Cardiothoracic
Identification of virulence factors expressed by S. aureus during biofilm growth in endocarditis patients
Dr Julie Mundy
Project Aim
Molecular analysis of S. aureus induced endocarditis with respect to the human host. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the virulence factors expressed by S. aureus that causes endocarditis in the human host. This will be done under the following two hypotheses and aims.
Hypothesis 1
S. aureus that causes endocarditis expresses distinct virulence profiles when growing on artificial heart valve material.
Aim 1: Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of S. aureus isolates grown as biofilms in flow-chamber studies on artificial heart valve material. (6 months)
Hypothesis 2
S. aureus that causes endocarditis expresses distinct virulence profiles when growing on heart valves within the human host.
Aim 2: Identification of S. aureus virulence factors expressed during biofilm growth on prosthetic heart valves explanted from patients. (6 months)
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