Host-Pathogen Seminar Series 2009-2010

Stuart Levitz, MD, Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA

NOTE: This seminar is co-sponsored by The Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute and will take place in 170 DHLRI.

Our laboratory studies the mechanisms by which fungal pathogens are innately recognized by the host, leading to an inflammatory response and the initiation of acquired immunity.  We are focused upon responses to the three major components of the fungal cell wall; mannans, ß-glucans and chitin.
Novel vaccine platforms are being constructed which incorporate fungal cell wall components, enabling targeting of antigens to dendritic cells and subsequent biased T cell responses.

"Bricks in the wall: Deciphering and exploiting innate recognition of fungi"

Sergio Grinstein, PhD, Professor, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Phagocytosis is key to innate immunity and is also central to the clearance of apoptotic cells.  The seminar will describe studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying particle binding, engulfment and degradation, using fluorescent probes to image receptors, lipid mediators and the surface charge of the membrane during the course of phagocytosis.

"Signaling phagocytosis: receptors, phospholipids and surface charges"

Ralph Isberg, PhD, Professor, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Department of Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, MA

The work in my laboratory is directed toward investigating the molecular mechanisms of bacterial uptake and intravacuolar growth in host cells. The investigation of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis invasin protein has been the primary focus of our studies on uptake, and analyses of intravacuolar growth have been performed using Legionella pneumophila. Genetic analysis of these organisms is relatively facile, and each promotes cellular events that are observed with many other pathogens. The most exciting recent development is our identification of effector proteins that are translocated into target cells by L. pneumophila and the characterization of signaling pathway for uptake of Yersinia.

"Pathway analysis of membrane manipulation by an intracellular pathogen"

Gregory Martin, PhD, Professor of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University and Boyce Schulze Downey Chair, Boyce Thompson Institute 

The Martin laboratory studies the molecular basis of bacterial pathogenesis, plant disease susceptibility, and plant immunity. Most of our research focuses on bacterial speck disease which is caused by the infection of tomato leaves with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato.

"Bacterial elicitation and evasion of plant immunity"

Patrick Brennan, PhD, University Distinguished Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University 

Our research interest is in leprosy and tuberculosis. In leprosy research our laboratory is focused in diagnostics based on T-cell and B-cell responses involving serological, CMI, and skin test approaches; molecular epidemiology; surveys for extent of drug resistance; genomic, proteomic and cell wall analysis of Mycobacterium leprae; provision of armadillo derived M. leprae and other reagents and expertise through NIAID, NIH Contract; leadership of international leprosy research consortia and funding agencies. For tuberculosis research we are focused in resolving the structure, biosynthesis, and underlying genetics of mycobacterial cell wall synthesis with a view to new drug development.  

"The Cell Wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis; a comprehensive review of structure, biosynthesis, genetics, and disease implications of this knowledge"