How Vitamin Availability Influences the Virulence of a Pathogenic Yeast

An image of the yeast Candida glabrata growing on a petri dish.

Try your hand at genome editing and learn common laboratory procedures in molecular biology and microbiology. Join the Rusche lab as we investigate how yeast sense niacin deficiencies. 

Project description

Vitamins are small molecules that serve as cofactors for enzymes. Because vitamins cannot be synthesized by our cells, they are required in our diets. How do cells sense vitamin deficiency? The Rusche lab studies how availability of vitamin B3 (niacin) is sensed using sirtuin proteins. This family of proteins requires the cofactor NAD+, which is derived from niacin, for enzymatic function. Sirtuins remove acetyl groups (-COCH3) from other proteins, but only deacetylate their targets when NAD+ is available. For our studies, we use a variety of yeast species as model organisms.
This project focuses on the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata, which is a common cause of yeast infections in people. C. glabrata requires niacin as a vitamin and uses sirtuins to sense niacin availability. In high niacin, the sirtuin Hst1 deacetylates histones at target genes, inhibiting their transcription. However, in low niacin, Hst1 no longer deacetylates these histones, allowing the genes to be transcribed. Thus, a suite of genes is induced in response to low niacin. Interestingly, many of these genes help C. glabrata establish an infection, meaning that C. glabrata becomes more virulent in low niacin. This project will examine how these virulence genes are regulated by Hst1.
For this project, students will edit the genome of C. glabrata to test a hypothesis regarding Hst1 inactivation. They will then compare phenotypes and gene expression of the mutant and parent yeast strains. The results will be presented at a regional undergraduate research conference. Students will work part time in the spring and fall semesters and have a five-week focused research experience during the summer.

Project outcome

In the lab, students will learn how to carry out standard molecular biology procedures, such as PCR and genome editing, as well as microbiology techniques for culturing yeast. Students will also learn how to design and interpret scientific experiments, critically read primary research papers, and present their findings through talks and posters. At the end of the project, students will present their findings as a poster at a research conference. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment Year-long
Start time Spring
In-person, remote, or hybrid? In-person
Level of collaboration Individual student project
Benefits

Stipend

Work Study

Potential Academic Credit
Who is eligible All undergraduate students, preferably those who have taken BIO 305 and BIO 319

Project mentor

Laura Rusche

Professor

Biological Sciences

Phone: (716) 645-5198

Email: lrusche@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
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Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Complete safety training through UB EHS
  2. Read two articles to become familiar with topic.

Keywords

biology, biomedical sciences, laboratory, microbiology, vitamins