Bacterial Genetics

Question 1

what are virulence factors?

Answer 1

genes directly related to the ability of bacteria to cause disease; i.e. toxins, adhesins, invasins, etc.

Question 2

methods for determining gene functions

Answer 2

• random mutagenesis
• allelic replacement
• complementation

Question 3

methods for studying bacterial gene expression (transcriptome)

Answer 3

• microarray (old fashioned)

- RNA sequencing (new modern way)

Question 4

steps to microarray

Answer 4

1. RNA is isolated
2. converted to cDNA; 2 populations of DNA are labeled with different tags (Cy5 or Cy3)
3. tagged DNA hybridized to microarray (gene chip)
4. software used to determine differential expression