Date of Award

Fall 2008

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Microbiology

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Thomas G Pistole

Abstract

The binding of macrophages to the outer membrane porin proteins, OmpC and OmpD, and the effects of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) were investigated. MBL was isolated from pig serum in a multi-step affinity chromatography process and the purity of the samples was determined via sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. An Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect MBL. Porcine MBL was present in serum in approximately 30, 32 and 34 kDa monomeric forms. Bacterial binding assays were performed using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium wild-type, ompC-deficient and ompD-deficient bacterial strains. These experiments were repeated in the presence of increasing concentrations of either porcine or human MBL.

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