Investigator: Ifrah Shahi, Ph.D., Bates College
Project Summary
Kingella kingae is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen and a leading cause of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in children. K. kingae expresses surface fibers called Type IV pili (T4P) that are involved in bacterial motility, adhesion to host cells, and natural competence. The project will investigate the T4P response to hemoglobin, a host-derived stimulant potentially encountered by K. kingae during infection, and further aim to elucidate the mechanism of this T4P response at the molecular level.