Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity_I

9 outubro 2019, 09:00 • Arsénio do Carmo Sales Mendes Fialho

Important concepts in microbial pathogenesis:

Abundance / diversity / distribution of bacteria in nature.Pathogenesis / virulence factors, type of pathogens . Mechanisms of Pathogenicity .

Symbiotic host-bacteria interactions: the Sinorhizobium/legume symbiosis

7 outubro 2019, 09:00 • Jorge Humberto Gomes Leitão

The available sources of nitrogen were presented and discussed, focusing on the important role played by biological nitrogen fixation in natural ecosystems. The main groups of prokaryotic nitrogen fixers were presented. The symbiotic system Sinorhizobium/legume of nitrogen fixation was presented. The molecualr details of the interaction between the bacterium and the plant from initial mutual recognition until the formation of mature productive nodules were presented and discussed, with emphasis on the structures of flavenoids and Nod factors, and on the biosynthesis of the succinoglycan. 

Examples of molecular appraches used to identify and characterize virulence factors from bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex

2 outubro 2019, 09:00 • Jorge Humberto Gomes Leitão

Examples of strategies used  by researchers of the Biological Sciences Research group from IST to unveil the molecular determinants of virulence from bacteria of the Burkholderia cepacia complex were presented and discussed. The examples included the molecular biology of exopolysaccharide biosynthesis, the functional characterization of Hfq-like RNA chaperones, and the identification of sRNAs. 

Regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level: non-coding regulatory RNAs and RNA chaperones

30 setembro 2019, 09:00 • Jorge Humberto Gomes Leitão

General considerations on the classification of RNA  were presented and discussed. The roles of non-coding RNAs as regulators (sRNAs) in gene expression were presented and discussed, as well as the molecular mechanisms involved in the repression or activation of gene expression by sRNAs in bacteria. The roles played by the RNA chaperone were also presented and discussed. Examples of sRNAs and their roles in bacterial adaptation to stress, on virulence, biofilm formation, etc., were presented and discussed.

Qorum sensing and quorum quenching

25 setembro 2019, 09:00 • Jorge Humberto Gomes Leitão

The phenomena of regulation of gene expression by quorum sensing was presented and discussed, including the chemical nature of the signaling molecules. The differences between the quorum sensing regulatory circuits and molecules used by Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria were presented and discussed. Examples of phenotypes regulated by Quorum sensing were presented and discussed, including biofilm formation and virulence, among others. Examples of quorum sensing systems from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were presented and discussed. The concept of quorum quenching was presented, and examples were presented concerning antagonists and lactonases.