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Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy Jan 2013

Use Of Social Ecology And Mixed Methods Research To Develop An Instrument To Assess Determinants Of Hiv/Sti Risk Among A Young Adult Population, Lasonja Bonita Kennedy

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Globally, 340 million people are affected by HIV/AIDS. Approximately 50,000 are newly infected within the United States each year with HIV. One in five of those infected is unaware of his/her status. Young adults are particularly impacted by the disease; 39% of new HIV infections are diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 13 and 29. To comprehensively examine the independent and interrelated determinants of HIV/STI risks among young adults, the researcher developed, validated, and psychometrically examined a self-report instrument guided by constructs from the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Development and validation of the content within the survey was conducted …

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The Role Of Complement In Experimental Cerebral Malaria, Theresa N. Ramos Jan 2013

The Role Of Complement In Experimental Cerebral Malaria, Theresa N. Ramos

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Cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most severe clinical complications of P. falciparum malaria with a fatality rate of 15-30%, and 10% of CM survivors have permanent neurological sequelae. Since inflammation is a central pathophysiological tenet of CM, we began examining the role of the complement system in pathogenesis of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) using Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) model. Previous studies using this model indicated that mice naturally deficient in complement component C5 were protected from cerebral complications, and wild type mice treated with anti-C5aR antibody were also protected. To determine the protective mechanism of naturally-C5 deficient mice, …

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Tuberculosis Screening And Treatment Outcomes In Zambia, Jennifer Harris Jan 2013

Tuberculosis Screening And Treatment Outcomes In Zambia, Jennifer Harris

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Zambia is a country in Southern Africa with dual HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics. The annual TB incidence is 444/100,000 and 64% of TB patients are co-infected with HIV. Accurate screening and diagnosis for TB is challenging since it often presents with non-specific signs and symptoms and the available diagnostics are neither sensitive nor specific. Papers one and two of this dissertation focus on the derivation of TB screening rules to more accurately identify high-risk persons in two Zambian populations: inmates and HIV clinic patients. Among inmates, being HIV positive and having a body mass index < 18.5 most strongly predicted HIV disease. Chest pain was also strongly associated, but this may have been a chance finding. For HIV clinic patients, we developed four rules with increasing complexity of clinical tools used for screening. Sensitivity was very high with all rules; the addition of vital signs and pulmonary exam findings to symptom-based screening rules greatly increased the rules' specificity. Furthermore, a rule incorporating pulmonary exam findings performed similarly to a rule with chest radiography suggesting pulmonary exam may be an inexpensive alternative to x-ray. The final paper looks at TB incidence, mortality and intermediate clinical outcomes in a cohort of HIV clinic patients with and without TB during their first 12 months of HIV care. TB incidence was very high during this time period, despite thorough screening at baseline. Mortality was elevated in both culture-confirmed and clinically-diagnosed TB patients, with much of the elevated risk concentrated in TB patients who had culture-confirmed but clinically-unapparent disease. Looking at intermediate outcomes among patients who started anti-retroviral therapy, the change in CD4 cell count was similar for patients with and without TB. TB patients started off with lower mean body weights and hemoglobin concentrations but also showed greater increases over 12 months, thus `catching up' with the TB-negative patients. If these findings are replicable in other cohorts they could have substantial impact on TB screening and diagnostic procedures in resource limited, high burden countries like Zambia.

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Determinant Of G-Chain Mediated Fc Receptor Signaling, Spandan Shah Jan 2013

Determinant Of G-Chain Mediated Fc Receptor Signaling, Spandan Shah

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Fc receptors provide an interface between humoral immunity and cellular immunity by binding to the Fc portion of immunoglobulin and mediating effector functions. Cells expressing Fc receptors play a major role in immune complex clearance via phagocytosis, leading to a context dependent pro- or anti-inflammatory environment. Signaling by multi-chain Fc receptor complexes, including FcgRI, FcgRIII, FceRI and FcaRI is mediated by the ITAM-containing common FceRIg (g-chain) subunit. However, despite the use of a common g-chain, different Fc receptor complexes elicit specific cellular programs, suggesting additional layers of regulation of tyrosine based signaling by g-chain. We hypothesized that the unique g-chain …

