Vivian Bellofatto, Ph.D. * - Newark - Our laboratory is investigating the transcriptional mechanisms that trypanosomes use to direct and modulate gene expression. Trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa which cause a multitude of diseases around the world. We have identified novel transcription factors in these parasites.
Nancy D. Connell, Ph.D. * - Newark - Using a combined approach of bacterial genetics and cell biology, we study the interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with its host cell, the macrophage. We use mutants of this important pathogen to study intracellular amino acid and peptide metabolism within mouse and human macrophages. Antibiotics.
Scott R. Diehl, Ph.D. * - Newark - Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are analyzed to understand molecular causes of disease and individual differences in drug responses. High-throughput bioinformatics and complex statistical genetic methods are used for current research on oral cancer, periodontal disease, orofacial clefting; pharmacogenomics of pain and drug responses.
Donald T. Dubin, Ph.D.,M.D. * - Piscataway - Antibiotic resistance of staphylococci and streptococci. Genetic and molecular bases of the evolution of bacterial species and strains.
Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly, Ph.D. * - Newark - Studies on the inate immune response to viral infection are focused on a dendritic cell subpopulation (DC2) that produces interferon-alpha in response to viral stimulation. Mechanisms of viral induction of IFN in these cells and their interactions with natural killer cells, and T helper cells are under investigation.
M. Zafri Humayun, Ph.D. * - Newark - We study mechanisms of genetic variability in Escherichia coli and in the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. We have recently defined two novel transient mutator pathways termed UVM and TSM pathways. The TSM pathway reveals unanticipated links among translation, DNA replication and recombination. Antibiotics, helicase.
David M. Lukac, Ph.D. * - Newark - Molecular virology of Kaposi`s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (HHV-8) in the pathogenesis of Kaposi`s sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma.
Carol S. Newlon, Ph.D. * - Newark - Studies on the mechanism of eukaryotic chromosome replication, using the budding yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans, as model systems. Our current focus is on the structure and regulation of chromosomal DNA replication origins.
Andrew R. Pachner, M.D. * - Newark - We focus on detection of pathogen and characterization of host immune response in infections of the nervous system, particularly Lyme borreliosis. We extensively use molecular biological tools, such as PCR and microarrays.
Nikhat Parveen, Ph.D * - Newark - My laboratory is studying the molecular basis of pathogenesis of two bacterial species, Borrelia burgdorferi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These two clinically important bacterial pathogens are transmitted to humans using different mechanisms and also show different disease manifestations. B. burgdorferi is transmitted by Ixodes tick vector while P. aeruginosa is transmitted through a variety of contaminated sources.
Ann M. Stock, Ph.D. * - Piscataway - Structure & function analysis of signal transduction proteins and the role of protein modifications such as phosphorylation and methylation. Projects include unusual mammalian protein kinases and bacterial pathogenesis. Studies employ molecular genetics, biochemistry and X-ray crystallography.
Nancy, A. Woychik, Ph.D. * - Piscataway - RNA polymerases and transcription regulation in cancer and other diseases; Alterations in host cell transcription upon smallpox virus infection; Transcription mechanisms important for Chlamydia pathogenesis; Chlamydia infection and heart disease.
Hua Zhu, Ph.D. * - Newark - My lab is studying cytomegalovirus, including host responses to viral infection, i.e. changes of signal transduction, and to understand how these responses influence viral replication and pathogenesis, and use microarray and mass spectrometry technologies to study viral and cellular gene expression.
