Disrupting Protein Expression with Peptide Nucleic Acids Reduces Infection by Obligate Intracellular Rickettsia

摘要: Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) are single-stranded synthetic nucleic acids with a pseudopeptide backbone in lieu of the phosphodiester linked sugar and phosphate found traditional oligos. PNA designed complementary to bacterial Shine-Dalgarno or start codon regions mRNA disrupts translation resulting transient reduction protein expression. This study examines use technology interrupt expression obligate intracellular Rickettsia sp. Their historically intractable genetic system limits characterization function. We targeting for rOmpB from typhi rickA montanensis, ubiquitous factors important infection. Using an vitro competitive binding assays, we determined that our PNAs bind target regions. Electroporation R. montanensis specific rickA, respectively, reduced bacteria’s ability infect host cells. These studies open possibility using suppress synthesis bacteria.