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Medical Microbiology and Immunology

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Medical Microbiology and Immunology R. Mark Wooten, Ph.D. R. Travis Taylor, Ph.D. Early Immune Responses to Bacterial Pathogens Flavivirus Innate Immunity Mission Statement Our bodies possess a number of surfaces (e.g., skin and lung) that My research is focused on the vector-borne members of the Fla- form essential barriers to prevent microbial invasion into deeper viviridae family, including West Nile virus, dengue virus and tick- tissues. Microbes that traverse these initial barriers will immediately borne encephalitis virus. Flaviviruses are significant human patho- contact innate immune cells (e.g., macrophages, dendritic cells, and Infectious pathogens still remain a major cause of gens and we currently have limited treatment options. By evaluating Langerhans cells) that reside in these peripheral tissues, and play an interactions of virus and cellular proteins, Dr. Taylor has identified important role in initially recognizing these infectious agents and human diseases, whereas defective or excessive key host proteins that are important to antiviral responses. Under- directing an appropriate immune response. Thus, these early immunity causes an array of many other disorders standing the molecular mechanism of host responses, as well as interactions between resident immune cells and invading microbes including cancer, autoimmune disease, and Medical strategies employed by viruses to evade them, is crucial to future represent a critical juncture in deciding whether the infectious agents work in the lab aimed at developing new and effective flavivirus- will be cleared by the immune responses or will establish a persistent allergic disease. The Department of Medical specific therapies. infection and disease development. Our lab is interested in Microbiology and Immunology at the University identifying the mechanisms by which two different bacterial of Toledo is dedicated to the fight against these Microbiology pathogens are able to evade these early immune responses, so that they might be targeted for curative treatments. Borrelia burgdorferi is a common disorders. spirochetal bacterium that is spread by tick-bite and causes Lyme disease throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia; Lyme disease is the Microbiology explores the relationships between and most prevalent anthropod-transmitted illness in these regions of the world. Burkholderia pseudomallei is a resilient soil-dwelling bacterium microbial pathogens and their human hosts, and that is mainly found in tropical regions of the world and causes immunology studies the nature of host defense melioidosis. B. pseudomallei is designated as a Tier 1 select agent, in system against environmental insults. The Immunology that it is extremely deadly when aerosolized, and can easily be used as a biological weapon. Our work has been published in the Journal of Department contributes to the research mission Immunology, Infection and Immunity, and the Journal of Clinical Investigation. of the University by advancing basic and translational research with the ultimate goal of developing innovative vaccines and therapeutics Viviana Ferreira, D.V.M., Ph.D. Randall G. Worth, Ph.D. for infectious diseases, cancer, and inflammatory Role of Complement Regulatory Proteins in Inflammation and Autoimmune Diseases disorders caused by immune dysregulation. Disease Cutting-edge technologies in biomedical science Faculty are provided through the Flow Cytometry Core Our research program is directed at understanding the immune Lab; Bioinformatics, Genomics/Proteomics Core Research The complement system uses a complex set of complement regulato- function of platelets in both protection from pathogenic infection Lab, and BSL-3 Lab housed in the Department. ry proteins that are either membrane-bound or in the fluid phase of and platelets as a causative or compounding factor in autoimmune plasma. Factor H is a soluble complement regulatory molecule with disease. In addition to their essential role in clot formation, platelets The Department also contributes to the teaching an essential role in the control of complement activation in plasma express many properties similar to white blood cells. We have found mission of the University by educating medical Interests and on cell surfaces. Factor H polymorphisms and mutations have that platelets can recognize antibodies coating bacteria and lead to been linked to human diseases that often lead to severe complement- killing of the bacteria. Interestingly, platelets from patients with the and graduate students in basic principles of mediated tissue damage such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, autoimmune disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) have immunology, bacteriology, virology, and host- age-related macular degeneration, and membranoproliferative glo- antibodies bound to them which causes the platelets to become pathogen interaction. Moreover, the Department merulonephritis. We have shown factor H is essential for the protec- hypersensitive and may lead to these patients being at high risk of tion of cell surfaces using normal and paroxysmal nocturnal hemo- stroke and myocardial infarction. We study platelets from the blood contributes to the service mission of the globinuric human red blood cells as models. My research on factor H of healthy volunteers and patients with autoimmune diseases to University by providing advanced expertise in focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of how factor determine differences in platelet function and characteristic features microbiology and immunology and by promoting H contributes to the protection of different cell surfaces from com- of platelet responsiveness. We have also developed animal models in plement-mediated damage, and identifying how mutations in factor which platelet numbers can be modulated in order to study the role regional, state, national and international research H affect its ability to protect cell surfaces. Another line of research of platelets in many disease states. Our studies have revealed various programs concerning infectious diseases, focuses on properdin, the only positive regulatory protein of the therapeutic targets that may be helpful in treating patients with complement system. We and others have recently identified proper- autoimmune diseases and clotting disorders. These studies have been inflammatory disorders, and graft rejection. din as a pattern recognition molecule of the alternative pathway of published in the American Journal of Pathology, Journal of Thrombosis and complement and we are studying the molecular mechanisms in- Haemostasis, and Journal of Immunology. volved in properdin-mediated complement activation. Altogether, this research will contribute to elucidating the role of complement regulatory proteins in the prevention or pathogenesis of inflammato- ry diseases where complement-mediated tissue damage in known to play important roles. This research has been funded by the NIH and American Heart Association. Medical Microbiology and Immunology Saurabh Chattopadhyay, Ph.D. Jyl Matson, Ph.D. Stanislaw M. Stepkowski, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.Sc. Innate antiviral responses, viral pathogenesis Vibrio cholerae stress response mechanisms and Transplantation of Organs and Immunosuppression pathogenesis Faculty Highlights & Achievements My research is focused on inducing of long-term allograft survival Well-funded department with over $2.4 million sup- Our laboratory is interested in studying the host responses against We research the mechanisms by which bacteria sense and respond to (transplantation tolerance) and development of new virus infections in cells and mice. Innate immune responses, their extracellular environment. Vibrio cholerae is the bacterium that immunosuppressive modalities. Activation of T lymphocytes requires porting strong research projects in both basic and activated very early during virus infection, are critical for causes epidemic cholera, a disease that continues to spread in areas of three signals, with signal 3 (delivered by cytokines) regulating cell inhibition of virus replication. The interferon system is the world where people lack access to clean drinking water. Due to proliferation, differentiation, and survival/death. Cytokines binding to translational research in a collegial atmosphere, with recognized as a major antiviral innate immune response increasing antibiotic resistance among V. cholerae strains, there is a need their receptors engage two molecular families, namely, Janus tyrosine approximately 20 publications each year mechanism against a broad range of viruses. We are investigating to develop additional therapeutic agents for cholera treatment. Current kinases (Jaks) and signal transducers and activators of transcription how a key transcription factor IRF3 and the induced genes (ISGs) projects in the Matson lab include identification and characterization of (Stats). Among these signaling molecules, Jak3, Stat5 and Stat3 are mount antiviral protection. Using both RNA (e.g. small molecule inhibitors of a V. cholerae stress response pathway that investigated as potential targets for selective inhibition versus Strong record of successful faculty recruitment, reten- Paramyxoviruses) and DNA (e.g. Herpesviruses) viruses, which may be developed into cholera therapeutics. Additional studies aim to promotion of T regulatory cells and immature dendritic cells to are the important human pathogens, we are interested to uncover characterize transcriptional responses of V. cholerae to various stresses to produce transplantation tolerance. Novel tyrosine (Y) phosphory-
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