Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) pore-forming crystal proteins (Cry) are toxic towards insects and nematodes. The nematode C. elegans provides an excellent model to study the mechanism of Cry protein toxicity. In addition, C. elegans can be used to determine how a host defends itself against a pore-forming bacterial toxin.
One aim of this proposal is to use a previously isolated C. elegans mutant that is hypersensitive to the Bt toxin Cry5B to understand host factors that influence toxicity and form part of an innate immune response. The mutant allele from this Cry5B hypersensitive C. elegans strain will be identified, and the function of the encoded protein studied to determine its response to toxin. An additional aim will be to isolate more Cry5B hypersensitive mutants via genetic screens to identify other host components that affect the response to a pore-forming toxin. Many human bacterial pathogens use pore-forming toxins as components of their pathogenic arsenal. Understanding cellular responses to this class of toxins will lead to a better understanding of how they cause disease and how host factors can influence toxicity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32AI060291-01
Application #
6792500
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F08 (20))
Program Officer
Korpela, Jukka K
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2007-03-31
Budget Start
2004-04-01
Budget End
2005-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$52,492
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Bischof, Larry J; Huffman, Danielle L; Aroian, Raffi V (2006) Assays for toxicity studies in C. elegans with Bt crystal proteins. Methods Mol Biol 351:139-54