Our laboratory examines the molecular pathogenesis of microbial disease, emphasizing the virulence potential of human bacteria and the host response to bacterial infection. We study several pathogenic Mycoplasma species using a variety of experimental approaches including recombinant DNA, real time RT-PCR and DNA macroarrays and microarrays, immunological and synthetic peptide methodologies, and confocal microscopy.

Among the earliest events in the host-pathogen interaction is microbial adherence to host cell surfaces (cytadherence), which permits tissue colonization and subsequent multiplication of the infectious agent. A major thrust of the laboratory is to characterize molecules possessed by pathogenic bacteria and host cells which mediate adherence and facilitate invasion. Several bacterial proteins have been implicated in these processes, and we are cloning and sequencing relevant genes and identifying functional domains. This will permit us to explore factors which regulate the expression and role of these bacterial proteins in virulence. Furthermore, appropriate synthetic peptides are being tested for vaccine and serodiagnostic value. Studies are also underway to examine the interaction between respiratory and genitourinary pathogens and host cell receptors and macromolecules, including mucin, fibronectin and surfactant proteins. Other areas of interest focus on evidence indicating a role of these bacterial pathogens in AIDS-associated disease and in autoimmune and chronic fatigue-related disorders, including Gulf War Illnesses.

DNA macroarays and microarrays, real time RT-PCR

Alvarez, R.A. and J.B. Baseman. 2003. Surface localized glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Mycoplasma genitalium binds mucin. Molec. Micro. (in press)

Dallo, S.F., T.R. Kannan, M.W. Blaylock and J.B. Baseman. 2002 Elongation factor Tu and E1-β subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex act as fibronectin binding proteins in Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Molec. Micro. 46(4):1041-1051.

Collins, J.F., S.T. Donta, C.C. Engel, J.B. Baseman, L.L. Dever, T. Taylor, et al. 2002 The antibiotic treatment trial of Gulf War Veterans illnesses: issues, design, screening, and baseline characteristics. Control Clin. Trials 23:333-353.

Dhandayuthapani, S., W. Rasmussen, J.B. Baseman. 2001. Stability of cytadherence-related proteins P140/P110 in Mycoplasma genitalium requires mg218 and unidentified factors. Archives of Med. Res. 33:1-5.

Dhandayuthapani, S., M.W. Blaylock, C.M. Bebear, W.G. Rasmussen, and J.B. Baseman. 2001. Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrA) is a virulence determinant in Mycoplasma genitalium. J. Bact. 183(19) 183:5645-5650.

Kannan, T.R. and J.B. Baseman. 2000. Hemolytic and hemoxidative activities of Mycoplasma penetrans. Infect. Immun. 68:6419-6422.

Dallo, S.F. and J.B. Baseman. 2000. Intracellular replication and long-term survival of pathogenic mycoplasmas. Microb. Pathog. 29:301-309.

Kannan, T.R. and J.B. Baseman. 1999. Expression of UGA-containing mycoplasma genes in Bacillus subtilis. J. Bacteriol. 182:2664-2667.

Dhandayuthapani, S., W. Rasmussen, J.B. Baseman. 1999. Disruption of gene mg218 of Mycoplasma genitalium through homologous recombination leads to an adherence-deficient phenotype. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA. 96:5227-5232.

Mycoplasma, cytadherence, adhesins, invasion, microbial pathogenesis, surfactant protein, fibronectin, mucin, molecular mimicry, respiratory diseases, genitourinary diseases, chronic fatigue