The regulatory roles of ComK proteins in Bacillus cereus and other Bacilli
PhD ceremony: Ms. A.M. Mironczuk, 14.45 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen
Thesis: The regulatory roles of ComK proteins in Bacillus cereus and other Bacilli
Promotor(s): prof. O.P. Kuipers
Faculty: Mathematics and Natural Sciences
The research described in the thesis of Aleksandra Mirończuk was initiated to investigate competence development in B. cereus to understand the evolution and function of the putative competence machinery in Bacilli species. In addition, the roles of ComK proteins in B. cereus were investigated.
Bacteria are small, single-cell organisms that need to survive in rapidly changing environmental conditions. It often occurs that only part of the bacterial population develops survival strategies such as spore or biofilm formation or genetic competence. Genetic competence is the ability to undergo genetic transformation: a process that involves the acquisition of naked DNA form the extracellular environment. Competence development has been described for variety bacteria species, both for Gram negative and Gram positive. In most of these species competence development is a physiological state controlled by a specific regulon, involving quorum sensing and responses to nutrition limitations. The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms by Mirończuk that are involved in this process can lead to create useful biotechnological tools, which can be used for easy genetic engineering of B. cereus and other “non-transformable” species. Her work shows that species previously not known to be naturally transformable, indeed possess a functional competence machinery and under given conditions are able to take up exogenous DNA.
Last modified: | 13 March 2020 01.13 a.m. |
More news
-
04 July 2025
University of Groningen awards different prizes during Ceremony of Merits
The UG awarded different prizes to excellent researchers and students during the Ceremony of Merits on 4 July 2025.
-
03 July 2025
Erik Heeres receives RUG Impact Innovator Excellence Award
During the RUG Ventures Innovation Day, Prof. Erik Heeres of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (RUG) was awarded the Impact Innovator Excellence Award.
-
02 July 2025
€ 30 million investment for UG spin-off Portal Biotech
Portal Biotech, a pioneer in nanopore-based protein identification and sequencing technology, has raised € 30 million in Series A funding. The funding will support commercial rollout and team growth.