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Linking the metabolic pathways of Escherichia coli with virulence by altering glucose availability, inhibiting the acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene accA with asRNA, and through the quantification of luxS

Tatiana Hillman

The present study determines to confirm a link between the metabolic pathways of bacteria and virulence. Commensal bacteria convert ingested D-glucose into short-chain fatty acids and long- chain fatty acids. The long-chain fatty acids are produced for plasma membrane and biofilm construction. The genetic activity of accA produces the acetyl-CoA caroboxylase enzyme needed for long-chain fatty acid elongation. In this study, Luria broth liquid cultures of Escherichia coli were enhanced with Dglucose. The 15 mM glucose sample yielded 4,210 ng/µL of accA as compared to 196 ng/µL for the control. The gene accA was inhibited with antisense RNA with a qPCR gene copy number of 63. The inhibition of accA suppressed the expression of the luxS gene. The luxS gene is vital for transferring intercellular quorum-sensing signals through its increasing the synthesis of autoinducer-2. Bacterial cells that expressed antisense inhibition of accA were more susceptible to antibiotics. The purpose of the study is to advocate for an antibiotic design that targets bacterial metabolic genes and enzymes. An antibiotic design that inhibits bacterial metabolism may help to overcome the issue of bacterial antibiotic resistance.