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Down-Modulation Of Mica On Malignant Glioma Cells By Herpes Simplex Virus, Carl Irwin Odom Jan 2012

Down-Modulation Of Mica On Malignant Glioma Cells By Herpes Simplex Virus, Carl Irwin Odom

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Glioblastoma Multiforme is a primary malignancy of the central nervous system and is fatal for patients despite surgical resection and radiotherapy. Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (oHSV) vectors deleted of the γ134.5 neurovirulence gene are potential therapies for treating glioblastoma tumors. Although replication in permissive cells is considered the primary mechanism of oHSV mediated tumor clearance, there is evidence that the immune system is part of the tumor clearance mechanism during treatment with oncolytic viruses. Specifically, natural killer (NK) cells may be important for tumor clearance during oHSV therapy. NK cell activation relies partially on the stimulation of activating or inhibitory …

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Real-Time Quantitative Pcr For Evaluation Of Mutans Streptococci And Dental Caries, Chanika Manmontri Jan 2012

Real-Time Quantitative Pcr For Evaluation Of Mutans Streptococci And Dental Caries, Chanika Manmontri

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Mutans streptococci (MS), e.g., Streptococcus mutans (Sm) and Streptococcus sobrinus (Ss), are associated with dental caries. Quantification of MS has been shown to predict caries risk. A new technology using PCR may streamline quantification compared to traditional culture methods. Purpose: To use real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and standard plate counting (SPC) for detection and quantification of levels of Sm, Ss and total streptococci (TS) in clinical samples from high-caries-risk children with no regular access to dental care and to study correlation of these bacterial levels and ratios to caries prevalence. Methods: Saliva and plaque samples were collected from school-aged children …

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Difference In Health Literacy Level Between Older Adults With And Without Low Vision, Mary L. Warren Jan 2012

Difference In Health Literacy Level Between Older Adults With And Without Low Vision, Mary L. Warren

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Functional health literacy is the ability to understand and apply health information from printed documents and is dependent on reading. Few studies have examined functional health literacy levels in visual impaired older adults despite the fact low vision is common among older adults and impairs reading performance. This study investigated whether community dwelling older adults with moderate visual impairment from age-related macular degeneration had lower health literacy levels compared to older adults without low vision. The Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (TOFHLA) was administered to 50 adults aged 65- 94 years with AMD and 50 normally sighted adults …

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Regulation And Function Of Interleukin-21-Producing T Cells And Immune-Mediated Control Of Hiv-1 Infection, Latonya Denise Williams Jan 2012

Regulation And Function Of Interleukin-21-Producing T Cells And Immune-Mediated Control Of Hiv-1 Infection, Latonya Denise Williams

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CD8 T cells play a critical role in controlling intracellular pathogens, particularly viruses. However, during persistent viral infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, virus-specific CD8 T cells become increasingly impaired by poorly understood mechanisms. Massive CD4 T cell depletion is a hallmark of HIV-1 infection and is associated with CD8 T cell dysfunction and ineffective viral containment. CD4 T cells provide critical helper signals to CD8 T cells, especially during uncontrolled viral infections. Mouse models of chronic viral infection implicate interleukin-21 (IL-21), produced primarily by CD4 T cells, as a vital factor necessary for the maintenance of fully …

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The Effects Of Mucoid Phenotype And Cftr Genotype On Pneumococcal Lung Disease And Biofilm Development, Evida Adiko Dennis Jan 2012

The Effects Of Mucoid Phenotype And Cftr Genotype On Pneumococcal Lung Disease And Biofilm Development, Evida Adiko Dennis

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Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is a respiratory pathogen and leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but its role in cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been well studied. While prospectively examining the incidence of SP infection, a high number of SP were recovered from the sputum of pediatric CF patients. The predominant serotypes identified were 3, 19A, and 19F. Serotype 3 was isolated more readily in CF patients than from patients without CF (P=0.0159). All serotype 3 isolates were mucoid and produced high levels of polysaccharide capsule compared to others in the collection. Mucoid bacteria, predominately Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are commonly associated …

