Abstract

This is a program project which seeks to understand the biology and immunology of certain sexually transmitted diseases. Emphasis is placed on Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum. The objects of the research are to understand the genetics, physiology, surface structure, and host response to the gonococcus and Treponema pallidum. A variety of techniques are used including microbial genetics and hybridoma technology. Appropriate animal models are used for both gonococcal and T. pallidum infections; human serum, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and genital secretions are also analyzed to determine the nature of the host response. By use of genetics, immunological techniques, and analysis of surface chemistry attempts are made to identify the biological importance of individual cell envelope components of both the gonococcus and T. pallidum. This is an integrated program project. One of the component grants is now carried on at The University of Texas-San Antonio under the direction of Dr. Joel Baseman. This grant is a subcontract of the parent grant to the University of North Carolina. Five other grants are housed at the University of North Carolina. Of these one deals with Treponema pallidum and four with the biology, immunology, and physiology of the gonococcus.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01AI015036-09
Application #
3091443
Study Section
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Committee (MID)
Project Start
1978-07-01
Project End
1988-06-30
Budget Start
1986-07-01
Budget End
1987-06-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599

  Publications

Keen, M G; Stamm, L V; Bassford, P J (1992) Susceptibility of Treponema pallidum and other selected spirochaetes to zidovudine. J Antimicrob Chemother 29:447-53
Cornelissen, C N; Biswas, G D; Tsai, J et al. (1992) Gonococcal transferrin-binding protein 1 is required for transferrin utilization and is homologous to TonB-dependent outer membrane receptors. J Bacteriol 174:5788-97
Stuart, E S; Wyrick, P B; Choong, J et al. (1991) Examination of chlamydial glycolipid with monoclonal antibodies: cellular distribution and epitope binding. Immunology 74:740-7
Hubbard, C L; Gherardini, F C; Bassford Jr, P J et al. (1991) Molecular cloning and characterization of a 35.5-kilodalton lipoprotein of Treponema pallidum. Infect Immun 59:1521-8
Schmiel, D H; Knight, S T; Raulston, J E et al. (1991) Recombinant Escherichia coli clones expressing Chlamydia trachomatis gene products attach to human endometrial epithelial cells. Infect Immun 59:4001-12
Elkins, C; Thomas, C E; Seifert, H S et al. (1991) Species-specific uptake of DNA by gonococci is mediated by a 10-base-pair sequence. J Bacteriol 173:3911-3
Stamm, L V; Parrish, E A; Gherardini, F C (1991) Cloning of the recA gene from a free-living leptospire and distribution of RecA-like protein among spirochetes. Appl Environ Microbiol 57:183-9
Stamm, L V; Gherardini, F C; Parrish, E A et al. (1991) Heat shock response of spirochetes. Infect Immun 59:1572-5
Gherardini, F C; Hobbs, M M; Stamm, L V et al. (1990) Complementation of an Escherichia coli proC mutation by a gene cloned from Treponema pallidum. J Bacteriol 172:2996-3002
Connell, T D; Shaffer, D; Cannon, J G (1990) Characterization of the repertoire of hypervariable regions in the Protein II (opa) gene family of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Mol Microbiol 4:439-49

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