Bibi Zhou awarded the 2023 Dr. Joy Porter Williams Fellowship in Microbiology. Bibi Zhou of the Szymanski Lab is awarded the 2023 Dr. Joy Porter Williams Fellowship in Microbiology. The award was presented to Bibi during a special department seminar by Dr. Erin Dolan on November 2, 2023. Read more about Bibi Zhou awarded the 2023 Dr. Joy Porter Williams Fellowship in Microbiology.
Rochelle Yap selected to receive the Grimes Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Natural Sciences The Microbiology Department is pleased to announce that Rochelle Yap of the Lewis Lab was selected to receive the Grimes Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Natural Sciences for the 2023-24 academic year. Read more about Rochelle Yap selected to receive the Grimes Family Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Natural Sciences
Effect of Transhydrogenase and Phosphoglucose Isomerase knockouts and Citrate Synthase Variants on Growth and Product Formation in Escherichia coli. Effect of Transhydrogenase and Phosphoglucose Isomerase knockouts and Citrate Synthase Variants on Growth and Product Formation in Escherichia coli. Hayden Lippelman Eiteman Laboratory UGA Department of Microbiology Monday, November 13, 2023 - 2:30pm 404D, Biological Sciences Type of Event: Student Seminars MS Thesis Defense by Hayden Lippelman, Eiteman Lab. Read more about Effect of Transhydrogenase and Phosphoglucose Isomerase knockouts and Citrate Synthase Variants on Growth and Product Formation in Escherichia coli.
Chantel Duscent-Maitland receives Dr. Juergen Wiegel Award Chantel Duscent-Maitland of the Neidle Lab is the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Juergen Wiegel Award. The award was announced on October 12, 2023 at the Dr. Juergen Wiegel seminar given by Dr. Michael Adams. The Dr. Juergen Wiegel Graduate Award in Microbiology was established by Dr. Wiegel, his family, and his former students and colleagues. This award recognizes graduate students for excellent work in non-medical microbial biodiversity and microbial physiology. Congratulations Chanty! Read more about Chantel Duscent-Maitland receives Dr. Juergen Wiegel Award
Heather Moniz Laboratory Research Technician Research Labs: Hummels Lab Read more about Heather Moniz
Lahiru Malalasekara Awarded the 2023 "William Jackson and Jane Marshall Payne Graduate Fellowship in Microbiology" Lahiru Malalasekara of the Escalante Lab was awarded the 2023 "William Jackson and Jane Marshall Payne Graduate Fellowship in Microbiology" during our annual Jack Payne Alumni Seminar by alumna Dr. Lauren Palmer on October 5, 2023. The William Jackson (Jack) and Jane Marshall Payne Graduate Fellowship in Microbiology was established by the family and friends of Jack and Jane Payne in recognition of their many contributions to the Department and Microbiology. The award recognizes graduate students who demonstrate excellence in research and professional presence. Read more about Lahiru Malalasekara Awarded the 2023 "William Jackson and Jane Marshall Payne Graduate Fellowship in Microbiology"
Novel methods for generating enzymes and pathways for biotechnology in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 Novel methods for generating enzymes and pathways for biotechnology in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 Chantel Duscent-Maitland Neidle Lab UGA Dept of Microbiology Thursday, November 16, 2023 - 11:10am 404D, Biological Sciences Type of Event: Student Seminars Dissertation Defense Seminar Read more about Novel methods for generating enzymes and pathways for biotechnology in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1
Ronald Drew Etheridge Adjunct Assistant Professor The Host-Parasite Interface; Identification and characterization of Toxoplasma gondii parasite effectors used to manipulate host cellular processes. Our lab focuses primarily on the obligate intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. This organism is arguably one of the most successful protozoan parasites on the planet with approximately a third of all human being infected. Although generally self-limiting, infections by T. gondii can be life threatening or fatal in individuals with immature or suppressed immune systems. After resolution of the acute infection by the rapidly growing asexual form of T. gondii (tachyzoite), what remains is the chronic slow growing (bradyzoite) form of the parasite that encases itself in a highly resistant cyst wall. These dormant tissue cysts persist throughout the lifetime of an individual and retain the capacity to reactivate if host conditions change. Currently there are no available drugs or therapeutics that can combat the chronic cyst form of the parasite and cure infection. After active invasion of its target host cell, Toxoplasma resides within a host derived membrane ‘bubble’ known as the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) where it actively replicates over the next 48 hours. To obtain the necessary nutrients and protect itself from antimicrobial defenses, this parasite has devised some extremely complex molecular tools that it deploys to manipulate the host environment to its advantage. T. gondii injects into the host cell, via its secretory organelles, a myriad of protein effectors that traffic to various locations including the PV and host cell cytoplasm and nucleus. These secreted proteins accomplish a variety of goals ranging from organizing the nutrient acquisition machinery within the PV, protecting the vacuole from host defenses, and altering host cell metabolism and immune signaling pathways. We currently do not know the exact number of effectors that the parasite employs during this process of host subjugation but, of those identified so far, only the functions of a few have been extensively characterized. Additionally, almost nothing is known about the effectors that the bradyzoite form of the parasite uses to condition the host cell during the chronic stage of infection. Overall our lab is seeking to address a variety of questions which relate broadly to the molecular tools used by the parasite to alter the host environment. This work includes not only the continued study of known effectors, but also identification and characterization of new secreted proteins. In a more comprehensive manner however we are also interested in how proteins destined for secretion are selected by the host sorting machinery and targeted to different secretory organelles. Also, once secreted from the parasite into the PV it is currently unknown how particular proteins are then recognized and transported into the host cell. In line with these goals, we are also working to identify parasite proteins that are selectively secreted by the cyst forming bradyzoite stage that are critical to the formation of not only the cyst wall but also in modifying the host cell to tolerate long term parasitism by Toxoplasma. Read more about Ronald Drew Etheridge