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Description
Rifampicin is a potent antibiotic that tightly binds to the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase and blocks initiation of transcription. Bacillus subtilis cells that acquire rpoB mutations that confer resistance to rifampicin also exhibit decreases in transcription and fitness. Mutation frequency decline (Mfd) is a global transcription regulator that interacts with the ꞵ-subunit of RNA polymerase, and our RNA-seq showed that it had profound effects on the expression of motility genes. We hypothesize that the rifampicin-resistant rpoB: I681T mutation alters Mfd-mediated gene regulation of motility in Bacillus subtilis. Therefore, we will construct mfd- rpoB: I681T double mutants via natural competence and conduct motility assays to measure the fitness cost on swimming in comparison to the wt YB955, as well as the individual Δmfd and rpoB: I681T strains. The motility assay will be conducted in parallel to microscopy examination of flagella and gene expression of motility genes via RT-qPCR. Understanding fitness costs allows for smarter antibiotic therapies–alternating drugs to exploit the costs and suppress resistance.
Publisher Location
Las Vegas (Nev.)
Publication Date
Fall 11-21-2025
Publisher
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Language
English
Keywords
Mfd; Rifampicin; Fitness; Resistance;Transcription
Disciplines
Life Sciences
File Format
File Size
681 KB
Permissions
Google Drive\Institutional Repository\OUR_OfficeOfUGResearch\Symposia\2025 Fall Symposium
Recommended Citation
Callaway, Amber and Grifaldo, Jessica, "The Fitness Cost of Rifampicin-resistant rpoB Mutations on Mfd-Mediated Processes in Stationary Phase Bacillus Subtilis" (2025). Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters. 284.
https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_posters/284
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Comments
Mentor: Eduardo Robleto