16.03.2020

First model draft of Dolosigranulum pigrum 83VPs KB5

During her research project, Lina Widerspick has constructed a new model.

Dolosigranulum pigrum is a Gram-positive bacterium. As pathobiont, the bacterium is mainly a commensal of the upper respiratory tract, but may also be isolated from various sites of infection in immunodeficient patients. What makes this organism so interesting is that it is a negative predictor for Staphylococcus aureus colonization of the nose. Although the mechanism behind the inhibition has not been elucidated, D. pigrum may be a suitable candidate for the exploration as probiotic. Additionally, the uncovering of the mechanism behind the inhibition may bring about a new antibiotic or competitive mechanism exploitable in the clinic. For this promising potential, Lina Widerspick constructed a genome-scale reconstruction (GEM) of D. pigrum 83VPs KB5 within her research project. Such a computer model may serve as a knowledge-base of the organism and can be employed as a well-curated foundation for a simulation of the colonized nose.