Investigating the effect and impact of binding RSV-G protein on pneumococcal growth and antibiotic sensitivity

Every year millions die from infections caused by the bacterium known as the pneumococcus. These bacteria usually reside in the nose of healthy individuals, where colonization does not cause disease. However, in the presence of a viral pathogen, such as RSV, these bacteria can transform to invade the host and cause disease. We currently know very little about how this occurs. I recently discovered that RSV directly increases pneumococcal virulence by binding to an important enzyme involved in bacteria cell wall synthesis known as PBP1a, a target of penicillin-like antibiotics. This proposal aims to determine the immediate consequence of binding RSV on PBP1a and the pneumococcus, including any changes in bacterial growth and antibiotic sensitivity. This data will help to direct a larger study to determine the mechanisms of virulence enhancement during co-infection, the outcomes of which could have important implications for clinical care and antibiotic therapy.