Diaminopimelic acid (DAP) is a modified lysine amino acid required for cell wall synthesis in most bacteria. This project's goal was to design a live growth-controllable vaccine using a strain of Y. pestis, the causative agent of plague, lacking the DAP gene to make its growth dependent on exogenous DAP while allowing host immune responses. Y. pestis starvation assays showed that DAP-starved cells cannot revive after 24 hours of starvation, and growth curves showed the minimum exogenous DAP concentration required per cell. Mock skin diffusion experiments showed that DAP diffuses through "skin", sustaining and limiting growth to areas of application. Results suggest that DAP-dependent Y. pestis can be a live vaccine controlled by DAP application.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Kingsley, Samantha L
• Sheehan, Chelsea Catherine

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042111-150602

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2011

Sponsor

• University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
• Jon Goguen, PhD

Date created

• 2011-04-21

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright