Pseudomonas aeruginosa is member of the Gamma Proteobacteria class of bacteria, alongside other well-known bacteria like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Yersinia, and many more. It is a Gram-negative, aerobic rod belonging to the bacterial family Pseudomonadaceae, which includes the 12-member genus of Pseudomonas. What makes P. aeruginosa particularly interesting for studies is that it is a very antibiotic resistant and opportunistic bacteria, making it a dreaded and dangerous pathogen. Although the bacteria prefer to stay in soil and water, in the United States it has become the most common pathogen to cause nosocomial pneumonia and is frequently implicated in urinary tract and bloodstream infections. This is due to its presence in hospitals, but more specifically, the bacteria tend to create colonies on the medical equipment which then spreads to all kinds of patients. Another intriguing aspect of P. aeruginosa is its ability to uptake and efflux copper. To better understand the bacteria’s structure, copper must be introduced in different concentrations to test whether the bacteria is tolerant to the metal. Different mutations can show different results to the introduction of copper, but with this method, each protein can be mapped and described for its function in the copper transportation system for the bacteria.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Cardona, Ulises A.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 23481
• E-project-050721-110634

Advisor

• Argüello, José M.

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-05-07

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright