Identifying the Role of Protease PrpL in the Virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pathology of Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a common, inherited disorder that mostly affects a person's respiratory and digestive systems. Complications from frequent and prolonged lung infections often result in the need for double lung transplants in individuals with CF. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that frequently contributes to respiratory failure in children and adolescents suffering from CF. How P. aeruginosa has such a profound affect on the health of CF patients over other bacteria species is not fully understood. It is known that P. aeruginosa capable of producing a protein called PrpL cause longer and more intense infections than those that don't. Our lab has discovered that PrpL likely intensifies infections by altering the ability of the patient's immune system to clear P. aeruginosa from the lungs. Through my research I will confirm how PrpL is able to manipulate the immune system and identify other ways that PrpL leads to severe and prolonged infections. In doing so I will uncover valuable information regarding how PrpL contributes to infections caused by P. aeruginosa and potential treatment options to prevent the bacteria from destroying the lungs of CF patients.