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The Relationship Between Hospitalists And Primary Care Physicians, James Robert Burkhart Jan 2012

The Relationship Between Hospitalists And Primary Care Physicians, James Robert Burkhart

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOSPITALISTS AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS JAMES R. BURKHART EXECUTIVE DOCTOR OF SCIENCE IN ADMINISTRATION-HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT A study of the relationship between primary care physicians (PCPs) and hospitalists was conducted by surveying the Florida Academy of Family Physicians (FAFP) membership to determine whether they had an established relationship with a hospitalist or hospitalist group. The survey responses were then matched with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) administrative claims data to provide two groupings of study respondents with data regarding patients' average length-of-stay, average 30 day readmission rate, and average hospital claims payment. The survey …

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Discovery And Characterization Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotype 11e Reveals A Novel Model Of Serotype Evolution, Juan Jose Calix Jan 2012

Discovery And Characterization Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Serotype 11e Reveals A Novel Model Of Serotype Evolution, Juan Jose Calix

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The facultative pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is capable of producing a polysaccharide (PS) capsule that prevents bacterial recognition and clearance by the host immune system. Over 90 antigenically distinct capsule serotypes have been identified. Because anti-capsule antibodies can mediate bacterial clearance, capsule diversity is critical to S. pneumoniae survival. However, the mechanisms of capsule evolution remain unclear. Due to the complex interaction of capsule synthesis (cps) genes, it is commonly thought that pneumococcal serotypes evolve once and that all clinically relevant serotypes are genetically derived from a single founding clone. In this dissertation we demonstrate a novel mechanism of capsule evolution …

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The Characteristics Of Soft Tissue Following Root Coverage Procedures With Two Types Of Acellular Dermal Matrix Allografts, Ramzi Abou Arraj Jan 2012

The Characteristics Of Soft Tissue Following Root Coverage Procedures With Two Types Of Acellular Dermal Matrix Allografts, Ramzi Abou Arraj

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Acellular dermal matrix allograft (ADMA) has emerged as a reliable substitute for autogenous soft tissue grafts in the treatment of gingival recessions and lack of keratinized gingiva (KG). ADMA has been hypothesized to create a zone of "immobile tissue" extending apical to the mucogingival junction (MGJ). This project aims to investigate the presence of this zone associated with the use of a coronally advanced flap in combination with either AlloDerm® (ADMA A) or Puros Dermis® (ADMA B) for root coverage procedures. Twenty patients, each presenting with one Miller Class I or II recession defect, were randomized to receive either ADMA …

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Predictors Of Vaginal Douching Behavior And Sexual Risk Taking Among A Population Of Women In The South: The Influence Of Sexual Concurrency And Partner Incarceration, Keri J. Griffin Jan 2012

Predictors Of Vaginal Douching Behavior And Sexual Risk Taking Among A Population Of Women In The South: The Influence Of Sexual Concurrency And Partner Incarceration, Keri J. Griffin

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In the United States, adolescent women between the ages of 14 and 19 are estimated to bear the largest burden of sexually transmitted infections. Left untreated, these infections have the potential to result in several adverse reproductive health outcomes. Sexually risky behaviors, including early sexual initiation, sexual partner concurrency, and the use of vaginal douche products increase the risk for the contraction of sexually transmitted infections. Further, having a sexual relationship with a male partner who is known to have other partners or a history of contact with the justice system might put a woman at additional risk. Utilizing a …

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Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano Jan 2012

Analysis Of Abundance And Biodiversity Of Mosquitoes And Their Epidemiological Implications In Three Urban Neighborhoods In The Southeastern United States, Erick Xavier Caamano

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Birmingham, Alabama has experienced several mosquito-borne epidemics, including Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile virus (WNV). Despite the outbreak of these diseases, the city lacks a mosquito surveillance program that would assist in vector control efforts. In order to assess the possible advantages of implementing a surveillance system for the city, three neighborhoods were chosen for surveys based on the fact that past epidemics have been concentrated in these areas. During the two surveillance years, 2009 had more abundance of mosquitoes and more species variability than the 2010 season. Overall, as abundance of mosquitoes increased in a particular site, …

