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Integrative Study Streptococcal Virulence by Comparative Genomics and Systems Biology |
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| Ping Xu, Ph.D |
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| Philips Institute Virginia Commonwealth University |
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| Many streptococci are important pathogens involved in human health. The integrative studies on streptococcal virulence by comparative genomics and systems biology will identify critical features of pathogens and establish strategies to control diseases caused by streptococci. The recent completion of Streptococcus sanguinis genome opens an opportunity to study biological characteristics of this organism. S. sanguinis is one of the viridans streptococci most commonly identified in infective endocarditis (IE) patients. To study gene functions in virulence, we developed a method to systematically delete S. sanguinis ORFs along the genome. We are constructing genome-wide deletion mutants and study their functions as a whole by constructing a network. All ORFs in S. sanguinis genome have been precisely deleted and their functions in virulence are being studied. The global analysis of all associated genes in one organism will provide a comprehensive understanding on virulence that can not be revealed by any single mutation. The integrative analyses may pave the way to a new, global research emphasis in the post-genomic era. | ||||||||
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