Virginia Research Day 2021

Graduate Student Research Biomedical

06 Investigating Streptococcus suis via Multiple Sequencing Approaches

S. Tristan Stoyanof; Dr. Clayton Caswell Corresponding author: tstoy@vt.edu

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology

Streptococcus suis poses as one of the greatest economic threats to the pork industry and a growing health concern for those working in close proximity to the infected pigs. Although outbreaks have been recorded across the world, with many showing advanced lethality in both pigs and humans, S. suis remains a relatively understudied bacterium. In response, this project utilized multiple high-throughput sequencing methods to better understand critical gene functions and locate potential therapeutic targets within S. suis. This was done via transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) and RNA sequencing approaches. The Tn-seq experiments first established a list of genes essential for survival by sequencing an unstressed library, then elucidated numerous genes important in certain biologically relevant conditions including pig mucin and in a biofilm. In a similar fashion, the RNA-seq. experiments indicated that specific genes were differentially expressed within pig mucin, cerebral spinal fluid, serum, and within a biofilm. Combined, these bioinformatic insights begin to lay the groundwork for better understanding and combatting S. suis.

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