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The Impact Of The State Children's Health Insurance Program's Unborn Child Ruling On Foreign-Born Latina Prenatal Care Utilization And Birth Outcomes, 2000-2007, Jonathan Hawthorne Drewry Jan 2012

The Impact Of The State Children's Health Insurance Program's Unborn Child Ruling On Foreign-Born Latina Prenatal Care Utilization And Birth Outcomes, 2000-2007, Jonathan Hawthorne Drewry

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In 2002 the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) "unborn child ruling" was established to provide prenatal care (PNC) to low income women otherwise without health insurance. The majority of foreign-born (FB) Latinas otherwise ineligible for PNC should have benefited most from the ruling. In late 2003 six states incorporated the UCR into their state plan amendments, providing a natural experiment for policy analysis. This study used cross-sectional pooled natality data from 2000-2007 to estimate the effect of the UCR on prenatal care utilization (PNCU) and birth outcomes. A differences-in-differences econometrics model was employed using policy enacting and non-enacting states, …

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C-C-Motif Chemokine Receptor/Ligand Gene Variants And Their Associations With Hiv-1 Transmission And Pathogenesis, Liangyuan Hu Jan 2012

C-C-Motif Chemokine Receptor/Ligand Gene Variants And Their Associations With Hiv-1 Transmission And Pathogenesis, Liangyuan Hu

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Host factors including genes and their variants are important to HIV-1 acquisition, transmission and disease progression. In particular, chemokine (C-C motif) receptors 2 and 5 genes (CCR2 and CCR5) have multiple variants of interest. We first investigated the impact of CCR2-CCR5 haplotypes on several outcomes among 567 HIV-1 discordant Zambian couples. HHF*2 homozygosity was associated with significantly lower VL in seroconverters (mean beta=-0.58 log10 P=0.027) and the HHD/HHE diplotype was associated with significantly higher VL in the seroconverters (mean beta=0.54, log10 P=0.014) adjusted for age and gender in multivariable model. HHD/HHE was associated with more rapid acquisition of infection by …

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Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones Jan 2012

Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones

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Iron is an essential nutrient for the vast majority of organisms; yet, the availability of iron is limited to microorganisms due to the insolubility of ferric hydroxides and to pathogens by iron withholding strategies of their hosts. Many bacteria produce small, high-affinity iron chelators called siderophores to scavenge iron from the environment. In addition, many bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to steal host iron contained in heme, hemoglobin, or transferrin. Mycobacteria are unique genera of bacteria represented by the notorious pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, respectively. Tuberculosis remains a global health …

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Regulation Of P27kip1 By Trip6 And Its Implications In Cancer Progression, Victor T G Lin Jan 2012

Regulation Of P27kip1 By Trip6 And Its Implications In Cancer Progression, Victor T G Lin

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TRIP6 is a focal adhesion molecule that functions as an adaptor protein to mediate diverse cellular functions, including motility and antiapoptotic signaling, through a wide variety of protein-protein interactions. We were able to characterize a novel interaction between TRIP6 and p27KIP1, a CDK inhibitor which can both suppress and promote tumorigenesis, depending on its regulation. TRIP6 expression specifically promotes the AKT-mediated phosphorylation of p27KIP1 at T157, which leads to its cytosolic retention, and accelerates the protein turnover rate of p27KIP1. We also found that phosphorylation of T157 by itself promotes cell motility and can be linked to the formation of …

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Neighborhood Context As A Predictor Of Nursing Home Placement Among Older Adults, David Russell Buys Jan 2011

Neighborhood Context As A Predictor Of Nursing Home Placement Among Older Adults, David Russell Buys

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Persons who are aging face an increased risk of adverse health events and decreased levels of personal competencies, potentially inhibiting their ability to age in place. Sometimes, nursing home placement (NHP) may be imperative, especially if persons experience environmental docility-- an incongruence of their physical capacity with their environment. This study links the neighborhood disadvantage literature with Lawton's environmental press and environmental docility theories to examine how the environment interacts with individual level variables to impact likelihood of NHP. Findings suggest that there is not a direct link between living in a disadvantaged context and likelihood of NHP, but that …

