title: Using a microbial physiologic and genetic approach to investigate how bacteria sense physical stimuli.
abstract: A laboratory exercise was designed to illustrate how physical stimuli such as temperature and light are sensed and processed by bacteria to elaborate adaptive responses. In particular, we use the well-characterized Des pathway of Bacillus subtilis to show that temperature modulates gene expression, resulting ultimately in modification of the levels of unsaturated fatty acids required to maintain proper membrane fluidity at different temperatures. In addition, we adapt recent findings concerning the modulation by light of traits related to virulence such as motility and biofilm formation in the chemotropic bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii. Beyond the theoretical background that this activity provides regarding sensing of environmental stimuli, the experimental setup includes approaches derived from classic genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry. The incorporation of these kind of teaching and training activities in middle-advanced Microbiology or Bacterial Genetics courses promotes acquisition of general and specific techniques and improves student's comprehension of scientific literature and research.
authors: Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI- CONICET), Department of Biological Chemistry, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 2000, Rosario, Argentina.
authors: María Alejandra
authors: MA
authors: Mussi
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Actis
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: de Mendoza
authors: Larisa E
authors: LE
authors: Cybulski
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001432:Bacteriology / Q000193:education; D018441:Biofilms / Q000528:radiation effects; D005827:Genetics, Microbial / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012106:Research / Q000193:education; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
keywords: BLUF-domain containing proteins; DesKR; biofilm formation; blue light sensing; motility regulation; signal transduction; temperature sensing