This study investigates the sensitivity of Salmonella mutants lacking a putative porin OMP gene to copper stress, aiming to understand if reduced porin expression affects copper influx and growth rates compared to wild-type strains exposed to copper sulfate (CuSO4). Despite Salmonella Typhimurium's significant global health impact, with millions of cases annually, and its ability to survive in diverse environments, including host cells containing high copper levels, the specific role of porins in copper sensitivity remains unclear. Experimental methods involve screening Salmonella mutants lacking the porin OMP gene obtained from a mutant library and comparing their growth patterns to wild-type strains under varying copper concentrations using liquid cultures and solid media. Mutants lacking the porin OMP gene demonstrate similar growth patterns to wild-type strains when exposed to CuSO4 in liquid cultures but in solid media revealed mutant STM14_0394 to have higher copper resistance than the wild-type. These findings emphasize the need for further research to understand copper resistance mechanisms in Salmonella and inform the development of targeted therapeutic interventions and preventive measures against Salmonella infections.

• 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

• Diaz, Jocelyn

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 121661
• E-project-042524-103636

Advisor

• Argüello, José M.

Year

• 2024

Date created

• 2024-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Source

• E-project-042524-103636

Rights statement

• In Copyright