Mtf-1 As An Activator Of Heavy Metal Homeostasis In Schistosoma Mansoni

Johnny Wood

School Name

Governor's School for Science and Math

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Microbiology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Dr. Jolly; Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people caused by platyhelminths of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomes have started to develop resistance to the most common treatment, praziquantel. So, new methods of combating the disease need to be found. Copper has been found to induce lethality in the schistosomula parasite. To better understand how schistosomes respond to copper, we studied the role of Metal Responsive Transcription Factor 1 (MTF-1) as a transcriptional activator. MTF-1 is a transcription factor that functions in heavy metal homeostasis in many organisms. Schistosome MTF-1 was fused to the GAL4 binding domain to test whether it could activate transcription in a yeast one hybrid assay. The MTF-1 construct did not activate transcription in either the absence or presence of copper. MTF-1 does not appear to activate transcription in response to heavy metal stress in schistosomes. This suggests that copper lethality is not mediated by MTF-1 activity in schistosomes.

Location

Owens 110

Start Date

4-16-2016 10:00 AM

COinS
 
Apr 16th, 10:00 AM

Mtf-1 As An Activator Of Heavy Metal Homeostasis In Schistosoma Mansoni

Owens 110

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting over 200 million people caused by platyhelminths of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosomes have started to develop resistance to the most common treatment, praziquantel. So, new methods of combating the disease need to be found. Copper has been found to induce lethality in the schistosomula parasite. To better understand how schistosomes respond to copper, we studied the role of Metal Responsive Transcription Factor 1 (MTF-1) as a transcriptional activator. MTF-1 is a transcription factor that functions in heavy metal homeostasis in many organisms. Schistosome MTF-1 was fused to the GAL4 binding domain to test whether it could activate transcription in a yeast one hybrid assay. The MTF-1 construct did not activate transcription in either the absence or presence of copper. MTF-1 does not appear to activate transcription in response to heavy metal stress in schistosomes. This suggests that copper lethality is not mediated by MTF-1 activity in schistosomes.