Kwak, Daniel H
(2016)
MICROBIAL GENOME MINING IN UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS AND CYANOBACTERIAL NATURAL PRODUCTS BIOSYNTHESIS.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Recent accessibility of microbial genome sequencing data has enabled broad investigations into the nature of microbial physiology and their consequences on humans and their environment. Through an approach known as genome mining, an in silico technique that enables the identification of uncharacterized gene clusters based on sequence homology, the investigations described herein provide new insight into two important groups of microbes, namely human bacterial pathogens and cyanobacteria. In Part I of this dissertation, genome mining techniques have identified two evolutionarily-conserved cryptic biosynthetic operons in the human pathogens Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Interestingly, the findings demonstrate the significance of these gene clusters and their small molecule products to be important contributors to the pathogenesis of these organisms. As a result, the proteins encoded by these gene clusters are expected to be important targets in the development of next-generation antibiotics. In Part II, a novel platform for the investigation of natural products biosynthesis from cyanobacteria is described. Cyanobacteria have proven to be important yet relatively unexplored sources of bioactive compounds. Recent genome sequencing has indicated the substantial potential of these microbes to synthesize compounds that can be developed into new medicines. The collective findings in this dissertation demonstrate the considerable utility of emerging microbial genome sequencing information and its future impact on human health and disease.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
21 January 2016 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
20 November 2015 |
| Approval Date: |
21 January 2016 |
| Submission Date: |
3 December 2015 |
| Access Restriction: |
5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years. |
| Number of Pages: |
275 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Chemistry |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Cyanobacteria, Genome mining, Microbial Secondary Metabolites, Human bacterial pathogens, Natural products biosynthesis, Heterologous expression |
| Date Deposited: |
21 Jan 2017 06:00 |
| Last Modified: |
21 Jan 2021 06:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26557 |
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