Adaptation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to growth as a biofilm

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• Professor Caitlin Pepperell, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison
• Wednesday 19 May 2021, 16:00-17:00
• Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/834693107?pwd=SzhzMXdPbmJJOHJubEFpZm8rVnRkZz09 Meeting ID: 834 693 107 - Passcode: 533456.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Fiona Roby.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), is a leading cause of death due to infectious disease. TB is not traditionally associated with biofilms, but M. tb biofilms are linked with drug and immune tolerance and there is increasing recognition of their potential role in the recalcitrance of TB infections. Here we used M. tb experimental evolution to investigate this complex phenotype and identify candidate loci controlling biofilm formation. We identified novel candidate loci, adding to our understanding of the genetic architecture underlying M. tb biofilm development. Under selective pressure to grow as a biofilm, regulatory mutations rapidly swept to fixation and were associated with changes in multiple traits including extracellular matrix production, cell size, and growth rate. Genetic and phenotypic paths to enhanced biofilm growth varied according to the genetic background of the parent strain, suggesting that epistatic interactions are important in M. tb adaptation to changing environments.

Chaired by Dr Lucy Weinert

This talk is part of the Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Cambridge Immunology
• Cambridge Infectious Disease
• Cambridge Infectious Diseases
• Departmental Seminar Programme, Department of Veterinary Medicine
• Vet School Seminars
• Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/834693107?pwd=SzhzMXdPbmJJOHJubEFpZm8rVnRkZz09 Meeting ID: 834 693 107 - Passcode: 533456
• https://zoom.us/j/834693107?pwd=SzhzMXdPbmJJOHJubEFpZm8rVnRkZz09 Meeting ID: 834 693 107 - Passcode: 533456

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