Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal of the human skin and also a major human pathogen. Currently, there has been no successful vaccine despite many approaches over the last two decades. S. aureus α-hemolysin (Hla), a potent cytotoxin, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of S. aureus diseases, through the activation of its receptor, ADAM10. We utilized three distinct Hla mutants with differing structural and ADAM10 binding properties to examine for vaccine efficacy. Our studies have demonstrated immunization with each vaccine candidate antigens provided significant protection against S. aureus skin infection yet elicited distinguishable immune responses. We have also generated a mouse red blood cell model that will allow visualization of the Hla-ADAM10 complex in its native conformation for the first time through advanced microscopy techniques.
Committee Chair
Dr. Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg
Committee Members
Dr. Regina Clemens, Dr. Ian Duncan
Degree
Master of Arts (AM/MA)
Author's Department
Biology
Document Type
Directed Research Project
Date of Award
Winter 12-2021
Language
English (en)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7936/bv1w-2727
Recommended Citation
Tomaszewski, Kelly, "Structural Analysis and Vaccine Efficacy of Hla mutants" (2021). Arts & Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 2560.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.7936/bv1w-2727