 Ph.D.
(1964) |
Barbara
H. Iglewski
Chair and Professor of Microbiology & Immunology Primary Appointment: GEBS Cluster Affiliations: |
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| Contact Information: | ||
| University
of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 672 Rochester, New York 14642 |
MRB-X 2-111110A Phone: (585) 275-3402 Fax: (585) 473-9573 E-Mail: barbara_iglewski@ urmc.rochester.edu bigl@mail.rochester.edu |
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- Research Focus
- Molecular Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Research Overview
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of disease in immunocompromised persons, as well as persons with burns or cystic fibrosis. Virulence of P. aeruginosa is multifactorial and involves both cell associated structures such as pili and secreted products such as exotoxin A and proteases. The molecular mechanisms by which these products are regulated are poorly understood.
- Our work has shown that expression of three of the four known P. aeruginosa protease genes (lasA, lasB and aprA) encoding the extracellular proteases, LasA, elastase and alkaline protease, are positively regulated, in trans, by the lasR protein. LasR is homologous to the well characterized luxR protein. Recently, we have also cloned and sequenced the lasI gene, adjacent to lasR, and found its protein to be homologous to Luxl. The existence of lasR and lasI provides P. aeruginosa a system by which it can communicate to other (P. aeruginosa) cells, to begin to express proteases which, in turn, leads to host tissue damage and bacterial dissemination. This is a novel concept in bacterial pathogenesis.
- Ongoing studies are aimed at understanding the regulation of lasR and lasI, and relating their expression to the expression of other P. aeruginosa genes, including the protease gene. Additional studies are examining the structure and function of the LasR protein and the cis-acting sequences from the lasB, lasA and aprA genes which are influenced by LasR and LasI. These experiments should provide insight into how virulence is regulated in P. aeruginosa.
- A more detailed description of this laboratory and its research is available.
- Recent Publications
- Morici LA, Carterson AJ, Wagner VE, Frisk A, Schurr JR, Zu Bentrup KH, Hassett DJ, Iglewski BH, Sauer K, Schurr MJ "Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgR Represses the Rhl Quorum-Sensing System in a Biofilm-Specific Manner." J Bacteriol. 2007 Aug 31;
- Van Alst NE, Picardo KF, Iglewski BH, Haidaris CG "Nitrate sensing and metabolism modulates motility, biofilm formation, and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Infect Immun. 2007 May 25;
- Li LL, Malone JE, Iglewski BH "Regulation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing regulator VqsR." J Bacteriol. 2007 Apr 20;
- Wagner VE, Li LL, Isabella VM, Iglewski BH "Analysis of the hierarchy of quorum-sensing regulation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Anal Bioanal Chem. 2006 Dec 1;
- Filiatrault MJ, Picardo KF, Ngai H, Passador L, Iglewski BH. "Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Genes Involved in Virulence and Anaerobic Growth." Infect Immun. 2006 Jul;74(7):4237-45
- Wagner VE, Frelinger JG, Barth RK, Iglewski BH. "Quorum sensing: dynamic response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to external signals." Trends Microbiol. 2006 Feb;14(2):55-8. Epub 2006 Jan 6.
- Gillis RJ, White KG, et al. "Molecular basis of azithromycin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms." Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005 Sep;49(9):3858-67.
- Filiatrault, M. J., V. E. Wagner, et al. "Effect of anaerobiosis and nitrate on gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Infect Immun 73(6): 3764-72, 2005.
- Imamura, Y., Y. Higashiyama, et al. "Azithromycin exhibits bactericidal effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa through interaction with the outer membrane." Antimicrob Agents Chemother 49(4): 1377-80, 2005
- Gillis, R. J. and B. H. Iglewski "Azithromycin retards Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation." J Clin Microbiol 42(12): 5842-5, 2004.
- Wagner, V. E., R. J. Gillis, et al. "Transcriptome analysis of quorum-sensing regulation and virulence factor expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa." Vaccine 22 Suppl 1: S15-20, 2004.
- Lamb JR, Patel H, Montminy T, Wagner VE, Iglewski BH. "Functional domains of the RhlR transcriptional regulator of Pseudomonas aeruginosa." J Bacteriol. 185::7129-39, 2003.
- Smith RS, Iglewski BH. Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing as a potential antimicrobial target. J. Clin Invest. 112:1460-5, 2003.
- Wagner VE, Bushnell D, Passador L, Brooks AI, Iglewski BH. Microarray analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing regulons: effects of growth phase and environment. J. Bacteriol. 185:2080-95, 2003.
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