The seminar will introduce the different pathotypes of E. coli and focus on infections associated with Shiga toxin (Stx) producing E. coli (STEC). The talk will cover published information on the potential advantages that Stx may provide for E. coli colonising the main reservoir host (ruminants) and then will discuss our recent research examining how both protein and sRNA regulators present on integrated bacteriophages can alter host strain phenotype or ‘behaviour’.  Overall, the talk covers how the horizontal acquisition of different phage-encoded ‘morons’¹ (‘More’ DNA or more ‘ome’) is driving the evolution of Stx-encoding E. coli strains in cattle with serious consequences for humans as an incidental host.

¹Juhala et al (2000) Genomic sequences of bacteriophages HK97 and HK022: pervasive genetic mosaicism in the lambdoid bacteriophages. J Mol Biol 299:27-51.

Thesis Defence

Ayad Amer, Department of Molecular Biology

"Controlling Substrate Export by the Ysc-Yop type III Secretion System of Yersinia"

Place: Major Groove, bldg. 6M/L, Department of Molecular Biology, NUS-area

Opponent: Professor David Gally, the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK

Supervisor: Matthew S. Francis