One of the requirements for accurate bio-detection of harmful pathogens is having a molecular profile of the organism of interest that is distinct from related, nonpathogenic species. A particularly difficult challenge has been the identification of species-specific membrane and spore coat proteins. My laboratory has made tremendous progress in optimizing the separation of both bacterial membrane proteins and spore coat proteins on 2D gels. This improvement in separation, coupled with the availability of genome sequence and recent advances in protein identification using peptide mass fingerprinting through mass spectrometry has made identification of these protein spots on a 2-D gels a reality. In this study we will perform a comprehensive proteomic analysis of the Bacillus anthracis membrane and spore coat proteins. From these studies we will have in hand an accurate catalog of expressed gene products during vegetative growth, during sporulation and of the mature spore coat. The identification of species-specific spore coat proteins is of particular necessity as the bioterrorism threat is specific to the spore form of B. anthracis. Our studies will identify the spore coat proteins that are unique to B. anthracis such that an accurate bio-detection assay can be rapidly developed. The data generated from this study will also allow us to conduct long-term studies that focus on molecular/genetic approaches to identify antimicrobial targets and to address basic developmental questions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AI053360-02
Application #
6651126
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-GPJ-M (M3))
Program Officer
Baker, Phillip J
Project Start
2002-09-01
Project End
2005-08-31
Budget Start
2003-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$225,775
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Giorno, Rebecca; Bozue, Joel; Cote, Christopher et al. (2007) Morphogenesis of the Bacillus anthracis spore. J Bacteriol 189:691-705
Jagtap, Pratik; Michailidis, George; Zielke, Ryszard et al. (2006) Early events of Bacillus anthracis germination identified by time-course quantitative proteomics. Proteomics 6:5199-211
Lai, Erh-Min; Phadke, Nikhil D; Kachman, Maureen T et al. (2003) Proteomic analysis of the spore coats of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis. J Bacteriol 185:1443-54