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Microbiology & Immunology Faculty
Research | Publications | Lab Members
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Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Ph.D.
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Research
Research Interests:
My laboratory primarily studies the pathogenic mechanisms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycoplasma genitalium.
M. tuberculosis is the etiological agent of human 'tuberculosis' which has the ability to survive and replicate inside hostile macrophages, and to lead a dormant life
inside 'tubercle lesions'. M. genitalium is a sexually transmitted pathogen which survives and persists within host epithelial cells.
I employ multiple approaches to dissect the mechanisms behind intracellular survival and persistence of both species.
Some important projects addressing these issues are: a) role of antioxidants of M. tuberculosis and M. genitalium in the evasion of host generated oxidative radicals, b)
role of signal transduction and regulatory molecules of M. tuberculosis and M. genitalium in the persistence of these species, and c) modulation of host microRNA by
M. tuberculosis and M. genitalium. In addition, my laboratory also focuses on the development of genetically engineered vaccines to tuberculosis (TB).
This includes the improved BCG vaccines through recombinant technology, generation of M. tuberculosis vaccine candidates by genetic modifications, and development
of recombinant booster vaccines to TB using bacillus spores. Last but not least, my laboratory also studies the interaction of M. genitalium with HIV-1. Lately, M. genitalium
is considered an important cause of HIV-1 transmission.
Publications
- Saikolappan, S, Khan, A., Sasindran, S.J., Estrella, J., Armitige, L.Y., Jagannath, C. and Dhandayuthapani, S.2012. A ΔfbpA/ΔsapM double knock out strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is highly attenuated and immunogenic in macrophages. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36198. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036198
- Das, K., De La Garza, G., Maffi, S., Saikolappan, S. and Dhandayuthapani, S. 2012. Methionine sulfoxide reductase A (MsrA) deficient Myocplasma genitalium shows decreased interactions with host cells. PLoS ONE 7(4): e36247. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036247
- Saikolappan, S., Sasindran, S.J., Jagannath, C. and Dhandayuthapani, S. 2011. OsmC proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. smegmatis protect organic hydroperoxide stress. Tuberculosis 91: S119-S127 [22088319]
- Sasindran, S.J., Saikolappan, S., Scofield, V.L and Dhandayuthapani, S. 2011. Biochemical and physiological characterization of the GTP-binding protein Obg of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. BMC Microbiology 11 (1): 43[PMID:21352546]
- Jagannath, C., Lindsey, D.R., Dhandayuthapani, S., Yi, Xu., Hunter, R.L.Jr., Eisssa, N.T. 2009. Autophagy enhances the processing and presentation of the immunodominant mycobacterial antigen 85B by mouse macrophages and dendritic cells leading to improved vaccine efficacy. Nature Medicine. 15:267-76.[PMID:19252503]
Lab Members
Regional Academic Health Center
- Sankaralingam Saikolappan, Ph.D., Post doctoral Fellow
- Ms. Smitha Sasindran, M.S., Research Associate
- Mr. Rong Jianrong, M.S., Visiting Scholar