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Individual, Socio-Cultural And Structural Factors Associated With Cervical Cancer Screening And Treatment In Tanzania, Renicha Tomeka Mccree-Hale Jan 2011

Individual, Socio-Cultural And Structural Factors Associated With Cervical Cancer Screening And Treatment In Tanzania, Renicha Tomeka Mccree-Hale

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Most African countries including Tanzania have limited cervical cancer screening and treatment programs. Only about 5% of women have ever been screened for cervical cancer. A constellation of individual and structural factors contributes to the challenge of cervical cancer screening and treatment in countries that bear significant burdens of disease. Yet, little is known about country specific factors that may constrain or facilitate scale up of health services. This dissertation is an attempt to identify and understand the country specific individual and structural barriers along with facilitators to cervical cancer screening and treatment in Tanzania. Individual, institutional and structural level …

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Limited Transplantation Of Antigen-Expressing Hematopoietic Stem Cells Induces Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cell Responses And Effect Of Altered Suppressive Myeloid Population On Hiv-Disease Progression, Warren L. Denning Jan 2011

Limited Transplantation Of Antigen-Expressing Hematopoietic Stem Cells Induces Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cell Responses And Effect Of Altered Suppressive Myeloid Population On Hiv-Disease Progression, Warren L. Denning

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While each type of cancer and chronic viral infection has its own specific pathology, they share two common mechanisms of immune evasion. The first mechanism is the exhaustion or deletion of antigen-specific T cells. The second mechanism is the formation of an immunosuppressive environment responsible for the block of T cell function. Elicitation of antigen-specific T cells be accomplished by immunotherapy in place of conventional treatments such as HAART and chemotherapy. In addition, immunotherapy can alleviate the side-effects associated with long-term use of conventional therapies while reducing the total cost. The results presented here provide an alternative to conventional methods …

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Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors And Human Leukocyte Polymorphisms In Hiv-1 Pathogenesis, Aimee Marie Merino Jan 2011

Killer Immunoglobulin-Like Receptors And Human Leukocyte Polymorphisms In Hiv-1 Pathogenesis, Aimee Marie Merino

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Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules influence the adaptive and innate immune responses through interactions with cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells (NK). HLA influence the activation state of NK through direct binding to killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and presentation of HLA-derived peptides to NKG2 receptors. Activated NK can kill HIV-infected cells through direct cytolysis and release cytokines that influence other aspects of the immune system. Variations in KIR gene content and allelic variants have been associated with autoimmunity, transplantation success, and infectious diseases such as hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. We investigated the impact of KIR genes and potential KIR-HLA …

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Ecology And Transmission Of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus In The Southeastern United States, Gregory Scott White Jan 2011

Ecology And Transmission Of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus In The Southeastern United States, Gregory Scott White

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The virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly pathogenic arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) present in the US. The virus is listed as a reportable illness to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and is also listed as a select agent by Human Health and Services (HHS). Studies on EEEV starting back in the 1930's have determined many important facets of the ecology, transmission and evolution of the virus. It is understood that in many endemic foci, the mosquito Culiseta melanura is the primary enzootic vector of the virus. EEEV is thus maintained in an enzootic cycle between …

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Conceptualization Of Cervical Cancer And Screening Experiences Among Zambian Women Attending A Cervical Screening Program, Heather Leah White Jan 2011

Conceptualization Of Cervical Cancer And Screening Experiences Among Zambian Women Attending A Cervical Screening Program, Heather Leah White

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Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is the second most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, and approximately 85% of the disease burden occurs in underdeveloped countries. In 2006, the Zambian government launched a cervical screening program within primary health clinics using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) coupled with immediate treatment via cryotherapy. The objective of this dissertation was to determine whether the VIA screening program is responsive to the needs and concerns of Zambian women in an effort to improve screening uptake, and for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive women who are potentially subject to increased ICC screening and treatment, increase long-term …

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Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh Jan 2011

Increased Cutting Efficacy Of Diamond Burs With Biochemical Solution Spraying, Ramtin Sadid Zadeh

