Investigation of the Mechanism by Which Bacteria Induce Dedifferentiation in Eukaryotic Cells

This proposal describes experiments which observe the mechanism of the dedifferentiation of eukaryotic cells by bacteria. H. pylori, L. acidophilus and M. leprae all trigger dedifferentiation in their host cells to generate an environment most beneficial for their survival. Dedifferentiation of the host cells will be observed histologically and by TEM to see how the bacteria are physically interacting and signaling with the host cells. PCR, western blotting and RNAseq will be used to assess gene expression. Understanding the mechanism by which these bacteria dedifferentiate their host cells will give insight into how certain prokaryotes manipulate their hosts to fuel their growth.