Section: Rotations

Jon Goguen, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Bacterial Genetics and Pathogenesis
   Program in Immunology and Virology

Rotation Projects

Y. pestis can directly inject proteins into host cells that contact them. These proteins block many host cell functions, including the ability to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our current model for the role of fibrin in aiding the inflammatory response to Y. pestis involves specific interactions between fibrin and neutrophils. By binding to fibrin, the neutrophils stop at a distance from the bacteria, permitting chemokine production. This ultimately surrounds the bacteria with inflammatory cells, containing them until specific immunity develops. One rotation project is designed to test this model: examine the course of infection in specific knockout mice that have neutrophils lacking proteins important in the fibrin interaction.

We have a developed a simple model for testing the ability of bacteria to block inflammatory cell accumulation in vivo. Another rotation project is to examine P. aeruginosa and appropriate P. aeruginosa protease mutants in this model, using specific knockout mice as appropriate.

Keywords: Microbial Pathogenesis, Biochemistry, Infectious Disease

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