Deb Anderson
Assistant Professor
  • B.A. Molecular Biology, University of California - San Diego
  • Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology, University of California - Los Angeles

    • Andersondeb@missouri.edu

    Research emphasis: My research interests lie in the study of host-pathogen interactions during plague, a disease caused by the bio-threat agent, Yersinia pestis. Our program involves the development and use of small animal models of bubonic and pneumonic plague to understand host-pathogen interactions which lead to disease and immunity to disease. We are particularly interested in early events wherein the bacteria encounter and destroy cells of the innate immune system. It is known that Y. pestis employs the type III secretion system as an essential virulence mechanism throughout the course of infection to target and destroy immune cells. With this mechanism, the bacteria build an injection needle which allows for intimate contact between the bacterium and host. Upon sensing this contact, the bacteria translocate virulence factors directly from their cytoplasm into the cytoplasm of macrophages and other immune cells. Once injected, these proteins disrupt host-cell signaling events leading to inactivation and apoptosis of virtually all circulating phagocytes and granulocytes, thereby paving the way for Yersinia to undergo rapid replication and destruction of host tissues. Three proteins, YopB, YopD and LcrV are essential components of this host-pathogen interface, but the molecular mechanisms behind their activities are unknown. Our laboratory uses combined approaches of bacterial genetics and immunology to gain a better understanding of the translocation process. Our basic research complements our ongoing efforts towards the development of vaccines and therapeutics which prevent plague by blocking the translocation of its virulence factors into host cells.

     

    Selected publications:

    DeBord, KL, Anderson DM, Marketon MM, Overheim KA, DePaolo RW, Ciletti NA, Jabri B, Schneewind O. 2006. Immunogenicity and protective immunity against bubonic plague and pneumonic plague by immunization of mice with the recombinant V10 antigen, a variant of LcrV. Infect Immun. 74(8):4910-4.

    Overheim, KA, Depaolo RW, Debord KL, Morrin EM, Anderson DM, Green NM, Brubaker RR, Jabri B, Schneewind O. 2005. LcrV plague vaccine with altered immunomodulatory properties. Infect Immun. 73:5152-5159.

    Anderson, DM, Ramamurthi, KS, Tam, C and Schneewind, O. 2002. YopD and LcrH regulate expression of Yersinia enterocolitica YopQ by a post-transcriptional mechanism. J Bacteriol.184(5)1287-1295.