Advancing the Science of Proteomics

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Secretomics of Bacterial Pathogens

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an opportunistic human pathogen responsible for 94,000 life-threatening infections and 19,000 deaths a year in the United States. The spectrum of MRSA infections is wide ranging from minor skin lesions to life threatening conditions such as bacteremia and septicemia. Pathogenesis of MRSA is complex and involves the synthesis and secretion of an array of extracellular proteins (virulence factors). These secreted proteins include various adhesins, cytotoxins, enterotoxins and enzymes that play a prominent role in host infection. A comprehensive description of secretory proteins (the secretome) of MRSA is therefore vital to gain insights into its pathogenesis, to identify novel virulence factors and to develop new diagnostic tools and vaccines.

We use two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) combined with whole protein and peptide mass spectrometry to identify MRSA secreted proteins and to characterize their post-translational modifications.

 

 

 

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