@article{Cunningham_Cantlay_Horzempa_2019, title={The ability of VBNC F. tularensis to replicate within THP-1 cells.}, volume={91}, url={https://pwvas.org/index.php/pwvas/article/view/547}, DOI={10.55632/pwvas.v91i1.547}, abstractNote={<p>CARLY CUNNINGHAM, STUART CANTLAY, AND JOSEPH HORZEMPA, Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, West Liberty University, West Liberty, WV USA. The ability of VBNC <em>F. tularensis</em> to replicate within THP-1 cells.</p><p> </p><p><em>Francisella tularensis</em>, a gram-negative coccobacillus is the causative agent of tularemia, a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. Under laboratory conditions, <em>F. tularensis</em> <em>enters</em> a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state. VBNC is a state of dormancy bacteria enter during stressful conditions and can have implications for persistence and pathogenicity.</p><p>   Our first aim is to use molecular cloning to create recombinant fluorescent proteins for cell wall and division proteins in <em>F. tularensis.</em> Fusions to FtsZ, MreB and RodA will be generated and used to analyse the localization of these proteins during the transition into the VBNC state. <em> </em></p><p>   Our second aim is to investigate the effects of transition into the VBNC state on pathogenicity. To test this, we will use microscopy to analyze fluorescently labelled <em>F. tularensis </em>during infection of THP-1 cells.  THP-1 cells are a spontaneously immortalized monocyte-like cell line, derived from the peripheral blood of a childhood case of acute monocytic leukemia. THP-1 cells are a model for mammalian blood monocytes that provide protection against infection by gram negative bacteria. Our hypothesis is that VBNC <em>F. tularensis</em> will be able to interact with THP-1 cells in an <em>in vitro</em> infection assay. Further, the ability of VBNC <em>F. tularensis</em> to replicate within THP-1 cells will be analyzed. (Supported by NIH Grant P20GM103434 to the West Virginia IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence).</p>}, number={1}, journal={Proceedings of the West Virginia Academy of Science}, author={Cunningham, Carly and Cantlay, Stuart and Horzempa, Joseph}, year={2019}, month={Mar.} }