developed. M. marinum was selected as a model organism because it has a close phylogenetic relationship to M.

Mycobacterium leprae interactions with the host cell: recent advances.

The significance of Hansen disease, or leprosy, is underscored by fact that detection of this disease has remained stable over the past 10 yr, even though disease prevalence is reduced. Due to the long incubation time of the organism, health experts predict that leprosy will be with us for decades to come. Despite the fact that Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, cannot be cultured in the laboratory, researchers are using innovative and imaginative techniques to discern the interactions of M.

Mycobacterium marinum biofilm formation reveals cording morphology.

Abstract The emergence of the nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) as clinically relevant pathogens has warranted the study of these ubiquitous organisms in the context of their likely environmental niche, the biofilm. We assayed the NTM bacterium Mycobacterium marinum strain 1218R, a fish outbreak isolate, for biofilm formation on different surfaces over time using three different methods. Using the MBEC system, biofilm development occurred continually over the 14-day culture period reaching a mature or stable biofilm state after 7 days postinoculation.

Differential green fluorescent protein expression from mycobacterial promoter constructs in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium marinum.

The Mycobacterium marinum G13 promoter is a sigma 70-like promoter that is more active by green fluorescent protein (gfp) differential fluorescence induction (DFI) assays when M. marium resides in an intracellular compartment as compared with growth in media. In assays using DFI, we found that the mycobacterial G13 promoter was also more active in a background of lower nutrient availability during logarithmic growth.

Mycobacterium leprae infection of human Schwann cells depends on selective host kinases and pathogen-modulated endocytic pathways.

Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular pathogen, shows a unique tropism for Schwann cells (SC). This leads to the peripheral neuropathy disorder observed in leprosy. In this study, we investigated signal transduction events and the intracellular fate of M.

Zebrafish-Mycobacterium marinum model for mycobacterial pathogenesis.

We report here the development of a pathogenesis model utilizing Mycobacterium marinum infection of zebrafish (Danio rerio) for the study of mycobacterial disease. The zebrafish model mimics certain aspects of human tuberculosis, such as the formation of granuloma-like lesions and the ability to establish either an acute or a chronic infection based upon inoculum. This model allows the genetics of mycobacterial disease to be studied in both pathogen and host.