Fat Matters for Microbes and for Purdue: How the role of Lipids in Infectious Disease and Antibiotics Resistance can be Explored using Shared-User Analytical Platforms Available on Campus

Abstract

Lipids are essential molecules involved in many aspects of infectious disease and antibiotic resistance. The molecules are the main components of biological membranes, which act as barriers and gateways for the entry and exit of substances, including pathogens and drugs. Lipids also play roles in the structure, function, and regulation of membrane proteins, such as receptors, transporters, and enzymes, which are involved in various cellular processes and interactions. Another feature of lipids is that they can also act as signaling molecules, modulating the response of cells to environmental stimuli and stress. The Metabolite Profiling Facility has multiple metabolomics, lipidomics, and target analysis platforms that can be used for the relative and absolute quantification of lipids in microorganisms and in their environment. We will detail these workflows and present examples of applications including multi-omics analysis.