Drexel University College of Medicine

Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program MS – Biotechnology University of Mumbai, Bombay BS – Chemistry and Vocational Biotechnology Ramnarain Ruia College, University of Mumbai, Bombay Email: mitali.upendra.purohit@drexel.edu Advisor: Dr. Richard Rest

Thesis Research Summary:

One of the organisms that we are investigating is Bacillus anthracis [BA], the causative agent of infectious disease Anthrax. BA spores, much publicized by the Amerithrax attacks in 2001, are responsible for transmission of the disease. In an effort to monitor the effect of iron deprivation on gene expression in BA Sterne strain 7702, we grew the bacteria in a chemically defined medium (CDM) with various concentrations of iron and glucose. When we monitored BA growth and sporulation in glucose-free CDM containing ferric nitrate, it was found that >95% sporulation occurred in 36 hours. Growth of BA at 37°C in CDM containing 1.5 mM ferric nitrate results in ~98% sporulation in 36 hours as opposed to 4-5 days by growth of BA in more classical sporulation media. The project involves purification and characterization (by SDS PAGE, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) of the spores grown in the two media. It also investigates the interactions of the spores with anti-spore antisera. These studies will lead to the development of a new method to be used for initiation of rapid sporulation of BA.