The Clinical and Microbiology Laboratory Core (Micro Core B) supports 4 Projects in the Southeastern STI Cooperative Research Center and provides a broad base of support for other local, national and international STI research projects. We will conduct experimental human infection studies with Neisseria gonorrhoeae to determine the requirements for the gonococcal antimicrobial efflux pump, lipooligosaccharide structures and phase variation (Project 3, Shafer);pilus-associated proteins (Project 4, Thomas);iron-regulated adhesins (Project 2, Comelissen);and peptidoglycan release (Joseph Dillard, Univ. of Wisconsin) for urethral infection in men. In addition, clinical specimens from experimentally infected subjects will be collected for analysis to evaluate innate immune responses to experimental gonococcal infection (Project 5, Duncan). To facilitate the identification and characterization of iron-regulated surface proteins in N. gonorrhoeae that may function as adhesins, the Micro Core will coordinate interactions between Dr. Comelissen in Project 2 at the Virginia Commonwealth University and the UNC-Duke Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, located on the UNCChapel Hill campus. In addition, the Micro Core will serve as a repository of clinical and biological specimens from a variety of studies for future STI testing. We will continue to evaluate new diagnostic tests for sexually transmitted pathogens. In particular, we will evalute a T. vaginalis genotyping system (developed as a project in the previous NC STI-TM CRC) using recent specimens from HIV-infected women with trichomoniasis participating in an ongoing clinical study in the Gulf South STI CRC and T. vaginalis isolates from women in a recently completed study conducted by the UW STI CRC in Peru. Other activities will include the evaluation and use of tests for biomarkers of recent semen exposure, including detection of prostate-specific antigen. In addition, the Micro Core will continue to perform STI diagnostic testing in support of clinical research studies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program--Cooperative Agreements (U19)
Project #
5U19AI031496-22
Application #
8381161
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-MMT-M)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
22
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$437,515
Indirect Cost
$95,320
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
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Des Marais, Andrea C; Zhao, Yuqian; Hobbs, Marcia M et al. (2018) Home Self-Collection by Mail to Test for Human Papillomavirus and Sexually Transmitted Infections. Obstet Gynecol 132:1412-1420
Scheidell, Joy D; Beau De Rochars, Valery Madsen; Séraphin, Marie Nancy et al. (2018) Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Pregnant Haitian Women. Sex Transm Dis 45:626-631
Knilans, Kayla J; Hackett, Kathleen T; Anderson, James E et al. (2017) Neisseria gonorrhoeae Lytic Transglycosylases LtgA and LtgD Reduce Host Innate Immune Signaling through TLR2 and NOD2. ACS Infect Dis 3:624-633
Gallo, Maria F; Legardy-Williams, Jennifer; Steiner, Markus J et al. (2017) Sexual Relationship Power and Semen Exposure Among Female Patients at a Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic in Kingston, Jamaica. Arch Sex Behav 46:2157-2164
Woolf-King, Sarah E; Muyindike, Winnie; Hobbs, Marcia M et al. (2017) Vaginal Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Is a Useful Biomarker of Semen Exposure Among HIV-Infected Ugandan Women. AIDS Behav 21:2141-2146
Samo, Melissa; Choudhary, Neelima R; Riebe, Kristina J et al. (2016) Immunization with the Haemophilus ducreyi trimeric autotransporter adhesin DsrA with alum, CpG or imiquimod generates a persistent humoral immune response that recognizes the bacterial surface. Vaccine 34:1193-200
Kandler, Justin L; Acevedo, Rosuany Vélez; Dickinson, Mary Kathryne et al. (2016) The genes that encode the gonococcal transferrin binding proteins, TbpB and TbpA, are differentially regulated by MisR under iron-replete and iron-depleted conditions. Mol Microbiol 102:137-51
Kandler, Justin L; Holley, Concerta L; Reimche, Jennifer L et al. (2016) The MisR Response Regulator Is Necessary for Intrinsic Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide and Aminoglycoside Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 60:4690-700
Kissinger, Patricia J; White, Scott; Manhart, Lisa E et al. (2016) Azithromycin Treatment Failure for Chlamydia trachomatis Among Heterosexual Men With Nongonococcal Urethritis. Sex Transm Dis 43:599-602

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