Faculty of Infectious Diseases

Offer sequencing and genotyping services at the Georgia Genomics Facility, a Core laboratory at UGA. Primary mission is to assist researchers at UGA and at other institutions with their projects.

Research goal is directed toward determining the molecular basis for the interaction between a bacterium and its plant or animal host. Research focuses on the determining the structural features of the bacterial cell surface carbohydrates that are important in the infection process, and to identify the function(s) of those structural features in the infection of, and survival within, the host cell.

Research is focused on new biosensing and bioimaging methods including laser-optical imaging modalities, fluorescent environment-sensitive probes, and image analysis. The research is widely application-driven and focuses on the needs of my collaborators.

Interested in virus and host interactions focusing on the roles of host proteins in replication of paramyxoviruses mumps virus and parainfluenza virus 5. Actively pursuing novel strategies for vaccine development and anti-viral drugs.

SERS research on E. coli O157:H7 has demonstrated a potential technique for rapid detection method. The results indicated that E. coli O157:H7 can be identified from other strains and other bacteria including salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. The patent application for SERS system and method for detection has been filed through UGA Research Foundation. For the encapsulation of fish oil using chitosan, the results indicated a novel technique.

Research goal is to understand the virulence or pathogenic roles that B. anthracis carbohydrates and those of related bacterial strains have with regard to pathogenic development. Additional objectives of this work include identification of carbohydrate structures that can be used as vaccine antigens, for development of B. anthracis diagnostic tools, and as therapeutic targets.

Laboratory is interested in parasite genomics and the biology of genome evolution. Approach is to apply molecular, computational and phylogenetic tools to the analysis of parasite genomes. Projects include the development of tools for data mining, comparative genomics and assessing the phylogenetic distribution of genes.

Roles of metalloproteins (hydrogenases and oxidative stress resistance enzymes) in pathogenic bacteria, particularly in Helicobacters and Enterobacteriaceae. Physical characteristics of the enzymes, their maturation, and their differential expression in animal hosts are of interest.

Interested in the role of adhesion proteins of the DBL-domain superfamily. Members of this superfamily play diverse roles, functioning both as ligands for erythrocyte receptors during host red cell invasion, and as cytoadherence proteins during sequestration of the parasite throughout the vasculature.

Uses structural biology to answer key questions about protein structure-function relationships aimed at better understanding molecular mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and other cellular processes. Keenly interested in understanding the structural features of larger multiprotein complexes in terms of mechanism allosterics and signal transduction.

Laboratory focuses on discovery and characterization of novel virulence genes involved in host colonization by pathogens in Burkholderia/Ralstonia group. Uses bioinformatic analyses, shotgun proteomics and in vivo expression profiling with microarrays to mine their genomes to identify novel virulence genes for subsequent analysis in hosts.

Research program focuses on parasite- and virus-host interactions in invertebrates. Emphasis of study is on characterization of virulence genes, their interactions with the invertebrate immune and endocrine systems, and their effects on pathogenesis and disease transmission.

Research program (single molecule study of biological molecular assemblies & systems) is highly inter- and multi-disciplinary which combines Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Material Science and Engineering. Detect biological events at the single-molecule level, which will be key to scientific advances in understanding, identifying, and developing therapies that promote human health.

1.) Nanofabrication and characterization 2.) Chemical and biological sensor development