Presenter(s)

Charlotte Rose Kenneally

Comments

Presentation: 9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m., Kennedy Union Ballroom

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Description

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen capable of surviving and growing under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with anaerobically grown Listeria exhibiting a compromised growth. Under anaerobic conditions, Listeria often encounters fermentation acid, propionate. The focus of this research project is to determine the effects of propionate on Listeria susceptibility to host-derived antimicrobial enzyme, lysozyme. Moreover, because glycerol is a key carbon source for Listeria in a host cell, the impact of glycerol on lysozyme susceptibility will also be determined. Listeria is grown aerobically or anaerobically, with or without the addition of propionate, and then normalized by optical density values. Bacteria are harvested by centrifugation and resuspended in a prepared stock solution of lysozyme. Live bacteria are quantified by plating for colony forming units at 0, 1, and 4 hours post lysozyme exposure to determine lysozyme susceptibility. These results provide insight into how anaerobic adaptation alters Listeria fitness during infections.

Publication Date

4-20-2022

Project Designation

Independent Research

Primary Advisor

Yvonne Y. Sun

Primary Advisor's Department

Biology

Keywords

Stander Symposium project, College of Arts and Sciences

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being

Investigating the Fitness and Survival of Anaerobic Listeria monocytogenes

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