Role of the ZnuCBA transporter in zinc homeostasis in Chromobacterium violaceum

• Grant number: 18/14737-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal researcher: José Freire da Silva Neto
• Grantee: Waldir Paulo da Silva Júnior
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Zinc is a transition metal essential for bacterial physiology and it has great importance in the host pathogen interaction. In this work, we intend to characterize the role of znuCBA, a possible high affinity zinc uptake system present in the genome of the human opportunistic bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum. A mutant strain with deletion of the three genes of this cluster will be obtained and characterized by phenotypic assays in zinc sufficiency and deficiency and by virulence assays in mice. The data obtained in this work should contribute to understand how C. violaceum deals with zinc limitation and whether ZnuCBA is important in the establishment of infection caused by this bacterium.