Abstract: Bacterial strains that are engineered to increase the production of amino acids, including aspartate-derived amino acids (e.g., methionine, lysine, threonine, isoleucine, and S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM)) and cysteine, and related metabolites are described. The strains can be genetically engineered to harbor one or more nucleic acid molecules (e.g., recombinant nucleic acid molecules) encoding a polypeptide (e.g., a polypeptide that is heterologous or homologous to the host cell) and/or they may be engineered to increase or decrease expression and/or activity of polypeptides (e.g., by mutation of endogenous nucleic acid sequences).

Abstract: Disclosed are screening methods for identifying the interplay between environmental and host signals (e.g., host-dependent or host-independent signals) and physiological pathogenic pathways that control or regulate genes responsible for establishing a persistent infection, as in the colonization of the gut of the nematode.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for amino acid production using genetically modified bacteria are disclosed.