A5089783930- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Ocular Surface and Contact Lens
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Hereditary Neurological Disorders
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Corneal Surgery and Treatments
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Ocular Infections and Treatments
- Inflammasome and immune disorders
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- Corneal surgery and disorders
- Boron Compounds in Chemistry
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Intraocular Surgery and Lenses
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Protein purification and stability
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Biomedical Research and Pathophysiology
- Connective tissue disorders research
Loyola University Chicago
2022-2025
University of California, Berkeley
2015-2023
Medical College of Wisconsin
2011-2016
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause sight- and life-threatening opportunistic infections, its evolving antibiotic resistance is a growing concern. Most P. strains invade host cells, presenting challenge to therapies that do not penetrate cell membranes.
ABSTRACT Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) are the most toxic proteins for humans. While BoNTs cause flaccid paralysis, TeNT causes spastic paralysis. Characterized BoNT serotypes enter neurons upon binding dual receptors, a ganglioside neuron-specific protein, either synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2) or synaptotagmin, while enters gangliosides as receptors. Recently, was reported to central nervous system (CNS) cycling that mediated by direct SV2, implying utilize...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is internalized into multiple types of epithelial cell in vitro and vivo yet often regarded as an exclusively extracellular pathogen. Paradoxically, ExoS, a type three secretion system (T3SS) effector, has antiphagocytic activities but required for intracellular survival P. its occupation bleb niches cells. Here, we addressed mechanisms this dichotomy using invasive (ExoS-expressing) corresponding effector-null isogenic T3SS mutants, mutants cytotoxic with without ExoS...
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin ExoS, secreted by the type III secretion system (T3SS), supports intracellular persistence via its ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPr) activity. For epithelial cells, this involves inhibiting vacuole acidification, promoting vacuolar escape, countering autophagy, and niche construction in cytoplasm within plasma membrane blebs. Paradoxically, ExoS other P . T3SS effectors can also have antiphagocytic cytotoxic activities. Here, we sought to reconcile these...
The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent protein toxins for humans. There seven serotypes of BoNTs (A−G) based on a lack cross antiserum neutralization. utilize gangliosides as components host receptors binding and entry into neurons. Members BoNT/C BoNT/D include mosaic that organized in D/C C/D toxins. One toxin, BoNT/D-South Africa (BoNT/D-SA), was not fully neutralized by immunization with BoNT serotype C or D, which stimulated this study. Here crystal structures receptor...
SIGNIFICANCE Think Tank 2019 affirmed that the rate of infection associated with contact lenses has not changed in several decades. Also, there is a trend toward more serious infections Acanthamoeba and fungi. The growing use children demands our attention surveillance case-control studies. PURPOSE American Academy Optometry (AAO) gathered researchers key opinion leaders from around world to discuss lens–associated microbial keratitis at AAO Annual Meeting. METHODS Experts presented within...
ABSTRACT Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections can include bacterial survival inside epithelial cells. Previously, we showed that this involves multiple roles played by the type three secretion system (T3SS), and specifically effector ExoS. This includes ExoS-dependent inhibition a lytic host cell response subsequently enables intracellular replication. Here, studied underlying death to P. , comparing wild-type T3SS mutants varying in capacity induce localize different...
Host cell invasion can contribute to disease pathogenesis by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Previously, we showed that type III secretion system (T3SS) of invasive P. strains modulates entry and subsequent escape from vacuolar trafficking host lysosomes. However, also mutants lacking either IV pili (T4P) or T4P-dependent twitching motility (i) were defective in traversing multilayers, (ii) caused less pathology vivo , (iii) had a reduced capacity exit invaded cells....
Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) are organized into seven serotypes, A-G. Although several BoNT serotypes enter neurons through synaptic vesicle cycling utilizing dual receptors (a ganglioside and a vesicle-associated protein), the entry pathway of BoNT/D is less well understood. ganglioside-dependent, alignment structural studies show that lacks key residues within conserved binding pocket present in A, B, E, F, G, which indicate BoNT/D-ganglioside interactions may be unique. In this study...
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most toxic proteins for humans but also common therapies neurological diseases. BoNTs dichain toxins, comprising an N-terminal catalytic domain (LC) disulfide bond linked to a C-terminal heavy chain (HC) which includes translocation (HN) and receptor binding (HC). Recently, BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A) subtypes A1 A2 were reported possess similar potencies different rates of cellular intoxication pathology in mouse model botulism. The current study measured...
ABSTRACT Bacterial dispersal from a biofilm is presently the least-studied step of life cycle. The symbiotic bacterial species Vibrio fischeri model organism for studying biofilms relevant to eukaryotic host; however, methodology lacking readily study this microbe formed in lab. Here, we adapted time-lapse assay visualize by V. . We observed formation and multiple isolates, which displayed variety architecture phenotypes dynamics. then investigated strain ES114 using genetic tools mutants...
ABSTRACT The need for a vaccine against botulism has increased since the discontinuation of pentavalent (ABCDE) botulinum toxoid by Centers Disease Control and Prevention. toxins (BoNTs) are primary virulence factors components botulism. BoNTs comprise three domains which involved in catalysis (LC), translocation (HCT), host receptor binding (HCR). Recombinant HCR subunits have been used to develop next generation BoNT vaccines. Using structural studies known entry properties BoNT/A, an...
The cornea of the eye differs from other mucosal surfaces in that it lacks a viable bacterial microbiome and by its unusually high density sensory nerve endings. Here, we explored role corneal nerves preventing adhesion. Pharmacological genetic methods were used to inhibit function or their associated transient receptor potential cation channels TRPA1 TRPV1. Impacts on adhesion, resident immune cells, epithelial integrity examined using fluorescent labeling quantitative confocal imaging....
Abstract Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections can include bacterial survival inside epithelial cells. Previously, we showed this involves multiple roles played by the type three-secretion system (T3SS), and specifically effector ExoS. This includes ExoS-dependent inhibition a lytic host cell response that subsequently enables intracellular replication. Here, studied underlying death to P. , comparing wild-type T3SS mutants varying in capacity induce localize different...