Summary
Manganese is an essential nutrient for bacteria. It helps bacteria defend against harmful molecules that are part of the human immune response. However, too much manganese is toxic. Unlike nutrients such as sugars or vitamins, bacteria cannot produce manganese. It must be imported from their environment. As a result, they must carefully control how much enters and leaves the cell. To maintain this balance, bacteria use specialized proteins that collaborate to reduce uptake when manganese levels are high and remove excess metal to prevent toxicity. This project will elucidate the molecular deta
