My current research interests explore the mechanisms used by pathogenic bacteria to adapt to their host environment. Helicobacter pylori, a Gram negative pathogen that resides in the GI tract of its host, is able to persist for decades in the stomach without causing clinical symptoms. Previous studies suggest that H. pylori undergoes phase variation of Lewis antigens that are constituents of their LPS, and that this variation in Lewis antigen expression allows H. pylori to evade the immune system. The mechanisms that control Lewis antigen variation have not yet been characterized. H. pylori shows extensive genetic diversity between strains, and extensive intrahost genetic diversity also has been documented. We are interested in studying the sources of Lewis antigen diversity in H. pylori, concentrating on the genes directly involved in their synthesis pathways. Many of these genes possess regions in their sequences that could induce intragenomic recombination. We want to examine the function of genetic recombination on Lewis antigen diversity in H. pylori. Uncovering the means by which H. pylori is able to alter its Lewis antigenic structure would provide us insight into the disease processes induced by this bacterium.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31GM070098-01
Application #
6740599
Study Section
Minority Programs Review Committee (MPRC)
Program Officer
Gaillard, Shawn R
Project Start
2003-09-16
Project End
2008-09-15
Budget Start
2003-09-16
Budget End
2004-09-15
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$42,370
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Sanabria-Valentin, Edgardo; Colbert, Marie-Teresa C; Blaser, Martin J (2007) Role of futC slipped strand mispairing in Helicobacter pylori Lewisy phase variation. Microbes Infect 9:1553-60