Abstract
Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death by single infectious disease worldwide; novel antibiotics are needed to continue to treat this disease. To goal of this project is to provide proof-of-principle support for the idea that targeting protein-protein interactions (PPI) is an appropriate course for the discovery of new drugs. This study optimized the M-PFC assay, which allows detection of PPI in Mycobacteria, through the use of stronger promoters and inducible expression of a peptide blocker by riboswitch. To accomplish this, promoter induction studies were used to find stronger promoters for the M-PFC, optimization of the riboswitch as a method for inducible protein expression within this system, and the addition of both elements to the existing version of the M-PFC. This M-PFC targets DosR homodimerization; this process is known to be essential for survival within the host. This study optimizes a system that may be used to screen for drugs that are capable of interrupting this interaction.
Thesis Completion
2017
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Rohde, Kyle
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Medicine
Department
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Degree Program
Biomedical Sciences
Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus-only Access
5 years
Release Date
May 2022
Recommended Citation
Driscoll, Erin C., "Validating Drug Targets through Inhibition of Protein-Protein Interactions in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis" (2017). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 190.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/190