A Mathematical Model of the Iron Regulatory Network in Aspergilus Fumigatus

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dc.contributor.authorBrandon, Madison Gayleen
dc.contributor.committeechairLaubenbacher, Reinhard C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberCiupe, Stanca M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberLawrence, Christopher B.en
dc.contributor.departmentMathematicsen
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-24T08:00:55Zen
dc.date.available2013-05-24T08:00:55Zen
dc.date.issued2013-05-23en
dc.description.abstractAspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised individuals. Current detection and treatment strategies for invasive aspergillosis, as well as other invasive fungal infections, are poor. Iron has been shown to be essential for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence. Furthermore, mechanisms in the iron regulatory network are believed to be potential drug targets since iron management in fungi is vastly different from that in mammals and other eukaryotes. Therefore a better understanding of iron homeostasis in Aspergillus fumigatus could help improve drug therapies for invasive aspergillosis. In this research a discrete model of iron uptake, storage and utilization in Aspergillus fumigatus with particular focus on siderophore-mediated iron acquisition is constructed. The model predicts oscillations in gene expression as the fungus adapts to a switch from an iron depleted to an iron replete environment. The model is validated via in vitro experiments.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:923en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/23086en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAspergillus fumigatusen
dc.subjectdiscrete modelen
dc.subjectiron regulationen
dc.subjectsiderophoresen
dc.subjectgene regulatory netwroken
dc.subjectgenetic oscillationsen
dc.subjectqRT-PCRen
dc.titleA Mathematical Model of the Iron Regulatory Network in Aspergilus Fumigatusen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMathematicsen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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