Faculty
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Jorge L. Benach, Ph.D.Distinguished University Professor |
| The major focus of our research is on the pathogenesis of spirochetal infections and their host responses, particularly in the developmental bactericidal antibodies that work independently of the complement system. These antibodies appear to be more common than previously thought, and may be a very important part of the host repertoire against bacteria. We are also interested in the interaction of spirochetal outer surface components with host proteases to enhance invasiveness, and to understand how this borrowed proteolytic activity enhances penetration of these organisms into the central nervous system. | |
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Martha B. Furie, Ph.D.Professor of Pathology |
| The Furie laboratory has long been interested in understanding a key event in inflammation, namely how leukocytes migrate out of blood vessels to reach tissues infected with bacteria. Study of this event has been accomplished through an in vitro model that faithfully mimics the blood vessel wall and, more recently, using in vivo models of infection. A particular focus has been on understanding the inflammatory responses elicited by Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, and Francisella tularensis, the cause of tularemia and a potential bioweapon. Dr. Furie also directs Stony Brook University's Graduate Program in Genetics and is the Senior Associate Editor of The American Journal of Pathology. | |
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A. Wali Karzai, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Biochemistry |
| The overall goal of the Karzai lab is to gain new insights into how the fundamental processes of gene expression are integrated inside the cell. We seek to discover novel integrative links, and explore the biological significance and physiological contributions of these links to the fitness, survival, and virulence of pathogenic bacteria. Our current research is aimed at elucidating the mechanistic details of how the essential processes of protein translation, mRNA stability, and protein degradation are linked. We are particularly interested in investigating: 1) Molecular mechanisms that govern translation quality assurance; 2) Molecular basis for mRNA surveillance and selective nonstop mRNA decay; 3) Biochemical mechanisms of targeted proteolysis and the role of AAA+ proteases in bacterial pathogenesis; 5) Discovery of novel antibiotics and the exploration of new vaccine technologies. We use a combination of protein biochemistry, molecular genetics, functional genomics, bioinformatics, and structural approaches to determine the biological function and mechanism of action of RNA-protein complexes that participate in regulation of gene expression. Dr. Karzai is also the director of Stony Brook University's Graduate Program in Molecular Cellular Biology. | |
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Erich R. Mackow, Ph.D.Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology |
| Viruses regulate cell signaling pathways dedicated to restricting viral spread and in the process engage cellular responses that direct pathogenesis. Hantaviruses and dengue viruses infect the endothelium and nonlytically cause hemorrhagic and edematous diseases by altering fluid barrier functions of the endothelium. Endothelial cells dynamically regulate fluid and immune cell emigration from capillaries while maintaining vascular integrity and vessel repair. In this setting failure is lethal and controlled by a series of fluid barrier failsafe mechanisms. The Mackow lab is focused on defining mechanisms by which hantaviruses and dengue viruses regulate innate immune responses and induce pathogenesis following nonlytic infection of endothelial cells. | |
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Nicole S. Sampson, Ph.D.Professor and Chair of Chemistry |
| The Sampson laboratory has defined the mechanisms of protein catalysts that function
at the sterol:lipid interface. These studies have evolved to undertake the elucidation
of the mechanisms by which mycobacteria, e.g., M. tuberculosis, persist in their human
host. Her laboratory is pursuing a multi-pronged approach that includes elucidating
enzyme function, establishing metabolite structure and activity to identify the substrates
of key enzymes, identifying small molecules that interfere with the host immune response,
and developing metabolomic methods to screen these pathways for inhibitors. Of particular
interest are the M. Tuberculosis pathways for cholesterol metabolism. Dr. Sampson
is also the co-director of the Chemical Biology Training Program. Dr. Sampson's departmental web page |
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Jessica C. Seeliger, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Pharmacological Sciences |
| Dr. Jessica Seeliger's laboratory investigates the mechanisms of lipid membrane biogenesis
in mycobacteria, especially the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Mtb
generates many structurally complex and virulence-associated lipids that have received
little molecular-level scrutiny in the membrane context. The J. Seeliger group is
pursuing the question of how mycobacterial lipid membranes are synthesized and assembled
using a combination of protein biochemistry, microbiology and molecular genetics.
Additional research areas include the development and application of riboswitch-based
tools for inducible gene regulation and the attenuation of pathogenic strains by codon
pair bias deoptimization. Dr. J. Seeliger's laboratory web page |
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Brian S. Sheridan, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology |
| The Sheridan laboratory is focused on understanding the mechanisms of pathogen-elicited
immune responses in mucosal tissues such as the intestine. The gastrointestinal tract
represents a major interface between the body and the environment and is constantly
exposed to numerous antigens from food intake, commensal bacteria and pathogens. Thus,
the intestinal immune system must concomitantly regulate inflammation to nonpathogenic
organisms while maintaining the capacity to rapidly generate an effective pathogen
specific immune response. The capacity to generate memory T cell populations and their
ability to migrate to and persist in the intestinal mucosa play a critical role in
protective immunity. This has underlined the importance of better understanding the
mechanisms regulating the development and homeostasis of memory T cells in the intestinal
mucosa. My lab utilizes recombinant Listeria that can invade the intestinal epithelium
of mice thereby recapitulating the physiologic route and entry point of Listeria infection
in humans. This system provides an excellent opportunity to understand the mechanisms
of intestinal T cell immunity and identify paradigms of mucosally acquired human pathogens
and inflammatory disorders of the gut. Dr. Sheridan's departmental web page |
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David G. Thanassi, Ph.D.Professor and Interim Chair of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology |
| Pathogenic bacteria must assemble and secrete virulence factors to interact with host
cells and cause disease. The Thanassi laboratory is interested in understanding virulence
protein secretion systems and the biogenesis of virulence-associated surface structures,
such as the hair-like adhesive fibers termed pili. We are also investigating the functions
of secreted virulence factors within the host, and the mechanisms by which these factors
contribute to bacterial survival and disease. We study a variety of bacterial pathogens,
including uropathogenic Escherichia coli, the predominant causative agent of urinary
tract infections, and Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia and
a potential bioterrorism agent. An overall goal of our studies is to develop targets
for the design of novel antimicrobial agents. Dr. Thanassi's departmental web page |
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Peter J. Tonge, Ph.D.Professor of Chemistry |
| Research in the Tonge laboratory focuses on two major areas: (i) inhibitor discovery and the mechanism of drug action, and (ii) photoreceptor biophysics and biology. We use mechanistic enzymology to develop inhibitors of enzyme drug targets from pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and use techniques such as mass spectrometry and positron emission tomography to explore the role of drug-target binding kinetics in drug activity at the cellular and whole organism level. We also use biophysical methods such as ultrafast spectroscopy coupled with site-specific protein modification to understand the mechanism of photoreceptor activation as a prelude to the development of optogenetic devices. Dr. Tonge is the Director of Infectious Disease Research in the Institute for Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, the co-Director of the Biomolecular Imaging Cluster, and the Director of the Translational Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory in the School of Medicine. Dr. Tonge is also an Associate Editor for ACS Infectious Diseases. | |
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Adrianus W. M. van der Velden, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology |
| Research conducted in the laboratory of Dr. van der Velden has been focused on host
interactions with bacterial pathogens, with an emphasis on the immunology of infection.
In particular, the laboratory of Dr. van der Velden has been studying the pathogenesis
of and host response to infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S.
Typhimurium), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide. The
laboratory of Dr. van der Velden uses a combination of molecular, cellular, biochemical
and immunological approaches to advance knowledge of mechanisms used by S. Typhimurium
to overcome the immune system. Dr. van der Velden's departmental web page |
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