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CAD/CAM units are becoming increasingly popular for milling all ceramic restorations from ceramic blocks. The solution used to spray the diamond cutting instrument also improves cutting effectiveness and also lubricates the diamond, which may not only prolong the cutting life of the diamond instrument but also provide smoother cuts on the ceramic block. The purpose of this study is to evaluate cutting efficacy of diamond burs with three solutions and to compare roughness produced by each solution on the glass-ceramic block. Material and methods: 15 Empress CAD blocks, 30 fine diamond burs, two solutions and distilled water were used. Each …

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The Impact Of Endopytic Algae On Growth And Survival Of Antarctic Macroalgae (Rhodophyta), Kathryn M. Schoenrock Jan 2011

The Impact Of Endopytic Algae On Growth And Survival Of Antarctic Macroalgae (Rhodophyta), Kathryn M. Schoenrock

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Filamentous algal endophytes are common in many species of chemically defended macroalgae along the western Antarctic Peninsula. Effects of filamentous algal endophytes in macroalgal hosts are unknown, but may be detrimental to host due to competition for light and nutrients or pathogenic effects. Growth of three species of red Antarctic macroalgae were examined in situunder varying loads of endophyte infection. The experiment occurred at the end of the Austral summer and lasted approximately six to nine weeks until population senescence was imminent. Growth was measured through change in mass, change in surface area, growth rate, relative growth rate and surface …

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Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds Jan 2011

Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds

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Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type&ndash1 (HIV&ndash1) accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, with women representing the larger percentage of infected individuals. The events leading to the transmission of HIV&ndash1 at mucosal surfaces are not well defined. Based on the observations that transmitted viruses nearly exclusively utilize the CCR5 coreceptor, and that in 80% of heterosexual transmissions a single virus variant establishes infection, there appears to be a selection mechanism that allows only a subset of viruses to be transmitted. This genetic bottleneck suggests that transmitted viruses may possess specific phenotypic and/or genotypic properties that allow for their …

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Improvement Of A Surrogate Assay For Protective Antibodies To Pneumococcal Surface Protein A, Eun Lim Kim Jan 2011

Improvement Of A Surrogate Assay For Protective Antibodies To Pneumococcal Surface Protein A, Eun Lim Kim

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Despite the availability of vaccines for pneumococcal infections, their protective efficacy is not ideal. This problem is due to the replacement of the strains that are not covered by the current vaccines. One potential resolution of this problem is to develop a pneumococcal vaccine that is not limited to serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae . On the surface of pneumococci, there are several virulence factors in addition to capsule. Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is a major virulence factor that presents on the surface of virtually all pneumococcal strains. PspA is also known to elicit protective immune responses and as a …

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Molecular Piracy In The Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Island 1, Michael Spilman Jan 2011

Molecular Piracy In The Mobilization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Pathogenicity Island 1, Michael Spilman

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Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage 80α is a temperate, double-stranded DNA phage that serves as a "helper" phage for the mobilization of several S. aureus pathogenicity islands (SaPIs), including SaPI1. When mobilized by 80α, SaPI1 genomes are packaged into smaller phage-like transducing particles composed of 80α capsid (gp47), scaffolding (gp46) and portal (gp42) proteins. In this dissertation, I utilize electron microscopy and biochemistry to tease apart the structural and genetic controls and consequences of SaPI1 as a molecular pirate. More specifically, I show that two SaPI1 proteins shift assembly from 63-nm, T = 7 icosahedral capsids to 47-nm, T = 4 capsids, …

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Role Of Vdr In Host Immune Response To Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection, Gulam Yezdani Jan 2011

Role Of Vdr In Host Immune Response To Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection, Gulam Yezdani

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Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the etiologic factors of periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by the destruction of periodontal connective tissue and the subsequent loss of alveolar bone. Epidemiological and genetic studies have indicated an association between periodontal disease and the vitamin D system. However, little is known regarding how vitamin D signaling regulates the inflammatory immune process of this disease. The purpose of the study was to understand the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in regulating the host response to P. gingivalis infection by using a dual chamber mouse model. These chambers served both as …

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